EAQ with NGN: Respiratory
Exam Questions and Answers
1. An 82-year-old woman drove herself to the emergency department (ED) with reports of chest pain,
shortness of breath, headache, and extreme fatigue. Client states she has been coughing up a lot of
"stuff that looks like egg whites with red string in it." Her chest and abdomen are sore from all the
coughing. She has been unable to eat or sleep well for the past week. Client states that her shortness of
breath has caused such bad anxiety that she can't even concentrate to read the paper. Client is unable
to lay flat but is more comfortable sitting upright in the "tripod position." Client states she has been
having chills and feels like she has been running a fever but does not have a thermometer at home to
check it.
Past history includes a history of hypertension, obesity, smoking, and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). Client lives at home alone and states all her family lives out of the state.
Current - Correct Answers: The nurse is preparing a plan of care for the client.
Potential Conditions:
Pneumonia
Actions to take:
-Administer 4L oxygen via nasal cannula
-Educate client on incentive spirometer
Parameters to monitor:
-intake and output
-respiratory rate
2. 1100: A 72-year-old man arrives at the urgent care clinic reporting a frequent cough for the last 2 days
producing thick yellow mucus. He is alert and oriented to person but only able to speak in two- to three-
word phrases. He lives alone and reports having little appetite and has not eaten or drunk much in the
past week. Good skin turgor on chest. Skin tenting on hands and pale, dry mucous membranes. He has a
, history of hypertension. He reports smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for 30 years, but he has not
smoked in the past 20 years.
Current vital signs: temperature 99° F (37.2° C), heart rate (HR) 104 beats/min, blood pressure (BP)
92/60 mm Hg, respiratory rate (RR) 32 breaths/min, oxygen saturation is 86% on room air, heart
monitor indicates sinus tachycardia. Client appears visibly pale.
Cardiac: Tachycardic; no audible murmur; chest pain 2/10 on inspiration.
Eyes: Denies blurry vision; negative for scle - Correct Answers: Click to highlight the assessment findings
that are OUTSIDE normal limits.
-frequent cough for the last 2 days producing thick yellow mucus. He is AO to person but only able to
speak in two- to three-word phrases
-skin tenting on hands and pale, dry mucous membranes
-HR 104 bpm, BP 92/60 mmHg, RR 32 breaths/min, O2 86% on RA, heart monitor indicates sinus
tachycardia. Client appears visibly pale
-Tachycardic
-Chest pain 2/10 on inspiration
-Tachypnea; crackles auscultated in right posterior chest; use of accessory shoulder and neck muscles on
inspiration
-reports dark concentrated urine output over the past few days
3. "" '"" - Correct Answers: Click to highlight the laboratory results in the table consistent with bacterial
infection.
-WBC count: 15,500/mm3
-Neutrophils: 9000 cells/µL
4. "" ""
1200: Client assisted to the bathroom. Client extremely short of breath and reports slight dizziness when
returning to bed. Notified healthcare provider and awaiting new orders. - Correct Answers: Which
potential complication is most important for the nurse to monitor in this client? [SATA]
Exam Questions and Answers
1. An 82-year-old woman drove herself to the emergency department (ED) with reports of chest pain,
shortness of breath, headache, and extreme fatigue. Client states she has been coughing up a lot of
"stuff that looks like egg whites with red string in it." Her chest and abdomen are sore from all the
coughing. She has been unable to eat or sleep well for the past week. Client states that her shortness of
breath has caused such bad anxiety that she can't even concentrate to read the paper. Client is unable
to lay flat but is more comfortable sitting upright in the "tripod position." Client states she has been
having chills and feels like she has been running a fever but does not have a thermometer at home to
check it.
Past history includes a history of hypertension, obesity, smoking, and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). Client lives at home alone and states all her family lives out of the state.
Current - Correct Answers: The nurse is preparing a plan of care for the client.
Potential Conditions:
Pneumonia
Actions to take:
-Administer 4L oxygen via nasal cannula
-Educate client on incentive spirometer
Parameters to monitor:
-intake and output
-respiratory rate
2. 1100: A 72-year-old man arrives at the urgent care clinic reporting a frequent cough for the last 2 days
producing thick yellow mucus. He is alert and oriented to person but only able to speak in two- to three-
word phrases. He lives alone and reports having little appetite and has not eaten or drunk much in the
past week. Good skin turgor on chest. Skin tenting on hands and pale, dry mucous membranes. He has a
, history of hypertension. He reports smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for 30 years, but he has not
smoked in the past 20 years.
Current vital signs: temperature 99° F (37.2° C), heart rate (HR) 104 beats/min, blood pressure (BP)
92/60 mm Hg, respiratory rate (RR) 32 breaths/min, oxygen saturation is 86% on room air, heart
monitor indicates sinus tachycardia. Client appears visibly pale.
Cardiac: Tachycardic; no audible murmur; chest pain 2/10 on inspiration.
Eyes: Denies blurry vision; negative for scle - Correct Answers: Click to highlight the assessment findings
that are OUTSIDE normal limits.
-frequent cough for the last 2 days producing thick yellow mucus. He is AO to person but only able to
speak in two- to three-word phrases
-skin tenting on hands and pale, dry mucous membranes
-HR 104 bpm, BP 92/60 mmHg, RR 32 breaths/min, O2 86% on RA, heart monitor indicates sinus
tachycardia. Client appears visibly pale
-Tachycardic
-Chest pain 2/10 on inspiration
-Tachypnea; crackles auscultated in right posterior chest; use of accessory shoulder and neck muscles on
inspiration
-reports dark concentrated urine output over the past few days
3. "" '"" - Correct Answers: Click to highlight the laboratory results in the table consistent with bacterial
infection.
-WBC count: 15,500/mm3
-Neutrophils: 9000 cells/µL
4. "" ""
1200: Client assisted to the bathroom. Client extremely short of breath and reports slight dizziness when
returning to bed. Notified healthcare provider and awaiting new orders. - Correct Answers: Which
potential complication is most important for the nurse to monitor in this client? [SATA]
