ARDS Practice Questions and answers
spring 2023
The nurse is caring for a patient who was hospitalized 2 days earlier with aspiration pneumonia.
Which assessment information is most important to communicate to the health care provider?
a. The patient has a cough that is productive of blood-tinged sputum.
b. The patient has scattered crackles throughout the posterior lung bases.
c. The patient's temperature is 101.5° F after 2 days of IV antibiotic therapy.
d. The patient's SpO2 has dropped to 90%, although the O2 flow rate has been increased.
D
A 26-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital in severe respiratory distress. His oxygen saturations
are 80% despite supplemental oxygen provided by facemask. The physician decides to intubate the
patient to help with his breathing oxygenation. Which medication would the nurse most likely
administer when assisting with intubation?
Select all that apply?
A. Zolpidem (Ambien)
B. Midazolam (Versed)
C. Modafinil (Provigil)
D. Phentermine (Adipex-P)
E. Fentanyl (sublimaze)
B,E
These mredications are used for endotrachealintubation along with a muscle relaxant such as
vecuronium
A patient with ARDS is nutritionally compromised and TPN is ordered. What are considerations a
nurse must address when administering TPN.Select All that Apply.
a. monitor for infection
b. tubing and TPN are changed every 72 hours
c. perform blood glucose monitoring
d. administer through central line
e. administer supplemental potassium
A, C, and D.
TPN runs through central line, and key complications of TPN and hyperglycemia. Potassium will be
added to TPN and do not need to supplement unless severely low and in with pt. intubated would not
be giving oral medications
You're providing care to a patient who is being treated for aspiration pneumonia. The patient is on a
100% non-rebreather mask. Which finding below is a key sign and symptom that the patient is
, developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)?*
A. The patient is experiencing bradypnea.
B. The patient is tired and confused.
C. The patient's PaO2 remains at 45 mmHg.
D. The patient's blood pressure is 180/96.
C
A key sign and symptom found in ARDS is refractory hypoxemia. This is where that although the patient
is receiving a high amount of oxygen (here a 100% non-rebreather mask) the patient is STILL hypoxic.
Option C is the answer because it states the patient's arterial oxygen level is remaining at 45 mmHg (a
normal is 80 mmHg but when treating patients with ARDS a goal is at least 60 mmHg). Yes, the patient
can be tired and confused from a low oxygen level BUT this question wants to know the key sign and
symptom.
Which statement by a new nurse demonstrates understanding of ARDS?
A. "This condition develops because the exocrine glands start to work incorrectly leading to thick,
copious mucous to collect in the alveoli sacs."
B. "ARDS is a pulmonary disease that gradually causes chronic obstruction of airflow from the lungs."
C. "Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurs due to the collapsing of a lung because air has
accumulated in the pleural space."
D. "This condition develops because alveolar capillary membrane permeability has changed leading to
fluid collecting in the alveoli sacs."
D
RDS is a type of respiratory failure that occurs when the capillary membrane that surrounds the alveoli
sac becomes damaged, which causes fluid to leak into the alveoli sac. Option A describes cystic fibrosis,
option B describes COPD, and option C describes a pneumothorax.
During acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the patient's lung cells that produce surfactant
have become damaged. As the nurse you know this will lead to?
A. bronchoconstriction
B. atelectasis
C. upper airway blockage
D. pulmonary edema
B
Surfactant decreases surface tension in the lungs. Therefore, the alveoli sacs will stay stable when a
person exhales (hence the sac won't collapse). If there is a decrease in surfactant production this creates
an unpredictable alveoli sac that can easily collapse, hence a condition called atelectasis will occur
(collapse of the lung tissue) when there is a decrease production in surfactant.
A patient has been hospitalized in the ICU for a near drowning event. The patient's respiratory
function has been deteriorating over the last 24 hours. The physician suspects acute respiratory
distress syndrome. A STAT chest x-ray is ordered. What finding on the chest x-ray is indicative of
spring 2023
The nurse is caring for a patient who was hospitalized 2 days earlier with aspiration pneumonia.
Which assessment information is most important to communicate to the health care provider?
a. The patient has a cough that is productive of blood-tinged sputum.
b. The patient has scattered crackles throughout the posterior lung bases.
c. The patient's temperature is 101.5° F after 2 days of IV antibiotic therapy.
d. The patient's SpO2 has dropped to 90%, although the O2 flow rate has been increased.
D
A 26-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital in severe respiratory distress. His oxygen saturations
are 80% despite supplemental oxygen provided by facemask. The physician decides to intubate the
patient to help with his breathing oxygenation. Which medication would the nurse most likely
administer when assisting with intubation?
Select all that apply?
A. Zolpidem (Ambien)
B. Midazolam (Versed)
C. Modafinil (Provigil)
D. Phentermine (Adipex-P)
E. Fentanyl (sublimaze)
B,E
These mredications are used for endotrachealintubation along with a muscle relaxant such as
vecuronium
A patient with ARDS is nutritionally compromised and TPN is ordered. What are considerations a
nurse must address when administering TPN.Select All that Apply.
a. monitor for infection
b. tubing and TPN are changed every 72 hours
c. perform blood glucose monitoring
d. administer through central line
e. administer supplemental potassium
A, C, and D.
TPN runs through central line, and key complications of TPN and hyperglycemia. Potassium will be
added to TPN and do not need to supplement unless severely low and in with pt. intubated would not
be giving oral medications
You're providing care to a patient who is being treated for aspiration pneumonia. The patient is on a
100% non-rebreather mask. Which finding below is a key sign and symptom that the patient is
, developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)?*
A. The patient is experiencing bradypnea.
B. The patient is tired and confused.
C. The patient's PaO2 remains at 45 mmHg.
D. The patient's blood pressure is 180/96.
C
A key sign and symptom found in ARDS is refractory hypoxemia. This is where that although the patient
is receiving a high amount of oxygen (here a 100% non-rebreather mask) the patient is STILL hypoxic.
Option C is the answer because it states the patient's arterial oxygen level is remaining at 45 mmHg (a
normal is 80 mmHg but when treating patients with ARDS a goal is at least 60 mmHg). Yes, the patient
can be tired and confused from a low oxygen level BUT this question wants to know the key sign and
symptom.
Which statement by a new nurse demonstrates understanding of ARDS?
A. "This condition develops because the exocrine glands start to work incorrectly leading to thick,
copious mucous to collect in the alveoli sacs."
B. "ARDS is a pulmonary disease that gradually causes chronic obstruction of airflow from the lungs."
C. "Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurs due to the collapsing of a lung because air has
accumulated in the pleural space."
D. "This condition develops because alveolar capillary membrane permeability has changed leading to
fluid collecting in the alveoli sacs."
D
RDS is a type of respiratory failure that occurs when the capillary membrane that surrounds the alveoli
sac becomes damaged, which causes fluid to leak into the alveoli sac. Option A describes cystic fibrosis,
option B describes COPD, and option C describes a pneumothorax.
During acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the patient's lung cells that produce surfactant
have become damaged. As the nurse you know this will lead to?
A. bronchoconstriction
B. atelectasis
C. upper airway blockage
D. pulmonary edema
B
Surfactant decreases surface tension in the lungs. Therefore, the alveoli sacs will stay stable when a
person exhales (hence the sac won't collapse). If there is a decrease in surfactant production this creates
an unpredictable alveoli sac that can easily collapse, hence a condition called atelectasis will occur
(collapse of the lung tissue) when there is a decrease production in surfactant.
A patient has been hospitalized in the ICU for a near drowning event. The patient's respiratory
function has been deteriorating over the last 24 hours. The physician suspects acute respiratory
distress syndrome. A STAT chest x-ray is ordered. What finding on the chest x-ray is indicative of
