Deck 30: Assessment of Respiratory Function

Question 1

The nurse, assessing a client's breath sounds, has the stethoscope placed over the second intercostal space next to the sternum. The sound the nurse is most likely going to hear would be:

A) vesicular.
B) bronchovesicular.
C) bronchial.
D) absent.

Answer 1

bronchovesicular.

Question 2

The nurse is documenting that a client has adventitious breath sounds. Which of the following would be considered this type of sound? (Select all that apply.)

A) Rales
B) Vesicular
C) Rhonchi
D) Wheeze
E) Bronchovesicular
F) Pleural friction rub

Answer 2

Rales
Rhonchi
Wheeze
Pleural friction rub

Question 3

A client is scheduled for a ventilation-perfusion scan. The nurse realizes that this diagnostic test is used to diagnose which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A) Pulmonary emboli
B) Congestive heart failure
C) Bronchitis
D) Asthma
E) Pneumonia
F) COPD

Answer 3

Pulmonary emboli
Bronchitis
Asthma
Pneumonia
COPD

Question 4

The nurse is assessing a client for decreased fremitus. Which of the following conditions are associated with decreased fremitus? (Select all that apply.)

A) Atelectasis
B) Emphysema
C) Pneumonia
D) Pneumothorax
E) Pulmonary fibrosis
F) Pulmonary infarction

Question 5

A client with a nasogastric tube connected to low continuous suction has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) results: pH 7.49, PaO₂ 91, PaCO₂ 42, and HCO₃

A) metabolic acidosis.
B) metabolic alkalosis.
C) respiratory acidosis.
31) Interpreting these result, the nurse concludes that the client is in:
D) respiratory alkalosis.

Question 6

A client has a slight shift to the left on the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve. Which of the following assessment findings will support this curve configuration?

A) Arterial pH less than 7.35
B) Increased levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate
C) Hyperthermia
D) Hypothermia

Question 7

A client is demonstrating a crescendo-decrescendo pattern of breathing with periods of apnea. The nurse would document this breathing pattern as being:

A) Cheyne-Stokes.
B) apnea.
C) bradypnea.
D) Kussmaul.

Question 8

A client is experiencing a gradual increase of pleuritic pain. In which of the following pulmonary conditions would the nurse expect to see this type of pain?

A) Pneumococcal pneumonia
B) Pneumothorax
C) Pulmonary embolism
D) Tuberculosis

Question 9

A client is prescribed a bedside diagnostic test to assess pulmonary status. The nurse will prepare to administer which of the following to the client? (Select all that apply.)

A) Capnography
B) Thoracentesis
C) Oximetry
D) Bronchoscopy
E) Polysomnography
F) Lung biopsy

Question 10

A client, experiencing an acid-base imbalance, demonstrates signs of full compensation within 3 days. The nurse realizes that the full compensation was accomplished by which of the following systems?

A) Extracellular buffer
B) Intracellular buffer
C) Pulmonary
D) Renal

Question 11

The nurse is assessing an adult patient experiencing hypoxia. Which of the following findings would be considered a late sign of hypoxia?

A) Confusion
B) Cyanosis
C) Drowsiness
D) Headache

Question 12

The nurse is assessing the thorax of an elderly client. Which of the following would be considered normal age-related changes in this client's respiratory system? (Select all that apply.)

A) Hyperresonance
B) Pain with inspiration
C) Vital capacity reduced
D) Hemoptysis
E) Productive cough
F) Wheezes

Question 13

A client is diagnosed with a large pneumothorax. The percussion note the nurse would expect to find is:

A) dullness.
B) flatness.
C) resonant.
D) tympany.

Question 14

A client is experiencing the ventilation-perfusion mismatch termed shunting. The nurse realizes that the client most likely is not experiencing which of the following disorders?

A) Hemothorax
B) Intrapulmonary fistulas
C) Pneumothorax
D) Pulmonary embolus

Question 15

A client is demonstrating signs of respiratory alkalosis. The nurse realizes that this alteration is least likely caused by which of the following?

A) Diarrhea
B) Fever
C) Pain
D) Severe anemia

Question 16

A client is determined to be a candidate for a low-flow oxygen delivery system. Which of the following will the nurse most likely assess in this client?

A) Active bleeding
B) Change in level of consciousness
C) Cardiac arrhythmias
D) Respiratory rate of 16, unlabored breathing

Question 17

The nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with emphysema. Which of the following will most likely be assessed during the client's physical examination?

A) Barrel chest
B) Pectus carinatum
C) Pectus excavatum
D) Scoliosis

Question 18

A client has a productive cough that produces green sputum with a musty odor. The nurse realizes that the client may be experiencing:

A) emphysema.
B) pneumococcal pneumonia.
C) Pseudomonas infection.
D) pulmonary edema.