RESPIRATORY DISORDERS Q &
A WITH EXPLANATIONS
1) The nurse is ordered to obtain a specimen from a client using bronchoalveolar lavage.
Which of the following diseases is this test most often used to diagnose?
A) Pulmonary tuberculosis
B) COPD
C) Bronchitis
D) Pneumonia
Ans: A
Feedback:
If the client is unable to cough up sputum, the physician may order that either the nurse
or the respiratory therapist obtain a specimen by bronchoalveolar lavage. In this
procedure, sterile saline is instilled into a bronchus. Then, cells and fluid from the
bronchioles and alveoli are removed by endoscopy along with the saline. The cells are
analyzed in the laboratory, most often to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).
2) The nurse is performing a physical assessment of a client who complains of a sore throat
and stuffy nose. The nurse notes a red inflamed throat and slight fever and suspects the
client has strep throat. Which of the following tests would be ordered to confirm this
diagnosis?
A) Bronchoalveolar lavage
B) Pulmonary function test
C) Throat culture
D) Sputum specimen
Ans: C
Feedback:
A throat culture may be done within a matter of hours to rule out the presence of
streptococci. The pulmonary function test (PFT) measures how much air a client inhales
(inspiration) and exhales (expiration) in one breath and assesses the client's general
respiratory status. Bronchoalveolar lavage is most often used to diagnose pulmonary
tuberculosis. Sputum specimens help determine the presence of organisms or blood in a
,RESPIRATORY DISORDERS Q &
A WITH EXPLANATIONS
person's sputum.
3) A client is diagnosed with hypoxemia. Which of the following tests would most likely
be ordered to determine oxygen deficiency in this client?
A) Chest x-ray
B) Computed tomography scan
C) Pulmonary angiography
D) Arterial blood gases
Ans: D
Feedback:
The best indicator of oxygen deficiency is the level of arterial blood gases (ABGs). The
partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) value is generally considered normal when it is
between 80 and 100 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). A chest x-ray is ordered to
determine lung or heart abnormalities. The computed tomography (CT) scan is a series
of x-ray films taken to provide a cross-sectional view of the chest or other body part.
, RESPIRATORY DISORDERS Q &
A WITH EXPLANATIONS
Pulmonary angiography involves injection of radiopaque dye into the pulmonary blood
vessels to determine pathology.
4) A nurse is preparing a client for bronchoscopy. Which of the following instructions is
most important for the nurse to teach the client?
A) Avoid taking food 3 hours before the procedure.
B) Maintain a side-lying position after the bronchoscopy.
C) Cough out the mucus secretions after the procedure.
D) Start a soft, semisolid diet when the gag reflex returns.
Ans: B
Feedback:
The nurse should instruct the client to maintain a side-lying position after the
bronchoscopy to facilitate drainage. The client should avoid taking food or fluids 6 to 8
hours before the bronchoscopy procedure. The nurse should not allow the client to
cough out mucous secretions after the procedure; the anesthetic numbs the throat, so
reflexes are not functional. When the gag reflex returns, the client must be given only
clear fluids, and the nurse should monitor the client's ability to tolerate them.
5) The nurse is conducting a free screening for tuberculosis in a large neighborhood
clinic. The nurse expects a large showing of clients to take advantage of this free offer.
Which of the following tests would be the most practical for testing a large group of
people?
A) Tine test
B) Purified protein derivative TB test
C) Mantoux TB test
D) Sputum culture
Ans: A
Feedback:
The tine test is often used in mass screening. A sterile stainless steel disk with four tines
A WITH EXPLANATIONS
1) The nurse is ordered to obtain a specimen from a client using bronchoalveolar lavage.
Which of the following diseases is this test most often used to diagnose?
A) Pulmonary tuberculosis
B) COPD
C) Bronchitis
D) Pneumonia
Ans: A
Feedback:
If the client is unable to cough up sputum, the physician may order that either the nurse
or the respiratory therapist obtain a specimen by bronchoalveolar lavage. In this
procedure, sterile saline is instilled into a bronchus. Then, cells and fluid from the
bronchioles and alveoli are removed by endoscopy along with the saline. The cells are
analyzed in the laboratory, most often to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).
2) The nurse is performing a physical assessment of a client who complains of a sore throat
and stuffy nose. The nurse notes a red inflamed throat and slight fever and suspects the
client has strep throat. Which of the following tests would be ordered to confirm this
diagnosis?
A) Bronchoalveolar lavage
B) Pulmonary function test
C) Throat culture
D) Sputum specimen
Ans: C
Feedback:
A throat culture may be done within a matter of hours to rule out the presence of
streptococci. The pulmonary function test (PFT) measures how much air a client inhales
(inspiration) and exhales (expiration) in one breath and assesses the client's general
respiratory status. Bronchoalveolar lavage is most often used to diagnose pulmonary
tuberculosis. Sputum specimens help determine the presence of organisms or blood in a
,RESPIRATORY DISORDERS Q &
A WITH EXPLANATIONS
person's sputum.
3) A client is diagnosed with hypoxemia. Which of the following tests would most likely
be ordered to determine oxygen deficiency in this client?
A) Chest x-ray
B) Computed tomography scan
C) Pulmonary angiography
D) Arterial blood gases
Ans: D
Feedback:
The best indicator of oxygen deficiency is the level of arterial blood gases (ABGs). The
partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) value is generally considered normal when it is
between 80 and 100 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). A chest x-ray is ordered to
determine lung or heart abnormalities. The computed tomography (CT) scan is a series
of x-ray films taken to provide a cross-sectional view of the chest or other body part.
, RESPIRATORY DISORDERS Q &
A WITH EXPLANATIONS
Pulmonary angiography involves injection of radiopaque dye into the pulmonary blood
vessels to determine pathology.
4) A nurse is preparing a client for bronchoscopy. Which of the following instructions is
most important for the nurse to teach the client?
A) Avoid taking food 3 hours before the procedure.
B) Maintain a side-lying position after the bronchoscopy.
C) Cough out the mucus secretions after the procedure.
D) Start a soft, semisolid diet when the gag reflex returns.
Ans: B
Feedback:
The nurse should instruct the client to maintain a side-lying position after the
bronchoscopy to facilitate drainage. The client should avoid taking food or fluids 6 to 8
hours before the bronchoscopy procedure. The nurse should not allow the client to
cough out mucous secretions after the procedure; the anesthetic numbs the throat, so
reflexes are not functional. When the gag reflex returns, the client must be given only
clear fluids, and the nurse should monitor the client's ability to tolerate them.
5) The nurse is conducting a free screening for tuberculosis in a large neighborhood
clinic. The nurse expects a large showing of clients to take advantage of this free offer.
Which of the following tests would be the most practical for testing a large group of
people?
A) Tine test
B) Purified protein derivative TB test
C) Mantoux TB test
D) Sputum culture
Ans: A
Feedback:
The tine test is often used in mass screening. A sterile stainless steel disk with four tines
