Respiratory Exam 2022
When providing discharge teaching for a young female client who had a pneumothorax,
it is important that the nurse include the signs and symptoms of a recurring
pneumothorax. What is the most important symptom that the nurse should teach the
client to report to the healthcare provider?
1. Substernal chest pain
2. Episodes of palpitation
3. Severe shortness of breath
4. Dizziness when standing up - ANSWER 3. Severe shortness of breath
Thick mucous gland secretions, elevated sweat electrolytes, meconium ileus, and
difficulty maintaining and gaining weight are associated with this autosomal recessive
disorder:
1. Cerebral palsy
2. Cystic fibrosis
3. Muscular dystrophy
4. Multiple sclerosis - ANSWER 2. Cystic fibrosis
After thoracic surgery a client has a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage
system that is attached to suction. When excessive bubbling is observed in the water-
seal chamber, the nurse should:
1. Strip the chest tube catheter
2. Check the system for air leaks
3. Decrease the amount of suction pressure
4. Recognize that the system is functioning correctly - ANSWER 2. Check the system
for air leaks
A client has a chest tube inserted to treat a right hemopneumothorax. In which position
should the nurse place the client to facilitate chest drainage?
1. Supine
2. Left Sims
3. Immobilized
4. Right side-lying - ANSWER 4. Right side-lying
A client is diagnosed with emphysema. For what long-term problem should the nurse
monitor this client?
1. Localized tissue necrosis
2. Carbon dioxide retention
3. Increased respiratory rate
4. Saturated hemoglobin molecules - ANSWER 2. Carbon dioxide retention
A client has chronic asthma. For which complication should the nurse monitor this
client?
1. Atelectasis
, 2. Pneumothorax
3. Pulmonary edema
4. Respiratory alkalosis - ANSWER 1. Atelectasis
The nurse provides instructions to a client who will be using an incentive spirometer
postoperatively. During the client's return demonstration, the nurse concludes that the
teaching has been effective when the client:
1. Coughs twice before inhaling deeply through the mouthpiece
2. Uses the incentive spirometer for 10 consecutive breaths an hour
3. Inhales deeply, seals the lips around the mouthpiece, and then exhales
4. Inhales deeply through the mouthpiece, holds the breath for two seconds, and then
exhales - ANSWER 4. Inhales deeply through the mouthpiece, holds the breath for two
seconds, and then exhales
After the removal of a cast from a fractured arm, an 82-year-old client is to receive
physical therapy. In an older adult, mild exercise is expected to cause respirations to:
1. Increase to 24 breaths per minute
2. Become progressively more difficult
3. Decrease in rate as their depth increases
4. Become irregular but remain within normal rates - ANSWER 1. Increase to 24
breaths per minute
A nurse is caring for a client with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) who develops a pneumothorax and has a chest tube inserted. What is the
primary purpose of the chest tube?
1. Lessens the client's chest discomfort
2. Restores negative pressure in the pleural space
3. Drains accumulated fluid from the pleural cavity
4. Prevents subcutaneous emphysema in the chest wall - ANSWER 2. Restores
negative pressure in the pleural space
A client diagnosed with asthma has received a prescription for an inhaler. The nurse
teaches the client how to determine when the inhaler is empty, instructing the client to:
1. Count the number of doses taken
2. Taste the medication when sprayed into the air
3. Shake the canister
4. Place the canister in water to see if it floats - ANSWER 1. Count the number of doses
taken
In addition to Pneumocystis jiroveci, a client with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) also has an ulcer 4 cm in diameter on the leg. Considering the client's total
health status, the most critical concern is:
1. Skin integrity
2. Gas exchange
3. Social isolation
4. Nutritional status - ANSWER 2. Gas exchange
When providing discharge teaching for a young female client who had a pneumothorax,
it is important that the nurse include the signs and symptoms of a recurring
pneumothorax. What is the most important symptom that the nurse should teach the
client to report to the healthcare provider?
1. Substernal chest pain
2. Episodes of palpitation
3. Severe shortness of breath
4. Dizziness when standing up - ANSWER 3. Severe shortness of breath
Thick mucous gland secretions, elevated sweat electrolytes, meconium ileus, and
difficulty maintaining and gaining weight are associated with this autosomal recessive
disorder:
1. Cerebral palsy
2. Cystic fibrosis
3. Muscular dystrophy
4. Multiple sclerosis - ANSWER 2. Cystic fibrosis
After thoracic surgery a client has a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage
system that is attached to suction. When excessive bubbling is observed in the water-
seal chamber, the nurse should:
1. Strip the chest tube catheter
2. Check the system for air leaks
3. Decrease the amount of suction pressure
4. Recognize that the system is functioning correctly - ANSWER 2. Check the system
for air leaks
A client has a chest tube inserted to treat a right hemopneumothorax. In which position
should the nurse place the client to facilitate chest drainage?
1. Supine
2. Left Sims
3. Immobilized
4. Right side-lying - ANSWER 4. Right side-lying
A client is diagnosed with emphysema. For what long-term problem should the nurse
monitor this client?
1. Localized tissue necrosis
2. Carbon dioxide retention
3. Increased respiratory rate
4. Saturated hemoglobin molecules - ANSWER 2. Carbon dioxide retention
A client has chronic asthma. For which complication should the nurse monitor this
client?
1. Atelectasis
, 2. Pneumothorax
3. Pulmonary edema
4. Respiratory alkalosis - ANSWER 1. Atelectasis
The nurse provides instructions to a client who will be using an incentive spirometer
postoperatively. During the client's return demonstration, the nurse concludes that the
teaching has been effective when the client:
1. Coughs twice before inhaling deeply through the mouthpiece
2. Uses the incentive spirometer for 10 consecutive breaths an hour
3. Inhales deeply, seals the lips around the mouthpiece, and then exhales
4. Inhales deeply through the mouthpiece, holds the breath for two seconds, and then
exhales - ANSWER 4. Inhales deeply through the mouthpiece, holds the breath for two
seconds, and then exhales
After the removal of a cast from a fractured arm, an 82-year-old client is to receive
physical therapy. In an older adult, mild exercise is expected to cause respirations to:
1. Increase to 24 breaths per minute
2. Become progressively more difficult
3. Decrease in rate as their depth increases
4. Become irregular but remain within normal rates - ANSWER 1. Increase to 24
breaths per minute
A nurse is caring for a client with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) who develops a pneumothorax and has a chest tube inserted. What is the
primary purpose of the chest tube?
1. Lessens the client's chest discomfort
2. Restores negative pressure in the pleural space
3. Drains accumulated fluid from the pleural cavity
4. Prevents subcutaneous emphysema in the chest wall - ANSWER 2. Restores
negative pressure in the pleural space
A client diagnosed with asthma has received a prescription for an inhaler. The nurse
teaches the client how to determine when the inhaler is empty, instructing the client to:
1. Count the number of doses taken
2. Taste the medication when sprayed into the air
3. Shake the canister
4. Place the canister in water to see if it floats - ANSWER 1. Count the number of doses
taken
In addition to Pneumocystis jiroveci, a client with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS) also has an ulcer 4 cm in diameter on the leg. Considering the client's total
health status, the most critical concern is:
1. Skin integrity
2. Gas exchange
3. Social isolation
4. Nutritional status - ANSWER 2. Gas exchange
