NURS 1020 EXAM 2 respiratory
Questions and Correct Answers.
A student nurse ask the RN what can be measured by arterial blood gas (ABG). The RN tells the
student that the ABG can measure
(Select all that apply)
A) Acid base balance.
B) Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
C) Mixed venous O2 (SvO2)
D)Compliance and resistance
E) Partial Pressure of O2 (PaO2) - Answer ANSWER: A, B, D Arterial blood gases (ABGs) are
measured to determine oxygenation status, ventilation status, and acid-base balance. ABG
analysis includes measurement of the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2), partial
pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2), acidity (pH), bicarbonate (HCO3-), and
arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in arterial blood. Mixed venous O2 saturation is the
measurement of O2 saturation in venous blood. Compliance is the lung's ability to expand and
resistance is the ease of airflow in and out of the lungs. They cannot be determined with ABGs.
To detect signs and symptoms of inadequate oxygenation, the nurse would examine the
patients for
A) dyspnea and hypotension
B) apprehension and restlessness
C) cyanosis and cool, clammy skin
D) increased urine output and diaphoresis - Answer ANSWER: B) apprehension and
restlessness. Early symptoms of inadequate oxygenation include unexplained restlessness,
apprehension, and irritability. Dyspnea, hypotension, bradycardia, cyanosis, cool and clammy
skin are late signs.
When auscultating the chest of an older patient in mild respiratory distress, it is best to
A) begin listening to the apices
B) begin listening to the lung bases
C) begin listening on the anterior chest
D) ask the patient to breath through the nose with the mouth closed - Answer ANSWER: B)
begin listening to the lung bases Normally, auscultation should proceed from the lung apices to
the bases so that opposite areas of the chest are compared. For the patient in mild respiratory
distress, start at the bases. The patient may not be able to breathe through the nose with the
mouth closed, and, there is no sign that the patient needs immediate intubation.
, Which respiratory assessment finding does the nurse interpret as abnormal?
A) Inspiratory chest expansion of 1 inch
B) Symmetric chest expansion and contraction
C) Resonance ( to percusion) over the lung bases
D) Bronchial breath sounds in lower lung fields - Answer ANSWER: D) Bronchial breath
sounds in lower lung fields. Bronchial or bronchovesicular sounds heard in the peripheral lung
fields would be abnormal. All the other assessment findings are considered normal.
A 37 year old patient is concerned they have asthma. Of the symptoms they describe to you,
which ones suggest asthma or risk factors for asthma (Select all that apply)
A) Prolonged inhalation
B) Gastric reflux or heartburn
C) Cough worse at night or early in the morning
D) History of allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis
E) Chest pain or syncope after exercising with a stationary bicycle for 5 minutes - Answer
ANSWER: B,C,D Allergic rhinitis is a major predictor of adult asthma. Acute and chronic sinusitis,
especially bacterial rhinosinusitis, may worsen asthma. The chronic inflammation of asthma
leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and cough, particularly
at night or in the early morning. GERD is more common in people with asthma than in the
general population. GERD may worsen asthma symptoms because reflux may trigger
bronchoconstriction and cause aspiration. Chest pain and syncope after five minutes of exercise
are not normal for the patient with asthma, and patient should be encouraged to report these
specific findings to their HCP for additional follow-up.
Which finding indicate that a patient with asthma is developing status asthmatics (Select all that
apply)
A) Anxiety and panic
B) Positive Sputum culture
C) Unable to speak in complete sentences
D) Chest X-ray shows hyperinflated lungs
E) Lack of response to conventional treatment - Answer ANSWER: A,C,E Status asthmaticus is
characterized by a lack of response to conventional treatment. This is potentially a life-
threatening medical emergency, which may require mechanical ventilation in the ICU. As the
patient is keenly aware that response to treatment is not working, anxiety and panic may be
observed. If the patient can speak in complete sentences, or, has a PEFR >300L/min, then there
is no immediate threat to the respiratory system. A chest x-ray with hyperinflated lungs and a
flattened diaphragm is strongly suggestive of COPD. A positive sputum culture indicates lung
infection.
Which statement Indicates the patient with asthma requires further teaching about self care?
A) "I use my corticosteroid inhaler every time I feel short of breath."
Questions and Correct Answers.
A student nurse ask the RN what can be measured by arterial blood gas (ABG). The RN tells the
student that the ABG can measure
(Select all that apply)
A) Acid base balance.
B) Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
C) Mixed venous O2 (SvO2)
D)Compliance and resistance
E) Partial Pressure of O2 (PaO2) - Answer ANSWER: A, B, D Arterial blood gases (ABGs) are
measured to determine oxygenation status, ventilation status, and acid-base balance. ABG
analysis includes measurement of the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2), partial
pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2), acidity (pH), bicarbonate (HCO3-), and
arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in arterial blood. Mixed venous O2 saturation is the
measurement of O2 saturation in venous blood. Compliance is the lung's ability to expand and
resistance is the ease of airflow in and out of the lungs. They cannot be determined with ABGs.
To detect signs and symptoms of inadequate oxygenation, the nurse would examine the
patients for
A) dyspnea and hypotension
B) apprehension and restlessness
C) cyanosis and cool, clammy skin
D) increased urine output and diaphoresis - Answer ANSWER: B) apprehension and
restlessness. Early symptoms of inadequate oxygenation include unexplained restlessness,
apprehension, and irritability. Dyspnea, hypotension, bradycardia, cyanosis, cool and clammy
skin are late signs.
When auscultating the chest of an older patient in mild respiratory distress, it is best to
A) begin listening to the apices
B) begin listening to the lung bases
C) begin listening on the anterior chest
D) ask the patient to breath through the nose with the mouth closed - Answer ANSWER: B)
begin listening to the lung bases Normally, auscultation should proceed from the lung apices to
the bases so that opposite areas of the chest are compared. For the patient in mild respiratory
distress, start at the bases. The patient may not be able to breathe through the nose with the
mouth closed, and, there is no sign that the patient needs immediate intubation.
, Which respiratory assessment finding does the nurse interpret as abnormal?
A) Inspiratory chest expansion of 1 inch
B) Symmetric chest expansion and contraction
C) Resonance ( to percusion) over the lung bases
D) Bronchial breath sounds in lower lung fields - Answer ANSWER: D) Bronchial breath
sounds in lower lung fields. Bronchial or bronchovesicular sounds heard in the peripheral lung
fields would be abnormal. All the other assessment findings are considered normal.
A 37 year old patient is concerned they have asthma. Of the symptoms they describe to you,
which ones suggest asthma or risk factors for asthma (Select all that apply)
A) Prolonged inhalation
B) Gastric reflux or heartburn
C) Cough worse at night or early in the morning
D) History of allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis
E) Chest pain or syncope after exercising with a stationary bicycle for 5 minutes - Answer
ANSWER: B,C,D Allergic rhinitis is a major predictor of adult asthma. Acute and chronic sinusitis,
especially bacterial rhinosinusitis, may worsen asthma. The chronic inflammation of asthma
leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and cough, particularly
at night or in the early morning. GERD is more common in people with asthma than in the
general population. GERD may worsen asthma symptoms because reflux may trigger
bronchoconstriction and cause aspiration. Chest pain and syncope after five minutes of exercise
are not normal for the patient with asthma, and patient should be encouraged to report these
specific findings to their HCP for additional follow-up.
Which finding indicate that a patient with asthma is developing status asthmatics (Select all that
apply)
A) Anxiety and panic
B) Positive Sputum culture
C) Unable to speak in complete sentences
D) Chest X-ray shows hyperinflated lungs
E) Lack of response to conventional treatment - Answer ANSWER: A,C,E Status asthmaticus is
characterized by a lack of response to conventional treatment. This is potentially a life-
threatening medical emergency, which may require mechanical ventilation in the ICU. As the
patient is keenly aware that response to treatment is not working, anxiety and panic may be
observed. If the patient can speak in complete sentences, or, has a PEFR >300L/min, then there
is no immediate threat to the respiratory system. A chest x-ray with hyperinflated lungs and a
flattened diaphragm is strongly suggestive of COPD. A positive sputum culture indicates lung
infection.
Which statement Indicates the patient with asthma requires further teaching about self care?
A) "I use my corticosteroid inhaler every time I feel short of breath."
