SHOCK TEST EXAM GRADED A+ Pass 100% Solved Questions And
All Correct Answers 2025-2026 New Update VERIFIED
Which statement by the nurse when explaining the purpose of positive end-
expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the family members of a patient with ARDS is
accurate?
a. PEEP will push more air into the lungs during inhalation.
b. PEEP prevents the lung air sacs from collapsing during exhalation.
c. PEEP will prevent lung damage while the patient is on the ventilator.
d. PEEP allows the breathing machine to deliver 100% oxygen to the lungs.
b. PEEP prevents the lung air sacs from collapsing during exhalation.
By preventing alveolar collapse during expiration, PEEP improves gas exchange and
oxygenation. PEEP will not prevent lung damage (e.g., fibrotic changes that occur
with ARDS), push more air into the lungs, or change the fraction of inspired oxygen
(FIO2) delivered to the patient.
A patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is placed in the
prone position. When prone positioning is used, which information obtained
by the nurse indicates that the positioning is effective?
a. The patients PaO2 is 89 mm Hg, and the SaO2 is 91%.
b. Endotracheal suctioning results in clear mucous return.
c. Sputum and blood cultures show no growth after 48 hours.
d. The skin on the patients back is intact and without redness.
a. The patients PaO2 is 89 mm Hg, and the SaO2 is 91%.
The purpose of prone positioning is to improve the patients oxygenation as indicated
by the PaO2 and SaO2. The other information will be collected but does not indicate
whether prone positioning has been effective.
The nurse documents the vital signs for a patient admitted 2 days ago with
gram-negative sepsis: temperature 101.2 F, blood pressure 90/56 mm Hg,
pulse 92, respirations 34. Which action should the nurse take next?
a. Give the scheduled IV antibiotic.
b. Give the PRN acetaminophen (Tylenol).
,c. Obtain oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry.
d. Notify the health care provider of the patients vital signs.
c. Obtain oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry.
The patients increased respiratory rate in combination with the admission diagnosis
of gram-negative sepsis indicates that acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
may be developing. The nurse should check for hypoxemia, a hallmark of ARDS.
The health care provider should be notified after further assessment of the patient.
Giving the scheduled antibiotic and the PRN acetaminophen will also be done, but
they are not the highest priority for a patient who may be developing ARDS.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is orally intubated and receiving
mechanical ventilation. To decrease the risk for ventilator-associated
pneumonia, which action will the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Elevate head of bed to 30 to 45 degrees.
b. Suction the endotracheal tube every 2 to 4 hours.
c. Limit the use of positive end-expiratory pressure.
d. Give enteral feedings at no more than 10 mL/hr.
a. Elevate head of bed to 30 to 45 degrees.
Elevation of the head decreases the risk for aspiration. Positive end-expiratory
pressure is frequently needed to improve oxygenation in patients receiving
mechanical ventilation. Suctioning should be done only when the patient assessment
indicates that it is necessary. Enteral feedings should provide adequate calories for
the patients high energy needs.
A patient admitted with acute respiratory failure has a nursing diagnosis of
ineffective airway clearance related to thick, secretions. Which action is a
priority for the nurse to include in the plan of care?
a. Encourage use of the incentive spirometer.
b. Offer the patient fluids at frequent intervals.
c. Teach the patient the importance of ambulation.
d. Titrate oxygen level to keep O2 saturation >93%.
b. Offer the patient fluids at frequent intervals.
Because the reason for the poor airway clearance is the thick secretions, the best
, action will be to encourage the patient to improve oral fluid intake. Patients should be
instructed to use the incentive spirometer on a regular basis (e.g., every hour) in
order to facilitate the clearance of the secretions. The other actions may also be
helpful in improving the patients gas exchange, but they do not address the thick
secretions that are causing the poor airway clearance.
A patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who is intubated
and receiving mechanical ventilation develops a right pneumothorax. Which
action will the nurse anticipate taking next?
a. Increase the tidal volume and respiratory rate.
b. Increase the fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2).
c. Perform endotracheal suctioning more frequently.
d. Lower the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).
d. Lower the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).
Because barotrauma is associated with high airway pressures, the level of PEEP
should be decreased. The other actions will not decrease the risk for pneumothorax.
After receiving change-of-shift report on a medical unit, which patient should
the nurse assess first?
a. A patient with cystic fibrosis who has thick, green-colored sputum
b. A patient with pneumonia who has crackles bilaterally in the lung bases
c. A patient with emphysema who has an oxygen saturation of 90% to 92%
d. A patient with septicemia who has intercostal and suprasternal retractions
d. A patient with septicemia who has intercostal and suprasternal retractions
This patients history of septicemia and labored breathing suggest the onset of
ARDS, which will require rapid interventions such as administration of oxygen and
use of positive pressure ventilation. The other patients should also be assessed as
quickly as possible, but their assessment data are typical of their disease processes
and do not suggest deterioration in their status.
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) arrives in the
emergency department complaining of shortness of breath and dyspnea on
minimal exertion. Which assessment finding by the nurse is most important to
report to the health care provider?
a. The patient has bibasilar lung crackles.
All Correct Answers 2025-2026 New Update VERIFIED
Which statement by the nurse when explaining the purpose of positive end-
expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the family members of a patient with ARDS is
accurate?
a. PEEP will push more air into the lungs during inhalation.
b. PEEP prevents the lung air sacs from collapsing during exhalation.
c. PEEP will prevent lung damage while the patient is on the ventilator.
d. PEEP allows the breathing machine to deliver 100% oxygen to the lungs.
b. PEEP prevents the lung air sacs from collapsing during exhalation.
By preventing alveolar collapse during expiration, PEEP improves gas exchange and
oxygenation. PEEP will not prevent lung damage (e.g., fibrotic changes that occur
with ARDS), push more air into the lungs, or change the fraction of inspired oxygen
(FIO2) delivered to the patient.
A patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is placed in the
prone position. When prone positioning is used, which information obtained
by the nurse indicates that the positioning is effective?
a. The patients PaO2 is 89 mm Hg, and the SaO2 is 91%.
b. Endotracheal suctioning results in clear mucous return.
c. Sputum and blood cultures show no growth after 48 hours.
d. The skin on the patients back is intact and without redness.
a. The patients PaO2 is 89 mm Hg, and the SaO2 is 91%.
The purpose of prone positioning is to improve the patients oxygenation as indicated
by the PaO2 and SaO2. The other information will be collected but does not indicate
whether prone positioning has been effective.
The nurse documents the vital signs for a patient admitted 2 days ago with
gram-negative sepsis: temperature 101.2 F, blood pressure 90/56 mm Hg,
pulse 92, respirations 34. Which action should the nurse take next?
a. Give the scheduled IV antibiotic.
b. Give the PRN acetaminophen (Tylenol).
,c. Obtain oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry.
d. Notify the health care provider of the patients vital signs.
c. Obtain oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry.
The patients increased respiratory rate in combination with the admission diagnosis
of gram-negative sepsis indicates that acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
may be developing. The nurse should check for hypoxemia, a hallmark of ARDS.
The health care provider should be notified after further assessment of the patient.
Giving the scheduled antibiotic and the PRN acetaminophen will also be done, but
they are not the highest priority for a patient who may be developing ARDS.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is orally intubated and receiving
mechanical ventilation. To decrease the risk for ventilator-associated
pneumonia, which action will the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Elevate head of bed to 30 to 45 degrees.
b. Suction the endotracheal tube every 2 to 4 hours.
c. Limit the use of positive end-expiratory pressure.
d. Give enteral feedings at no more than 10 mL/hr.
a. Elevate head of bed to 30 to 45 degrees.
Elevation of the head decreases the risk for aspiration. Positive end-expiratory
pressure is frequently needed to improve oxygenation in patients receiving
mechanical ventilation. Suctioning should be done only when the patient assessment
indicates that it is necessary. Enteral feedings should provide adequate calories for
the patients high energy needs.
A patient admitted with acute respiratory failure has a nursing diagnosis of
ineffective airway clearance related to thick, secretions. Which action is a
priority for the nurse to include in the plan of care?
a. Encourage use of the incentive spirometer.
b. Offer the patient fluids at frequent intervals.
c. Teach the patient the importance of ambulation.
d. Titrate oxygen level to keep O2 saturation >93%.
b. Offer the patient fluids at frequent intervals.
Because the reason for the poor airway clearance is the thick secretions, the best
, action will be to encourage the patient to improve oral fluid intake. Patients should be
instructed to use the incentive spirometer on a regular basis (e.g., every hour) in
order to facilitate the clearance of the secretions. The other actions may also be
helpful in improving the patients gas exchange, but they do not address the thick
secretions that are causing the poor airway clearance.
A patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who is intubated
and receiving mechanical ventilation develops a right pneumothorax. Which
action will the nurse anticipate taking next?
a. Increase the tidal volume and respiratory rate.
b. Increase the fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2).
c. Perform endotracheal suctioning more frequently.
d. Lower the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).
d. Lower the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).
Because barotrauma is associated with high airway pressures, the level of PEEP
should be decreased. The other actions will not decrease the risk for pneumothorax.
After receiving change-of-shift report on a medical unit, which patient should
the nurse assess first?
a. A patient with cystic fibrosis who has thick, green-colored sputum
b. A patient with pneumonia who has crackles bilaterally in the lung bases
c. A patient with emphysema who has an oxygen saturation of 90% to 92%
d. A patient with septicemia who has intercostal and suprasternal retractions
d. A patient with septicemia who has intercostal and suprasternal retractions
This patients history of septicemia and labored breathing suggest the onset of
ARDS, which will require rapid interventions such as administration of oxygen and
use of positive pressure ventilation. The other patients should also be assessed as
quickly as possible, but their assessment data are typical of their disease processes
and do not suggest deterioration in their status.
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) arrives in the
emergency department complaining of shortness of breath and dyspnea on
minimal exertion. Which assessment finding by the nurse is most important to
report to the health care provider?
a. The patient has bibasilar lung crackles.
