COPD Exam 1: Questions and Correct
Answers
During an assessment of a 45-year-old patient with asthma, the nurse notes wheezing
and dyspnea. The nurse interprets that these symptoms are related to what
pathophysiologic change?
A. Laryngospasm
B. Pulmonary edema
C. Narrowing of the airway
D. Overdistention of the alveoli - ✔ C
Narrowing of the airway by persistent but variable inflammation leads to reduced airflow,
making it difficult for the patient to breathe and producing the characteristic wheezing.
Laryngospasm, pulmonary edema, and overdistention of the alveoli do not produce
wheezing.
A 45-year-old man with asthma is brought to the emergency department by automobile.
He is short of breath and appears frightened. During the initial nursing assessment,
which clinical manifestation might be present as an early manifestation during an
exacerbation of asthma?
A. Anxiety
B. Cyanosis
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypercapnia - ✔ A
An early manifestation during an asthma attack is anxiety because the patient is acutely
aware of the inability to get sufficient air to breathe. He will be hypoxic early on with
decreased PaCO2 and increased pH as he is hyperventilating. If cyanosis occurs, it is a
later sign. The pulse and blood pressure will be increased.
The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who has anxiety and an exacerbation of
asthma. What is the primary reason for the nurse to carefully inspect the chest wall of
this patient?
A. Allow time to calm the patient.
B. Observe for signs of diaphoresis.
C. Evaluate the use of intercostal muscles.
D. Monitor the patient for bilateral chest expansion. - ✔ C
The nurse physically inspects the chest wall to evaluate the use of intercostal
(accessory) muscles, which gives an indication of the degree of respiratory distress
, experienced by the patient. The other options may also occur, but they are not the
primary reason for inspecting the chest wall of this patient.
A patient with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
needs to receive precise amounts of oxygen. Which equipment should the nurse
prepare to use?
A. Oxygen tent
B. Venturi mask
C. Nasal cannula
D. Oxygen-conserving cannula - ✔ B
The Venturi mask delivers precise concentrations of oxygen and should be selected
whenever this is a priority concern. The other methods are less precise in terms of
amount of oxygen delivered.
The nurse determines that a patient is experiencing common adverse effects from the
inhaled corticosteroid beclomethasone (Beclovent) after what occurs?
A. Hypertension and pulmonary edema
B. Oropharyngeal candidiasis and hoarseness
C. Elevation of blood glucose and calcium levels
D. Adrenocortical dysfunction and hyperglycemia - ✔ B
Oropharyngeal candidiasis and hoarseness are common adverse effects from the use
of inhaled corticosteroids because the medication can lead to overgrowth of organisms
and local irritation if the patient does not rinse the mouth following each dose.
When planning teaching for the patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), the nurse understands that what causes the manifestations of the disease?
A. An overproduction of the antiprotease α1-antitrypsin
B. Hyperinflation of alveoli and destruction of alveolar walls
C. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells in the bronchi
D. Collapse and hypoventilation of the terminal respiratory unit - ✔ B
In COPD there are structural changes that include hyperinflation of alveoli, destruction
of alveolar walls, destruction of alveolar capillary walls, narrowing of small airways, and
loss of lung elasticity. An autosomal recessive deficiency of antitrypsin may cause
COPD. Not all patients with COPD have excess mucus production by the increased
number of goblet cells.
The nurse evaluates that nursing interventions to promote airway clearance in a patient
admitted with COPD are successful based on which finding?
A. Absence of dyspnea
Answers
During an assessment of a 45-year-old patient with asthma, the nurse notes wheezing
and dyspnea. The nurse interprets that these symptoms are related to what
pathophysiologic change?
A. Laryngospasm
B. Pulmonary edema
C. Narrowing of the airway
D. Overdistention of the alveoli - ✔ C
Narrowing of the airway by persistent but variable inflammation leads to reduced airflow,
making it difficult for the patient to breathe and producing the characteristic wheezing.
Laryngospasm, pulmonary edema, and overdistention of the alveoli do not produce
wheezing.
A 45-year-old man with asthma is brought to the emergency department by automobile.
He is short of breath and appears frightened. During the initial nursing assessment,
which clinical manifestation might be present as an early manifestation during an
exacerbation of asthma?
A. Anxiety
B. Cyanosis
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypercapnia - ✔ A
An early manifestation during an asthma attack is anxiety because the patient is acutely
aware of the inability to get sufficient air to breathe. He will be hypoxic early on with
decreased PaCO2 and increased pH as he is hyperventilating. If cyanosis occurs, it is a
later sign. The pulse and blood pressure will be increased.
The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who has anxiety and an exacerbation of
asthma. What is the primary reason for the nurse to carefully inspect the chest wall of
this patient?
A. Allow time to calm the patient.
B. Observe for signs of diaphoresis.
C. Evaluate the use of intercostal muscles.
D. Monitor the patient for bilateral chest expansion. - ✔ C
The nurse physically inspects the chest wall to evaluate the use of intercostal
(accessory) muscles, which gives an indication of the degree of respiratory distress
, experienced by the patient. The other options may also occur, but they are not the
primary reason for inspecting the chest wall of this patient.
A patient with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
needs to receive precise amounts of oxygen. Which equipment should the nurse
prepare to use?
A. Oxygen tent
B. Venturi mask
C. Nasal cannula
D. Oxygen-conserving cannula - ✔ B
The Venturi mask delivers precise concentrations of oxygen and should be selected
whenever this is a priority concern. The other methods are less precise in terms of
amount of oxygen delivered.
The nurse determines that a patient is experiencing common adverse effects from the
inhaled corticosteroid beclomethasone (Beclovent) after what occurs?
A. Hypertension and pulmonary edema
B. Oropharyngeal candidiasis and hoarseness
C. Elevation of blood glucose and calcium levels
D. Adrenocortical dysfunction and hyperglycemia - ✔ B
Oropharyngeal candidiasis and hoarseness are common adverse effects from the use
of inhaled corticosteroids because the medication can lead to overgrowth of organisms
and local irritation if the patient does not rinse the mouth following each dose.
When planning teaching for the patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), the nurse understands that what causes the manifestations of the disease?
A. An overproduction of the antiprotease α1-antitrypsin
B. Hyperinflation of alveoli and destruction of alveolar walls
C. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of goblet cells in the bronchi
D. Collapse and hypoventilation of the terminal respiratory unit - ✔ B
In COPD there are structural changes that include hyperinflation of alveoli, destruction
of alveolar walls, destruction of alveolar capillary walls, narrowing of small airways, and
loss of lung elasticity. An autosomal recessive deficiency of antitrypsin may cause
COPD. Not all patients with COPD have excess mucus production by the increased
number of goblet cells.
The nurse evaluates that nursing interventions to promote airway clearance in a patient
admitted with COPD are successful based on which finding?
A. Absence of dyspnea
