RESPIRATORY MED-SURG EXAM LATEST 2026
UPDATE 100 QUESTIONS AND DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS FROM ACTUAL EXAMS TEST GRADE A+
1. A patient with COPD is at highest risk for which acid-base imbalance?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: COPD leads to CO₂ retention due to impaired ventilation, causing
respiratory acidosis.
2. Which finding is most consistent with hypoxemia?
A. Bradycardia
B. Confusion
C. Hypertension
D. Polyuria
Answer: B. Confusion
Rationale: Decreased oxygen to the brain commonly causes confusion and
restlessness.
3. What is the priority intervention for a patient with acute asthma attack?
A. Administer antibiotics
B. Give bronchodilator
,C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Obtain chest x-ray
Answer: B. Give bronchodilator
Rationale: Bronchodilators rapidly open airways and relieve bronchospasm.
4. Which sign indicates worsening respiratory distress?
A. Bradypnea
B. Accessory muscle use
C. Normal oxygen saturation
D. Decreased respiratory rate with calm behavior
Answer: B. Accessory muscle use
Rationale: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased work of breathing.
5. A patient with pneumonia is expected to have which assessment finding?
A. Dry cough
B. Dullness to percussion
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypertension
Answer: B. Dullness to percussion
Rationale: Lung consolidation in pneumonia produces dull percussion sounds.
6. Which oxygen delivery device provides the highest oxygen concentration?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Simple face mask
C. Venturi mask
D. Non-rebreather mask
,Answer: D. Non-rebreather mask
Rationale: It delivers up to 90–100% oxygen with reservoir bag.
7. Which condition is a common cause of pulmonary embolism?
A. Hypertension
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Asthma
D. Pneumonia
Answer: B. Deep vein thrombosis
Rationale: Clots from DVT can dislodge and travel to lungs.
8. Which ABG result indicates respiratory alkalosis?
A. pH 7.30, CO₂ high
B. pH 7.50, CO₂ low
C. pH 7.20, HCO₃ low
D. pH 7.40, CO₂ normal
Answer: B. pH 7.50, CO₂ low
Rationale: Low CO₂ due to hyperventilation increases pH.
9. What is the first action for a patient with suspected tension pneumothorax?
A. Administer oxygen
B. Prepare for chest tube insertion
C. Encourage coughing
D. Obtain sputum sample
Answer: B. Prepare for chest tube insertion
Rationale: Chest tube relieves trapped air and restores lung expansion.
, 10. Which symptom is most common in tuberculosis?
A. Sudden chest pain
B. Night sweats
C. Bradycardia
D. Jaundice
Answer: B. Night sweats
Rationale: TB typically presents with night sweats, weight loss, and chronic cough.
11. Which breathing pattern is seen in COPD patients?
A. Kussmaul breathing
B. Cheyne-Stokes respiration
C. Pursed-lip breathing
D. Apneustic breathing
Answer: C. Pursed-lip breathing
Rationale: It helps prevent airway collapse and improves ventilation.
12. Which medication is a short-acting beta agonist (SABA)?
A. Fluticasone
B. Albuterol
C. Montelukast
D. Theophylline
Answer: B. Albuterol
Rationale: Albuterol provides rapid bronchodilation.
13. Which complication is associated with prolonged oxygen therapy?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Oxygen toxicity
UPDATE 100 QUESTIONS AND DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS FROM ACTUAL EXAMS TEST GRADE A+
1. A patient with COPD is at highest risk for which acid-base imbalance?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: COPD leads to CO₂ retention due to impaired ventilation, causing
respiratory acidosis.
2. Which finding is most consistent with hypoxemia?
A. Bradycardia
B. Confusion
C. Hypertension
D. Polyuria
Answer: B. Confusion
Rationale: Decreased oxygen to the brain commonly causes confusion and
restlessness.
3. What is the priority intervention for a patient with acute asthma attack?
A. Administer antibiotics
B. Give bronchodilator
,C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Obtain chest x-ray
Answer: B. Give bronchodilator
Rationale: Bronchodilators rapidly open airways and relieve bronchospasm.
4. Which sign indicates worsening respiratory distress?
A. Bradypnea
B. Accessory muscle use
C. Normal oxygen saturation
D. Decreased respiratory rate with calm behavior
Answer: B. Accessory muscle use
Rationale: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased work of breathing.
5. A patient with pneumonia is expected to have which assessment finding?
A. Dry cough
B. Dullness to percussion
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypertension
Answer: B. Dullness to percussion
Rationale: Lung consolidation in pneumonia produces dull percussion sounds.
6. Which oxygen delivery device provides the highest oxygen concentration?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Simple face mask
C. Venturi mask
D. Non-rebreather mask
,Answer: D. Non-rebreather mask
Rationale: It delivers up to 90–100% oxygen with reservoir bag.
7. Which condition is a common cause of pulmonary embolism?
A. Hypertension
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Asthma
D. Pneumonia
Answer: B. Deep vein thrombosis
Rationale: Clots from DVT can dislodge and travel to lungs.
8. Which ABG result indicates respiratory alkalosis?
A. pH 7.30, CO₂ high
B. pH 7.50, CO₂ low
C. pH 7.20, HCO₃ low
D. pH 7.40, CO₂ normal
Answer: B. pH 7.50, CO₂ low
Rationale: Low CO₂ due to hyperventilation increases pH.
9. What is the first action for a patient with suspected tension pneumothorax?
A. Administer oxygen
B. Prepare for chest tube insertion
C. Encourage coughing
D. Obtain sputum sample
Answer: B. Prepare for chest tube insertion
Rationale: Chest tube relieves trapped air and restores lung expansion.
, 10. Which symptom is most common in tuberculosis?
A. Sudden chest pain
B. Night sweats
C. Bradycardia
D. Jaundice
Answer: B. Night sweats
Rationale: TB typically presents with night sweats, weight loss, and chronic cough.
11. Which breathing pattern is seen in COPD patients?
A. Kussmaul breathing
B. Cheyne-Stokes respiration
C. Pursed-lip breathing
D. Apneustic breathing
Answer: C. Pursed-lip breathing
Rationale: It helps prevent airway collapse and improves ventilation.
12. Which medication is a short-acting beta agonist (SABA)?
A. Fluticasone
B. Albuterol
C. Montelukast
D. Theophylline
Answer: B. Albuterol
Rationale: Albuterol provides rapid bronchodilation.
13. Which complication is associated with prolonged oxygen therapy?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Oxygen toxicity
