Exam 2 NUR 3420 Test Questions with
All Correct Answers 2025-2026
Updated.
Upper respiratory tract - Answer Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx
Lower respiratory tract - Answer Trachea, primary bronchi, larynx
What are the signs and symptoms of an URTI? - Answer Nasal congestion, cough, bronchial
secretion
What is the purpose of the upper airway? - Answer humidify and warm air; filtration
What do nasal decongestants do? - Answer -act directly on adrenergic receptor to release
norepinephrine
-cause vasoconstriction
-shrink nasal mucosa membranes
-decrease nasal congestion
Cough physiology - Answer -respiratory secretions and foreign objects are naturally removed
by cough reflex
What is the purpose of lower airway? - Answer circulation
Productive cough - Answer Congested, removes excessive secretions (wet)
Nonproductive cough - Answer Dry cough
Can coughing be harmful? - Answer Yes, after surgery it can be harmful. Especially if the
abdominal wall was cut and is now weakened.
What do nonopioid antitussives do? - Answer numb stretch receptors in the RT
What do opioid antitussives do? - Answer Suppress cough reflex by direct action on the
cough center
,What does the expectorants do? - Answer thins mucous and cough up
What is the main purpose of nasal decongestants? - Answer seasonal allergies
What do mucolytics do? - Answer thins mucous
What are examples of mucolytics? - Answer Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) or NS solution
(hypertonic)
What do antihistamines do? - Answer Block histamine release in small blood vessels,
capillaries, and nerves during allergic reactions; H1 receptor blocker
What are first generation H1 antagonists? - Answer diphenhydramine (benedryl),
promethazine, dimenhydrinate
How do first generation H1 antagonists work? - Answer -peripherally and centrally
-sedative and anticholinergic effects
What are examples of second generation H1 receptor antagonists? - Answer Fexofenadine
(Allegra), Ioratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec)
What do nasal glucocorticoids do? - Answer Decrease inflammation associated with allergic
rhinitis; first line treatment for nasal congestion
What are examples of nasal glucocorticoids? - Answer -prototype: mometasone
-other: fluticasone, triamcinolone, and budesonid
What is the pathophysiology of asthma? - Answer Chronic disease of airway inflammation
that causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, shortness of breath, and coughing
What are the 3 types of asthma? - Answer 1. Bronchial muscle contraction
2. Edema because of inflammation
3. Excessive production of mucous result in narrowing of the airway
Status asthmaticus - Answer Prolonged asthma attack that does not response to typical drug
therapy
-lasts several minutes to hours
, -MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Bronchodilators asthma medication - Answer Relax bronchial smooth muscle, which causes
dilation of bronchi
Anti-inflammatory asthma medication - Answer Suppress airway inflammation produces
beneficial effects
Examples of bronchodilators - Answer Adrenergic, anticholinergic, xanthines
SABA - Answer Short acting beta agonist
LABA - Answer Long acting beta agonist
Albuterol MDI instructions - Answer -shake well immediately before use
-while pressing down on inhaler, take slow deep breath for 3-5 seconds, hold breath for 10
seconds, slowly exhale
How long should you wait between using different inhalers? - Answer 5 minutes
How long should you wait between taking a second inhale of the same inhaler? - Answer 1-2
minutes
What should you do after each inhaler use? - Answer Rinse mouth with water
What do anticholinergics do? - Answer Ineffective in relieving acute bronchospasm by
themselves, but they act synergistically with othe adrenergic bronchodilators
What are examples of anticholinergics? - Answer Ipratropium (atrovent) and tiotropium
What do Xanthines like Theophylline do? - Answer Relax bronchial smooth muscle, resulting
in bronchodilation
What do corticosteroids do? - Answer Help with inflammation
Adverse effects nasal decongestants - Answer rebound congestion, vasoconstriction, CNS
stimulation (oral agents)
All Correct Answers 2025-2026
Updated.
Upper respiratory tract - Answer Nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx
Lower respiratory tract - Answer Trachea, primary bronchi, larynx
What are the signs and symptoms of an URTI? - Answer Nasal congestion, cough, bronchial
secretion
What is the purpose of the upper airway? - Answer humidify and warm air; filtration
What do nasal decongestants do? - Answer -act directly on adrenergic receptor to release
norepinephrine
-cause vasoconstriction
-shrink nasal mucosa membranes
-decrease nasal congestion
Cough physiology - Answer -respiratory secretions and foreign objects are naturally removed
by cough reflex
What is the purpose of lower airway? - Answer circulation
Productive cough - Answer Congested, removes excessive secretions (wet)
Nonproductive cough - Answer Dry cough
Can coughing be harmful? - Answer Yes, after surgery it can be harmful. Especially if the
abdominal wall was cut and is now weakened.
What do nonopioid antitussives do? - Answer numb stretch receptors in the RT
What do opioid antitussives do? - Answer Suppress cough reflex by direct action on the
cough center
,What does the expectorants do? - Answer thins mucous and cough up
What is the main purpose of nasal decongestants? - Answer seasonal allergies
What do mucolytics do? - Answer thins mucous
What are examples of mucolytics? - Answer Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) or NS solution
(hypertonic)
What do antihistamines do? - Answer Block histamine release in small blood vessels,
capillaries, and nerves during allergic reactions; H1 receptor blocker
What are first generation H1 antagonists? - Answer diphenhydramine (benedryl),
promethazine, dimenhydrinate
How do first generation H1 antagonists work? - Answer -peripherally and centrally
-sedative and anticholinergic effects
What are examples of second generation H1 receptor antagonists? - Answer Fexofenadine
(Allegra), Ioratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec)
What do nasal glucocorticoids do? - Answer Decrease inflammation associated with allergic
rhinitis; first line treatment for nasal congestion
What are examples of nasal glucocorticoids? - Answer -prototype: mometasone
-other: fluticasone, triamcinolone, and budesonid
What is the pathophysiology of asthma? - Answer Chronic disease of airway inflammation
that causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, shortness of breath, and coughing
What are the 3 types of asthma? - Answer 1. Bronchial muscle contraction
2. Edema because of inflammation
3. Excessive production of mucous result in narrowing of the airway
Status asthmaticus - Answer Prolonged asthma attack that does not response to typical drug
therapy
-lasts several minutes to hours
, -MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Bronchodilators asthma medication - Answer Relax bronchial smooth muscle, which causes
dilation of bronchi
Anti-inflammatory asthma medication - Answer Suppress airway inflammation produces
beneficial effects
Examples of bronchodilators - Answer Adrenergic, anticholinergic, xanthines
SABA - Answer Short acting beta agonist
LABA - Answer Long acting beta agonist
Albuterol MDI instructions - Answer -shake well immediately before use
-while pressing down on inhaler, take slow deep breath for 3-5 seconds, hold breath for 10
seconds, slowly exhale
How long should you wait between using different inhalers? - Answer 5 minutes
How long should you wait between taking a second inhale of the same inhaler? - Answer 1-2
minutes
What should you do after each inhaler use? - Answer Rinse mouth with water
What do anticholinergics do? - Answer Ineffective in relieving acute bronchospasm by
themselves, but they act synergistically with othe adrenergic bronchodilators
What are examples of anticholinergics? - Answer Ipratropium (atrovent) and tiotropium
What do Xanthines like Theophylline do? - Answer Relax bronchial smooth muscle, resulting
in bronchodilation
What do corticosteroids do? - Answer Help with inflammation
Adverse effects nasal decongestants - Answer rebound congestion, vasoconstriction, CNS
stimulation (oral agents)
