Question 1

A 68-year-old is diagnosed with restrictive lung disease caused by fibrosis. Which pulmonary function test finding is expected?

Accepted Answer

In restrictive lung disease, lung volumes are generally reduced due to decreased lung compliance, leading to a decrease in functional residual capacity.

Question 2

A 60-year-old with a history of cardiovascular disease presents with dyspnea, impaired ventilation, and pleural pain. A diagnosis of pleural effusion is made, and a watery fluid is drained. How might this fluid be described?

Accepted Answer

The watery fluid drained in the context of cardiovascular disease and pleural effusion is likely transudative, which is typically associated with systemic factors like heart failure.

Question 3

What phrase describes the condition in which a series of alveoli in the left lower lobe receive adequate ventilation but lack adequate perfusion?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 4

An 80-year-old develops pneumonia in the hospital. An assessment identifies that the patient is cyanotic and tachycardic and has developed a fever and a cough. Chest x-ray reveals pus in the pleural space. This symptomology supports which medical diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms presented, including cyanosis, tachycardia, fever, cough, and pus in the pleural space on x-ray, are consistent with a diagnosis of empyema, which is an accumulation of pus in the pleural space. Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by damage to the lungs and difficulty breathing, but it would not present with the symptoms described. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the lining of the lungs, which may cause pain in the chest, but it would not cause cyanosis or pus in the pleural space. Chyle is a milky fluid that may occur in the pleural space after injury or surgery, but it would not cause the symptoms described.

Question 5

What type of breathing will the nurse observe while assessing a patient experiencing both metabolic acidosis and Kussmaul respirations?

Accepted Answer

Kussmaul respirations are a compensatory mechanism in metabolic acidosis to decrease the amount of acid in the blood. This type of breathing is characterized by an increased rate, large tidal volumes, and no expiratory pause. Audible wheezing or stridor indicate airway obstruction, rapid respirations with periods of apnea can indicate respiratory failure, and very slow inhalations and rapid expirations are seen in patients with obstructive lung disease.

Question 6

As a result of a severe head injury, a patient is now experiencing respiratory abnormalities characterized by alternating periods of deep and shallow breathing with periods of apnea. What term should the nurse use when charting this condition?

Accepted Answer

The respiratory abnormalities described are classic for Cheyne-Stokes respirations, which result from damage to the respiratory centers in the brainstem.

Question 7

Which assessment findings will the nurse observe in a patient diagnosed with severe pulmonary edema?

Accepted Answer

Severe pulmonary edema can result in the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, and pink, frothy sputum. Thick mucous secretions, hypocapnia (low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood), and wheezing are not typical findings in severe pulmonary edema.

Question 8

What is the most common cause of pulmonary edema?

Accepted Answer

Left heart failure is the most common cause of pulmonary edema because it leads to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, causing fluid to leak into the alveoli.

Question 9

Which organism does the nurse suspect is the most likely cause of empyema?

Accepted Answer

Empyema is most commonly caused by bacterial infections, with Staphylococcus aureus being a common pathogen. Viral and fungal infections are less commonly associated with empyema, and Moraxella catarrhalis is not a common cause of empyema.

Question 10

A patient's arterial blood gas reveals decreased carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels. What is the most likely cause of this situation?

Accepted Answer

Decreased carbon dioxide levels are seen in hyperventilation, which occurs when the rate and depth of breathing increases, leading to excessive elimination of carbon dioxide from the body.

Question 11

A 20-year-old presents reporting difficulty breathing when lying down. What term should the nurse use to document this condition?

Accepted Answer

Difficulty breathing when lying down is called orthopnea. Dyspnea is difficulty breathing in general, apnea is a complete pause in breathing, and tachypnea is rapid breathing.

Question 12

A nurse is reviewing the results of an arterial blood gas (ABG) and finds reduced oxygenation of arterial blood. What term should the nurse use to describe this condition?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A nurse is reviewing the results of...

Question 13

A 50-year-old presents with hypotension, hypoxemia, and tracheal deviation to the left. Tests reveal that the air pressure in the pleural cavity exceeds barometric pressure in the atmosphere. Based upon these assessment findings, what does the nurse suspect the patient is experiencing?

Accepted Answer

The presentation of hypotension, hypoxemia, and tracheal deviation to one side suggest a tension pneumothorax. The high pressure in the pleural cavity causes the lung to collapse and shift to the contralateral side, resulting in tracheal deviation. A pleural effusion would also cause respiratory distress but would not lead to tracheal deviation. Open pneumothorax involves an opening in the chest wall that allows air to enter the pleural cavity, but it does not result in the same level of pressure buildup as a tension pneumothorax. Transudative pneumothorax occurs when fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity, but it would not cause hypotension or hypoxemia.

Question 14

When giving report, what term should the nurse use to describe the coughing up of bloody secretions?

Accepted Answer

Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood or bloody secretions from the respiratory tract. Hematemesis is the medical term for vomiting blood. Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to lack of oxygen in the blood. Rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal passages. None of these terms accurately describe coughing up bloody secretions.

Question 15

A 26-year-old recently underwent surgery and is now experiencing dyspnea, cough, fever, and leukocytosis. Tests reveal a collapsed lung caused by the removal of air from obstructed alveoli. Which term is used to document this condition?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A 26-year-old recently underwent surgery and is...

Question 16

A 57-year-old presents with cough, sputum production, dyspnea, and decreased lung volume and is diagnosed with pneumoconiosis. When taking the patient's history, which finding is the most probable cause of the illness?

Accepted Answer

Pneumoconiosis is a lung disease caused by inhalation of mineral dusts, such as silica, coal, or asbestos. The symptoms of cough, sputum production, dyspnea, and decreased lung volume are all consistent with pneumoconiosis. Autoimmune disease, allergic reactions, and flail chest are not common causes of pneumoconiosis.

Question 17

Which of the following laboratory values would the nurse expect in a patient who has sustained trauma to the lungs and chest wall and is experiencing respiratory failure?

Accepted Answer

In respiratory failure due to lung and chest wall trauma, the patient is likely to have elevated PaCO2 (hypercapnia) due to impaired gas exchange and ventilation.

Question 18

A 65-year-old diagnosed with emphysema presents to the ER for difficulty breathing. Physical examination reveals both bluish skin and mucous membranes. What term will the nurse use to document these observations?

Accepted Answer

Cyanosis refers to the bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to low oxygen levels in the blood, which is consistent with the symptoms described.

Question 19

A 10-year-old develops pneumonia. Physical examination reveals subcostal and intercostal retractions. The child reports that breathing is difficult with feelings that, "I cannot get enough air." What term should the nurse use to document this condition?

Accepted Answer

Dyspnea is the term used to describe difficulty breathing.

Question 20

What will a low ventilation-perfusion ratio of the lung result in?

Accepted Answer

A low ventilation-perfusion ratio indicates that there is inadequate ventilation to match perfusion, leading to shunting where blood passes through the lungs without being properly oxygenated.

Quiz 27: Alterations of Pulmonary Function