Dyspnea in the thoracic trauma patient: a human response to illness.

Dyspnea is one of the most common presenting symptoms in thoracic trauma patients; therefore, trauma nurses require extensive knowledge of this symptom. The Human Response to Illness model provides an organizing framework to establish a comprehensive understanding of the human response of dyspnea following thoracic trauma. The model is used to describe the physiological, pathophysiological, behavioral, and experiential perspectives of dyspnea in thoracic trauma, while considering personal and environmental factors. This comprehensive overview will provide the trauma nurse with appropriate evidence-based rationale for interventions in the management of acute dyspnea in the thoracic trauma population.