ATI MED SURG RESPIRATORY EXAM 500
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2025
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
(COPD) and pneumonia who has an order for arterial blood gases to be drawn.
What is the minimum length of time the nurse should plan to hold pressure on
the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes - ANSWER-B. 5 minutes
After obtaining blood for an arterial blood gas measurement, the nurse should
hold pressure on the puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to be sure that
bleeding has stopped. An artery is an elastic vessel under much higher pressure
than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if the
time is insufficient.
A patient with a recent history of a dry cough has had a chest x-ray that revealed
the presence of nodules. In an effort to determine whether the nodules are
malignant or benign, what is the primary care provider likely to order?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Pulmonary angiogram
,C. CT scan of the patient's chest
D. Positron emission tomography (PET) - ANSWER-D. Positron emission
tomography (PET)
PET is used to distinguish benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Because
malignant lung cells have an increased uptake of glucose, the PET scan (which
uses an IV radioactive glucose preparation) can demonstrate increased uptake of
glucose in malignant lung cells. This differentiation cannot be made using CT, a
pulmonary angiogram, or thoracentesis.
After assisting at the bedside with a thoracentesis, the nurse should continue to
assess the patient for signs and symptoms of what?
A. Bronchospasm
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Respiratory acidosis - ANSWER-B. Pneumothorax
Because thoracentesis involves the introduction of a catheter into the pleural
space, there is a risk of pneumothorax. Thoracentesis does not carry a significant
potential for causing bronchospasm, pulmonary edema, or respiratory acidosis.
The patient had abdominal surgery yesterday. Today the lung sounds in the lower
lobes have decreased. The nurse knows this could be due to what occurring?
A. Pain
B. Atelectasis
,C. Pneumonia
D. Pleural effusion - ANSWER-B. Atelectasis
Postoperatively there is an increased risk for atelectasis from anesthesia as well
as restricted breathing from pain. Without deep breathing to stretch the alveoli,
surfactant secretion to hold the alveoli open is not promoted. Pneumonia will
occur later after surgery. Pleural effusion occurs because of blockage of lymphatic
drainage or an imbalance between intravascular and oncotic fluid pressures,
which is not expected in this case
The patient is hospitalized with pneumonia. Which diagnostic test should be used
to measure the efficiency of gas transfer in the lung and tissue oxygenation?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Bronchoscopy
C. Arterial blood gases
D. Pulmonary function tests - ANSWER-C. Arterial blood gases
Arterial blood gases are used to assess the efficiency of gas transfer in the lung
and tissue oxygenation as is pulse oximetry. Thoracentesis is used to obtain
specimens for diagnostic evaluation, remove pleural fluid, or instill medication
into the pleural space. Bronchoscopy is used for diagnostic purposes, to obtain
biopsy specimens, and to assess changes resulting from treatment. Pulmonary
function tests measure lung volumes and airflow to diagnose pulmonary disease,
monitor disease progression, evaluate disability, and evaluate response to
bronchodilators
, The nurse is interpreting a tuberculin skin test (TST) for a 58-year-old female
patient with end-stage kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus. Which
finding would indicate a positive reaction?
A. Acid-fast bacilli cultured at the injection site
B. 15-mm area of redness at the TST injection site
C. 11-mm area of induration at the TST injection site
D. Wheal formed immediately after intradermal injection - ANSWER-C. 11-mm
area of induration at the TST injection site
An area of induration ≥ 10 mm would be a positive reaction in a person with end-
stage kidney disease. Reddened, flat areas do not indicate a positive reaction. A
wheal appears when the TST is administered that indicates correct administration
of the intradermal antigen. Presence of acid-fast bacilli in the sputum indicates
active tuberculosis.
The nurse is preparing the patient for a diagnostic procedure to remove pleural
fluid for analysis. The nurse would prepare the patient for which test?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Bronchoscopy
C. Pulmonary angiography
D. Sputum culture and sensitivity - ANSWER-A. Thoracentesis
Thoracentesis is the insertion of a large-bore needle through the chest wall into
the pleural space to obtain specimens for diagnostic evaluation, remove pleural
fluid, or instill medication into the pleural space.
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2025
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
(COPD) and pneumonia who has an order for arterial blood gases to be drawn.
What is the minimum length of time the nurse should plan to hold pressure on
the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes - ANSWER-B. 5 minutes
After obtaining blood for an arterial blood gas measurement, the nurse should
hold pressure on the puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to be sure that
bleeding has stopped. An artery is an elastic vessel under much higher pressure
than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if the
time is insufficient.
A patient with a recent history of a dry cough has had a chest x-ray that revealed
the presence of nodules. In an effort to determine whether the nodules are
malignant or benign, what is the primary care provider likely to order?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Pulmonary angiogram
,C. CT scan of the patient's chest
D. Positron emission tomography (PET) - ANSWER-D. Positron emission
tomography (PET)
PET is used to distinguish benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Because
malignant lung cells have an increased uptake of glucose, the PET scan (which
uses an IV radioactive glucose preparation) can demonstrate increased uptake of
glucose in malignant lung cells. This differentiation cannot be made using CT, a
pulmonary angiogram, or thoracentesis.
After assisting at the bedside with a thoracentesis, the nurse should continue to
assess the patient for signs and symptoms of what?
A. Bronchospasm
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Respiratory acidosis - ANSWER-B. Pneumothorax
Because thoracentesis involves the introduction of a catheter into the pleural
space, there is a risk of pneumothorax. Thoracentesis does not carry a significant
potential for causing bronchospasm, pulmonary edema, or respiratory acidosis.
The patient had abdominal surgery yesterday. Today the lung sounds in the lower
lobes have decreased. The nurse knows this could be due to what occurring?
A. Pain
B. Atelectasis
,C. Pneumonia
D. Pleural effusion - ANSWER-B. Atelectasis
Postoperatively there is an increased risk for atelectasis from anesthesia as well
as restricted breathing from pain. Without deep breathing to stretch the alveoli,
surfactant secretion to hold the alveoli open is not promoted. Pneumonia will
occur later after surgery. Pleural effusion occurs because of blockage of lymphatic
drainage or an imbalance between intravascular and oncotic fluid pressures,
which is not expected in this case
The patient is hospitalized with pneumonia. Which diagnostic test should be used
to measure the efficiency of gas transfer in the lung and tissue oxygenation?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Bronchoscopy
C. Arterial blood gases
D. Pulmonary function tests - ANSWER-C. Arterial blood gases
Arterial blood gases are used to assess the efficiency of gas transfer in the lung
and tissue oxygenation as is pulse oximetry. Thoracentesis is used to obtain
specimens for diagnostic evaluation, remove pleural fluid, or instill medication
into the pleural space. Bronchoscopy is used for diagnostic purposes, to obtain
biopsy specimens, and to assess changes resulting from treatment. Pulmonary
function tests measure lung volumes and airflow to diagnose pulmonary disease,
monitor disease progression, evaluate disability, and evaluate response to
bronchodilators
, The nurse is interpreting a tuberculin skin test (TST) for a 58-year-old female
patient with end-stage kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus. Which
finding would indicate a positive reaction?
A. Acid-fast bacilli cultured at the injection site
B. 15-mm area of redness at the TST injection site
C. 11-mm area of induration at the TST injection site
D. Wheal formed immediately after intradermal injection - ANSWER-C. 11-mm
area of induration at the TST injection site
An area of induration ≥ 10 mm would be a positive reaction in a person with end-
stage kidney disease. Reddened, flat areas do not indicate a positive reaction. A
wheal appears when the TST is administered that indicates correct administration
of the intradermal antigen. Presence of acid-fast bacilli in the sputum indicates
active tuberculosis.
The nurse is preparing the patient for a diagnostic procedure to remove pleural
fluid for analysis. The nurse would prepare the patient for which test?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Bronchoscopy
C. Pulmonary angiography
D. Sputum culture and sensitivity - ANSWER-A. Thoracentesis
Thoracentesis is the insertion of a large-bore needle through the chest wall into
the pleural space to obtain specimens for diagnostic evaluation, remove pleural
fluid, or instill medication into the pleural space.
