A student nurse overhears her instructor using the term pink puffer . The student knows this term refers to a client with which condition?

  1. chronic bronchitis
  2. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  3. emphysema
  4. allergic asthma
Number 3 is correct.
Rationale: Pink puffer is used to describe a client with emphysema based on the symptoms, which include increased CO2 retention, minimal cyanosis, pursed-lip breathing, dyspnea anxiety, and a barrel chest. Blue bloater is used to describe a client with chronic bronchitis, based on the symptoms of dusky color due to cyanosis, recurrent cough with sputum, hypoxia, increased respiratory rate, and respiratory acidosis. Asthma and COPD do not carry the same symptoms.