NEW 2022 MED-SURG UNIT 4 RESPIRATORY
STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE ALL LIKELY TESTED
MED-SURG QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. What is the purpose of the cilia?
a. Warm and moisturize inhaled air
b. Sweep debris toward nasal cavity
c. Stimulate cough reflex
d. Produce mucus
- ANSWER B. sweep debris toward nasal cavity
(The cilia are fine hairlike processes on the outer surfaces of small cells that produce a motion
that sweeps the debris toward the nasal cavity. Large particles that are swept away stimulate
the cough reflex, but not the cilia themselves.)
2. What happens when there is a decrease in the oxygen level in the blood?
,a. Pituitary stimulates the respiratory system to increase respiratory rate
b. The alveoli diffuse more oxygen into the blood
c. Chemoreceptors in the carotid body and aortic body stimulate the respiratory centers to
modify respiratory rates
d. The parietal pleura increases the negative pressure - ANSWER C. Chemoreceptors in the
carotid body and aortic body stimulate the respiratory centers to modify respiratory rates
(The chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies and the aortic bodies send a message to the
respiratory centers to modify respirations.)
3. A nursing diagnosis for the patient with a new laryngectomy would be Social isolation related
to impaired verbal communication related to removal of the larynx. What is an appropriate
nursing intervention?
a. Complete care quickly
b. Provide a pad and pencil or magic slate
c. Refrain from conversations with the patient to reduce stress level
d. Offer books or jigsaw puzzles for entertainment - ANSWER B.Provide a pad and pencil or
magic slate
(Provide patient with implements for communication. Rapidly completing care and provision of
solitary activities does not reduce social isolation.)
4. A 55-year-old man comes to the health nurse at his place of work with epistaxis. He reports
he has frequent nosebleeds that he can usually control himself. What would be the most helpful
assessment after the nurse has stopped the bleeding?
a. Obtain a blood pressure
b. Record the approximate amount of blood lost
c. Inquire about a headache
, d. Record the last episode of epistaxis - ANSWER A. Obtain a blood pressure
(Check the blood pressure for hypotension to assess for hypovolemic shock. Adults can lose as
much as 1 L of blood in an hour with heavy epistaxis.)
5. The nurse assessing an 11-year-old who is having an asthma attack expects to hear
adventitious sounds of:
a. friction rub.
b. sibilant wheezes.
c. crackles.
d. sonorous wheezes. - ANSWER B. sibilant wheezes
(The narrowed bronchioles characteristic of an asthma attack would produce sibilant wheezes,
which are high-pitched whistling sounds.)
6. How will the kidneys behave in respiratory acidosis?
a. Retain bicarbonate to increase the pH
b. Excrete more urine to reduce potassium
c. Concentrate the urine to conserve circulating fluid in the blood stream
d. Lower the pH by excretion of bicarbonate - ANSWER A.Retain bicarbonate to increase the
pH
(In respiratory acidosis the pH is low. The kidneys will retain bicarbonate to increase the pH.)
7.An 83-year-old patient is admitted with a temperature of 102° F (38.8° C), chest pain, and
fatigue. What is the infected fluid that the physician removes called?
STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE ALL LIKELY TESTED
MED-SURG QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. What is the purpose of the cilia?
a. Warm and moisturize inhaled air
b. Sweep debris toward nasal cavity
c. Stimulate cough reflex
d. Produce mucus
- ANSWER B. sweep debris toward nasal cavity
(The cilia are fine hairlike processes on the outer surfaces of small cells that produce a motion
that sweeps the debris toward the nasal cavity. Large particles that are swept away stimulate
the cough reflex, but not the cilia themselves.)
2. What happens when there is a decrease in the oxygen level in the blood?
,a. Pituitary stimulates the respiratory system to increase respiratory rate
b. The alveoli diffuse more oxygen into the blood
c. Chemoreceptors in the carotid body and aortic body stimulate the respiratory centers to
modify respiratory rates
d. The parietal pleura increases the negative pressure - ANSWER C. Chemoreceptors in the
carotid body and aortic body stimulate the respiratory centers to modify respiratory rates
(The chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies and the aortic bodies send a message to the
respiratory centers to modify respirations.)
3. A nursing diagnosis for the patient with a new laryngectomy would be Social isolation related
to impaired verbal communication related to removal of the larynx. What is an appropriate
nursing intervention?
a. Complete care quickly
b. Provide a pad and pencil or magic slate
c. Refrain from conversations with the patient to reduce stress level
d. Offer books or jigsaw puzzles for entertainment - ANSWER B.Provide a pad and pencil or
magic slate
(Provide patient with implements for communication. Rapidly completing care and provision of
solitary activities does not reduce social isolation.)
4. A 55-year-old man comes to the health nurse at his place of work with epistaxis. He reports
he has frequent nosebleeds that he can usually control himself. What would be the most helpful
assessment after the nurse has stopped the bleeding?
a. Obtain a blood pressure
b. Record the approximate amount of blood lost
c. Inquire about a headache
, d. Record the last episode of epistaxis - ANSWER A. Obtain a blood pressure
(Check the blood pressure for hypotension to assess for hypovolemic shock. Adults can lose as
much as 1 L of blood in an hour with heavy epistaxis.)
5. The nurse assessing an 11-year-old who is having an asthma attack expects to hear
adventitious sounds of:
a. friction rub.
b. sibilant wheezes.
c. crackles.
d. sonorous wheezes. - ANSWER B. sibilant wheezes
(The narrowed bronchioles characteristic of an asthma attack would produce sibilant wheezes,
which are high-pitched whistling sounds.)
6. How will the kidneys behave in respiratory acidosis?
a. Retain bicarbonate to increase the pH
b. Excrete more urine to reduce potassium
c. Concentrate the urine to conserve circulating fluid in the blood stream
d. Lower the pH by excretion of bicarbonate - ANSWER A.Retain bicarbonate to increase the
pH
(In respiratory acidosis the pH is low. The kidneys will retain bicarbonate to increase the pH.)
7.An 83-year-old patient is admitted with a temperature of 102° F (38.8° C), chest pain, and
fatigue. What is the infected fluid that the physician removes called?
