Pathophysiology Exam 2 practice
Questions and Answers
A child is brought to the emergency department struggling to breathe with a
prolonged bronchospasm and severe hypoxemia. Assessment revealed the
use of accessory muscles, a weak cough, audible wheezing sound, moist
skin, and tachycardia. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a) Pulmonary embolism
b) Severe asthma attack
c) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
d) Cystic fibrosis - (Answer)b) Severe asthma attack
A client with a history of heart failure and COPD (caused by 60 pack/year
smoking) presents to the clinic with the following complaints: auscultation of
breath sounds reveal absent/diminished breath sounds in the right lower
lobe. Which other manifestations lead the health care provider to suspect the
client may have developed atelectasis? Select all that apply.
a) "Having a hard time catching my breath."
b) Respiratory rate—32; pulse rate—122 beats/minute.
c) Using accessory muscles to help him breathe.
d) "Seems like I'm not making much water (decreased urine production)."
e) Copious amounts of thick, green sputum. - (Answer)a) "Having a hard
time catching my breath."
b) Respiratory rate—32; pulse rate—122 beats/minute.
c) Using accessory muscles to help him breathe.
The nurse is caring for the following clients. Select the client at highest risk
for the development of atelectasis.
,a) The client who is mobile within 24 hours after abdominal surgery
b) The client who is postop total knee replacement and receiving client-
controlled analgesia
c) The client with a lower leg cast who changes position every 2 hours
d) The client diagnosed with pneumonia who performs frequent coughing
and deep breathing exercises - (Answer)b) The client who is postop total
knee replacement and receiving client-controlled analgesia
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder involving the secretion
of fluids in specific exocrine glands. The genetic defect in CF inclines a
person to chronic respiratory infections from a small group of organisms.
Which organisms create chronic infection in a child with cystic fibrosis?
a) Staphylococcus aureus and hepatitis C
b) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli
c) Haemophilus influenzae and influenza A
d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus - (Answer)d)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus
The health care provider suspects a newly admitted client may have a
hemothorax. The client most likely experienced:
a) Renal failure
b) Pneumonia
c) Congestive heart failure
d) Fractured or dislocated ribs - (Answer)d) Fractured or dislocated ribs
Unilateral chest pain associated with respiratory movements is usually
described as which of the following?
,a) Bronchitic
b) Myocardial
c) Pleuritic
d) Musculoskeletal - (Answer)c) Pleuritic
A car accident client is admitted with a chest tube following pneumothorax.
He also has an elevated blood alcohol level. When the nurse enters his room,
she notes the client is dyspneic, short of breath, and holding his chest tube
in his hand. When the nurse pulls the linens back, she finds a "sucking" chest
wound. After calling a "code blue," the next priority intervention would be to:
a) Try to calm the patient down by maintaining therapeutic communication
b) Apply a Vaseline gauze (airtight) dressing over the insertion site
c) Observe and wait for the code blue team to bring equipment
d) Place the client's meal napkin over the wound - (Answer)b) Apply a
Vaseline gauze (airtight) dressing over the insertion site
An elderly client who has been restricted to bed by numerous comorbidities
for several weeks has been diagnosed with a large pleural effusion. Which of
the following treatment modalities is most likely to resolve the client's most
recent health problem?
a) Thoracentesis
b) Supplementary oxygen therapy
c) Administration of bronchodilators
d) Administration of corticosteroids - (Answer)a) Thoracentesis
Acute-onset bronchial asthma causes wheezing and breathlessness as a
result of which of the following?
, a) Pulmonary hypertension
b) Alveolar collapse
c) Compression atelectasis
d) Airway inflammation - (Answer)d) Airway inflammation
When CO2 levels in the blood rise, a state of hypercapnia occurs in the body.
What factors contribute to hypercapnia? (Select all that apply.)
a) Abnormalities in respiratory function
b) Decrease in carbon dioxide production
c) Changes in neural control of respiration
d) Disturbance in gas exchange function
e) Alteration in carbon dioxide production - (Answer)a) Abnormalities in
respiratory function
c) Changes in neural control of respiration
d) Disturbance in gas exchange function
e) Alteration in carbon dioxide production
A client has just been admitted to the postsurgical unit following a below-the-
knee amputation. Which of the following measures should her care team
prioritize to prevent atelectasis during the client's immediate recovery?
a) Bedrest and supplementary oxygen by nasal cannula
b) Adequate hydration and a high-humidity environment
c) Administration of bronchodilators by nebulizer
d) Deep-breathing exercises and early mobilization - (Answer)d) Deep-
breathing exercises and early mobilization
Questions and Answers
A child is brought to the emergency department struggling to breathe with a
prolonged bronchospasm and severe hypoxemia. Assessment revealed the
use of accessory muscles, a weak cough, audible wheezing sound, moist
skin, and tachycardia. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a) Pulmonary embolism
b) Severe asthma attack
c) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
d) Cystic fibrosis - (Answer)b) Severe asthma attack
A client with a history of heart failure and COPD (caused by 60 pack/year
smoking) presents to the clinic with the following complaints: auscultation of
breath sounds reveal absent/diminished breath sounds in the right lower
lobe. Which other manifestations lead the health care provider to suspect the
client may have developed atelectasis? Select all that apply.
a) "Having a hard time catching my breath."
b) Respiratory rate—32; pulse rate—122 beats/minute.
c) Using accessory muscles to help him breathe.
d) "Seems like I'm not making much water (decreased urine production)."
e) Copious amounts of thick, green sputum. - (Answer)a) "Having a hard
time catching my breath."
b) Respiratory rate—32; pulse rate—122 beats/minute.
c) Using accessory muscles to help him breathe.
The nurse is caring for the following clients. Select the client at highest risk
for the development of atelectasis.
,a) The client who is mobile within 24 hours after abdominal surgery
b) The client who is postop total knee replacement and receiving client-
controlled analgesia
c) The client with a lower leg cast who changes position every 2 hours
d) The client diagnosed with pneumonia who performs frequent coughing
and deep breathing exercises - (Answer)b) The client who is postop total
knee replacement and receiving client-controlled analgesia
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder involving the secretion
of fluids in specific exocrine glands. The genetic defect in CF inclines a
person to chronic respiratory infections from a small group of organisms.
Which organisms create chronic infection in a child with cystic fibrosis?
a) Staphylococcus aureus and hepatitis C
b) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli
c) Haemophilus influenzae and influenza A
d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus - (Answer)d)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus
The health care provider suspects a newly admitted client may have a
hemothorax. The client most likely experienced:
a) Renal failure
b) Pneumonia
c) Congestive heart failure
d) Fractured or dislocated ribs - (Answer)d) Fractured or dislocated ribs
Unilateral chest pain associated with respiratory movements is usually
described as which of the following?
,a) Bronchitic
b) Myocardial
c) Pleuritic
d) Musculoskeletal - (Answer)c) Pleuritic
A car accident client is admitted with a chest tube following pneumothorax.
He also has an elevated blood alcohol level. When the nurse enters his room,
she notes the client is dyspneic, short of breath, and holding his chest tube
in his hand. When the nurse pulls the linens back, she finds a "sucking" chest
wound. After calling a "code blue," the next priority intervention would be to:
a) Try to calm the patient down by maintaining therapeutic communication
b) Apply a Vaseline gauze (airtight) dressing over the insertion site
c) Observe and wait for the code blue team to bring equipment
d) Place the client's meal napkin over the wound - (Answer)b) Apply a
Vaseline gauze (airtight) dressing over the insertion site
An elderly client who has been restricted to bed by numerous comorbidities
for several weeks has been diagnosed with a large pleural effusion. Which of
the following treatment modalities is most likely to resolve the client's most
recent health problem?
a) Thoracentesis
b) Supplementary oxygen therapy
c) Administration of bronchodilators
d) Administration of corticosteroids - (Answer)a) Thoracentesis
Acute-onset bronchial asthma causes wheezing and breathlessness as a
result of which of the following?
, a) Pulmonary hypertension
b) Alveolar collapse
c) Compression atelectasis
d) Airway inflammation - (Answer)d) Airway inflammation
When CO2 levels in the blood rise, a state of hypercapnia occurs in the body.
What factors contribute to hypercapnia? (Select all that apply.)
a) Abnormalities in respiratory function
b) Decrease in carbon dioxide production
c) Changes in neural control of respiration
d) Disturbance in gas exchange function
e) Alteration in carbon dioxide production - (Answer)a) Abnormalities in
respiratory function
c) Changes in neural control of respiration
d) Disturbance in gas exchange function
e) Alteration in carbon dioxide production
A client has just been admitted to the postsurgical unit following a below-the-
knee amputation. Which of the following measures should her care team
prioritize to prevent atelectasis during the client's immediate recovery?
a) Bedrest and supplementary oxygen by nasal cannula
b) Adequate hydration and a high-humidity environment
c) Administration of bronchodilators by nebulizer
d) Deep-breathing exercises and early mobilization - (Answer)d) Deep-
breathing exercises and early mobilization
