Question 1

What is the purpose of mucus?

Accepted Answer

Mucus traps particles and bacteria that may be in the inspired air.

Question 2

The nurse is aware that the patient is in respiratory failure when the blood gas findings contain which values?

Accepted Answer

Respiratory failure is defined by ABGs: arterial oxygen (PaO₂)is below 50 mm Hg and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂)is equal to or greater than 50 mm Hg.

Question 3

When creating a visual aid to show the mechanics of inhaling,the nurse correctly illustrates which scenario?

Accepted Answer

On inspiration,the diaphragm moves down,increasing the area of negative pressure,muscles pull the rib cage up,and the positive-pressure room air flows into the negative-pressure lungs.

Question 4

Which substance decreases the surface tension of the alveolar walls?

Accepted Answer

Surfactant is the substance that reduces the surface tension of the walls of the alveoli,making gas exchange more effective.

Question 5

The nurse explains that the mechanism that triggers rate and depth of respiration is based on which factor?

Accepted Answer

Chemoreceptors in the brainstem and carotid arteries measure hydrogen concentration,as well as CO₂ and O₂,to trigger respiration rate to correct the excessive CO₂.

Question 6

When the nurse places the diaphragm of the stethoscope over one of the main bronchi,which expected normal breath sound should the nurse hear?

Accepted Answer

Bronchovesicular sounds are moderate hollow sounds that are equal on inspiration and expiration.

Question 7

For which individual(s)does U.S.Public Health Service recommend the influenza immunization?

Accepted Answer

Health care workers,older adults,and chronically ill individuals are at risk for contracting influenza and should be immunized.Compromised infants should not be immunized.

Question 8

A patient is admitted to the medical unit with an acute illness accompanied by a fever for the last 3 days.What will likely be the patient's respiratory response?

Accepted Answer

Respiratory alkalosis,or hypocapnia,results from the patient's respiratory rate being elevated for a prolonged period due to the persistent fever.The patient blows off too much CO₂ as a result.Hypercarbia and respiratory acidosis are the same and result from disorders that cause hypoventilation.Kussmaul respirations are an abnormal breathing pattern.

Question 9

The nurse is caring for a patient who was recently admitted with a traumatic head injury.The nurse anticipates that the patient may display which type of respirations?

Accepted Answer

Biot respirations are characterized by irregular periods of apnea followed by four to five breaths of identical depth.This pattern is associated with increased intracranial pressure,which is common with a traumatic head injury.Apneustic respirations are indicative of damage to the respiratory centers in the brain.Cheyne-Stokes respirations are often seen in patients in a coma resulting from a disorder affecting the central nervous system.Kussmaul respiration is an abnormal breathing pattern often seen in patients with diabetic acidosis and coma.

Question 10

The nurse clarifies that when interstitial edema occurs in the lung tissue,it inhibits ventilation by causing which problem(s)?

Accepted Answer

Interstitial edema will cause problems that affect the alveoli: thickened walls and filling with fluid that obstructs gas exchange across the thickened walls.Pus formation is associated with infection.Surfactant decreases surface tension on the alveolar wall,allowing it to expand more easily with inspiration and preventing alveolar collapse on expiration.

Question 11

Most of the inspired oxygen is carried to the tissues via which component of the body?

Accepted Answer

The red blood cells carry 97% of the oxygen to the cells,attached to hemoglobin.

Question 12

The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient.After instructing the patient to cough and deep-breathe,what action should the nurse take next?

Accepted Answer

Mouth care should be offered after deep breathing and coughing to clear the mouth of unpleasant taste.

Question 13

While performing an assessment,the nurse auscultates a coarse low-pitched sonorous rattling in the left lower lobe.Based on the presence of this adventitious lung sound,which action should the nurse take next?

Accepted Answer

Low-pitched sonorous wheezing sounds are caused by secretions accumulating in the larger airways.Patients with pneumonia or chronic bronchitis often present with low wheezes (rhonchi).Coughing may help to partially clear the secretions.High-pitched wheezes result from narrowing of air passages,and a bronchodilator would be beneficial.Crackles are produced by air passing through moisture in the smaller airways; diuretics are beneficial.Proper technique for the incentive spirometer directs the patient to inhale through the mouthpiece,as if the patient is pretending to drink a thick milk shake.

Question 14

The nurse is performing deep tracheal suctioning of a patient with a respiratory disorder.Which action demonstrates appropriate technique?

Accepted Answer

The suctioning,which is done during extraction of the suction tip,should not last more than 10 to 15 seconds as it deprives the patient of oxygen.Deep tracheal suction requires sterile technique,and the patient should be positioned with the neck slightly extended to facilitate entrance into the trachea.Even though the procedure does not last for a long time,suctioning is uncomfortable for the patient.

Question 15

The nurse is caring for multiple patients.After reviewing the patients' histories,the nurse determines that which patient possesses the highest risk of throat cancer?

Accepted Answer

The combination of alcohol and cigarettes increases the risk for throat cancer.However,males are four times more likely to develop throat cancer than women,and the male patient consuming vodka drinks is consuming significantly more alcohol than the female patient who smokes cigarettes.Coffee and carbonated drink consumption has not been found to increase the risk of throat cancer.

Question 16

The nurse is preparing to administer the influenza immunization to four patients.Allergy to which substance should cause the nurse to question giving the immunization?

Accepted Answer

The influenza vaccine is cultured in chicken embryos,making anyone allergic to eggs probably allergic to the immunization.

Question 17

The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)who has been in the hospital for several days.The patient complains of shortness of breath and asks the nurse to turn up his oxygen to compensate for his labored breathing.What is the best nursing response?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should assess the patient for possible causes of the shortness of breath before calling the physician.The nurse may be able to implement nursing interventions,or may need to contact the physician for orders based on the assessment findings.Since the COPD patient's respiratory drive is lowering levels of PO₂,turning up the oxygen may take away his incentive to breathe.Asking the patient about his home oxygen is not helpful at this point.

Question 18

A patient with emphysema presents to the emergency room with severe dyspnea; O₂ saturation is 74%,pulse is 120,and respirations are 26.The nurse positions the patient in high Fowler.What action should the nurse take next?

Accepted Answer

Coaching in pursed-lip breathing will open the respiratory tree with negative pressure.Oxygen given at such a high concentration will cause an emphysemic patient to stop breathing.Collecting a sputum specimen and ensuring patent IV access are appropriate interventions that should be performed after the patient's dyspnea is addressed.

Question 19

Which manifestation(s)are age-related changes that alter the respiratory system?

Accepted Answer

Age-related changes in the respiratory system include weakened cough,kyphosis,decreased bodily fluids,and increased muscle weakness.Age often decreases ciliary movement.

Question 20

The nurse is caring for a patient with an obstructive respiratory disorder.Which of these conditions is an example of an obstructive lung disorder?

Accepted Answer

Obstructive lung disease is related to the reduced ability to move air in and out of the lungs.Asthma,emphysema,and chronic bronchitis are classified as obstructive disorders.Atelectasis,lung cancer,and Guillain-Barré syndrome are restrictive disorders.

Quiz 12: The Respiratory System

What is the purpose of mucus?

The nurse is aware that the patient is in respiratory failure when the blood gas findings contain which values?

When creating a visual aid to show the mechanics of inhaling,the nurse correctly illustrates which scenario?

Which substance decreases the surface tension of the alveolar walls?

The nurse explains that the mechanism that triggers rate and depth of respiration is based on which factor?

When the nurse places the diaphragm of the stethoscope over one of the main bronchi,which expected normal breath sound should the nurse hear?

For which individual(s) does U.S.Public Health Service recommend the influenza immunization?

A patient is admitted to the medical unit with an acute illness accompanied by a fever for the last 3 days.What will likely be the patient's respiratory response?

The nurse is caring for a patient who was recently admitted with a traumatic head injury.The nurse anticipates that the patient may display which type of respirations?

The nurse clarifies that when interstitial edema occurs in the lung tissue,it inhibits ventilation by causing which problem(s) ?

Most of the inspired oxygen is carried to the tissues via which component of the body?

The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient.After instructing the patient to cough and deep-breathe,what action should the nurse take next?

While performing an assessment,the nurse auscultates a coarse low-pitched sonorous rattling in the left lower lobe.Based on the presence of this adventitious lung sound,which action should the nurse take next?

The nurse is performing deep tracheal suctioning of a patient with a respiratory disorder.Which action demonstrates appropriate technique?

The nurse is caring for multiple patients.After reviewing the patients' histories,the nurse determines that which patient possesses the highest risk of throat cancer?

The nurse is preparing to administer the influenza immunization to four patients.Allergy to which substance should cause the nurse to question giving the immunization?

The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) who has been in the hospital for several days.The patient complains of shortness of breath and asks the nurse to turn up his oxygen to compensate for his labored breathing.What is the best nursing response?

A patient with emphysema presents to the emergency room with severe dyspnea; O₂ saturation is 74%,pulse is 120,and respirations are 26.The nurse positions the patient in high Fowler.What action should the nurse take next?

Which manifestation(s) are age-related changes that alter the respiratory system?

The nurse is caring for a patient with an obstructive respiratory disorder.Which of these conditions is an example of an obstructive lung disorder?

Quiz 12: The Respiratory System

What is the purpose of mucus?

The nurse is aware that the patient is in respiratory failure when the blood gas findings contain which values?

When creating a visual aid to show the mechanics of inhaling,the nurse correctly illustrates which scenario?

Which substance decreases the surface tension of the alveolar walls?

The nurse explains that the mechanism that triggers rate and depth of respiration is based on which factor?

When the nurse places the diaphragm of the stethoscope over one of the main bronchi,which expected normal breath sound should the nurse hear?

For which individual(s) does U.S.Public Health Service recommend the influenza immunization?

A patient is admitted to the medical unit with an acute illness accompanied by a fever for the last 3 days.What will likely be the patient's respiratory response?

The nurse is caring for a patient who was recently admitted with a traumatic head injury.The nurse anticipates that the patient may display which type of respirations?

The nurse clarifies that when interstitial edema occurs in the lung tissue,it inhibits ventilation by causing which problem(s) ?

Most of the inspired oxygen is carried to the tissues via which component of the body?

The nurse is caring for a postoperative patient.After instructing the patient to cough and deep-breathe,what action should the nurse take next?

While performing an assessment,the nurse auscultates a coarse low-pitched sonorous rattling in the left lower lobe.Based on the presence of this adventitious lung sound,which action should the nurse take next?

The nurse is performing deep tracheal suctioning of a patient with a respiratory disorder.Which action demonstrates appropriate technique?

The nurse is caring for multiple patients.After reviewing the patients' histories,the nurse determines that which patient possesses the highest risk of throat cancer?

The nurse is preparing to administer the influenza immunization to four patients.Allergy to which substance should cause the nurse to question giving the immunization?

The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) who has been in the hospital for several days.The patient complains of shortness of breath and asks the nurse to turn up his oxygen to compensate for his labored breathing.What is the best nursing response?

A patient with emphysema presents to the emergency room with severe dyspnea; O2 saturation is 74%,pulse is 120,and respirations are 26.The nurse positions the patient in high Fowler.What action should the nurse take next?

Which manifestation(s) are age-related changes that alter the respiratory system?

The nurse is caring for a patient with an obstructive respiratory disorder.Which of these conditions is an example of an obstructive lung disorder?

A patient with emphysema presents to the emergency room with severe dyspnea; O₂ saturation is 74%,pulse is 120,and respirations are 26.The nurse positions the patient in high Fowler.What action should the nurse take next?