ESTUDYR
GAS EXCHANGE AND OXYGENATION ATI 2025
MULTICHOICE ANSWERED EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for an incentive spirometer. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. Use the incentive spirometer once a day.
B. B. Use the incentive spirometer every hour while awake. ✔
C. Exhale forcefully into the device.
D. Only use it if you feel short of breath.
Rationale: Incentive spirometry is performed frequently (about every hour while awake) to
promote lung inflation and prevent atelectasis.
To calculate a client’s cardiac output, which value should the nurse use?
A. Heart rate only
B. Blood pressure only
C. C. Stroke volume (when combined with heart rate to compute CO) ✔
D. Respiratory rate
Rationale: Cardiac output = heart rate × stroke volume; stroke volume is required for the
calculation.
A client requires 1 L/min of oxygen. Which delivery device should the nurse expect to use?
A. Simple face mask
B. Venturi mask
C. Nonrebreather mask
D. D. Nasal cannula ✔
Rationale: Nasal cannula delivers low flows (1–6 L/min) and is appropriate for 1 L/min.
A client with a narrowed heart valve in their history — which term best describes this?
A. Prolapse
B. Regurgitation
C. Insufficiency
D. D. Stenosis ✔
Rationale: Stenosis denotes a valve that is narrowed and does not open fully.
Which finding may indicate oxygen toxicity in a client receiving high O₂ concentrations?
A. Hypertension
B. Bradycardia
, ESTUDYR
C. Cyanosis
D. D. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can be an early sign of oxygen toxicity) ✔
Rationale: High concentrations/long exposure to oxygen can produce chest pain, cough,
tinnitus, and pulmonary symptoms.
When suctioning a tracheostomy with an open system, which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Hyperventilate the client with room air
B. Apply suction while inserting catheter
C. C. Administer 100% oxygen (pre-oxygenate) before the procedure ✔
D. Leave the client unsupervised
Rationale: Pre-oxygenation reduces hypoxemia risk during suctioning.
A nurse caring for a client with a chest tube should monitor for which complication?
A. Peripheral neuropathy
B. Hyperglycemia
C. C. Subcutaneous emphysema (air under the skin) ✔
D. Urinary retention
Rationale: Air leak from chest tube or lung can cause subcutaneous emphysema; it should
be assessed and documented.
Teaching for home oxygen safety should include which instructions? (Select best set)
A. Store oxygen near open flames only
B. B. Post “No Smoking” signs, secure oxygen cylinders to fixed objects, and notify the fire
department that oxygen is used in the home. ✔
C. Use oil-based products near oxygen tubing
D. Leave doors closed at all times
Rationale: Oxygen supports combustion — secure equipment, post warnings, and inform
local emergency services per safety guidance.
Correct sequence of cardiac conduction: which order is correct?
A. AV node → SA node → Purkinje fibers → Bundle of His → bundle branches
B. SA node → Bundle of His → AV node → Purkinje fibers → bundle branches
C. C. SA node → AV node → Bundle of His → Right & Left bundle branches → Purkinje
fibers ✔
D. Purkinje fibers → bundle branches → AV node → SA node → Bundle of His
Rationale: Electrical impulse originates at SA node → AV node → Bundle of His → bundle
branches → Purkinje fibers.
GAS EXCHANGE AND OXYGENATION ATI 2025
MULTICHOICE ANSWERED EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES
A nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for an incentive spirometer. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. Use the incentive spirometer once a day.
B. B. Use the incentive spirometer every hour while awake. ✔
C. Exhale forcefully into the device.
D. Only use it if you feel short of breath.
Rationale: Incentive spirometry is performed frequently (about every hour while awake) to
promote lung inflation and prevent atelectasis.
To calculate a client’s cardiac output, which value should the nurse use?
A. Heart rate only
B. Blood pressure only
C. C. Stroke volume (when combined with heart rate to compute CO) ✔
D. Respiratory rate
Rationale: Cardiac output = heart rate × stroke volume; stroke volume is required for the
calculation.
A client requires 1 L/min of oxygen. Which delivery device should the nurse expect to use?
A. Simple face mask
B. Venturi mask
C. Nonrebreather mask
D. D. Nasal cannula ✔
Rationale: Nasal cannula delivers low flows (1–6 L/min) and is appropriate for 1 L/min.
A client with a narrowed heart valve in their history — which term best describes this?
A. Prolapse
B. Regurgitation
C. Insufficiency
D. D. Stenosis ✔
Rationale: Stenosis denotes a valve that is narrowed and does not open fully.
Which finding may indicate oxygen toxicity in a client receiving high O₂ concentrations?
A. Hypertension
B. Bradycardia
, ESTUDYR
C. Cyanosis
D. D. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can be an early sign of oxygen toxicity) ✔
Rationale: High concentrations/long exposure to oxygen can produce chest pain, cough,
tinnitus, and pulmonary symptoms.
When suctioning a tracheostomy with an open system, which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Hyperventilate the client with room air
B. Apply suction while inserting catheter
C. C. Administer 100% oxygen (pre-oxygenate) before the procedure ✔
D. Leave the client unsupervised
Rationale: Pre-oxygenation reduces hypoxemia risk during suctioning.
A nurse caring for a client with a chest tube should monitor for which complication?
A. Peripheral neuropathy
B. Hyperglycemia
C. C. Subcutaneous emphysema (air under the skin) ✔
D. Urinary retention
Rationale: Air leak from chest tube or lung can cause subcutaneous emphysema; it should
be assessed and documented.
Teaching for home oxygen safety should include which instructions? (Select best set)
A. Store oxygen near open flames only
B. B. Post “No Smoking” signs, secure oxygen cylinders to fixed objects, and notify the fire
department that oxygen is used in the home. ✔
C. Use oil-based products near oxygen tubing
D. Leave doors closed at all times
Rationale: Oxygen supports combustion — secure equipment, post warnings, and inform
local emergency services per safety guidance.
Correct sequence of cardiac conduction: which order is correct?
A. AV node → SA node → Purkinje fibers → Bundle of His → bundle branches
B. SA node → Bundle of His → AV node → Purkinje fibers → bundle branches
C. C. SA node → AV node → Bundle of His → Right & Left bundle branches → Purkinje
fibers ✔
D. Purkinje fibers → bundle branches → AV node → SA node → Bundle of His
Rationale: Electrical impulse originates at SA node → AV node → Bundle of His → bundle
branches → Purkinje fibers.
