Respiratory Health Questions

The nurse is assigned to care for a patient with COPD with hypoxemia and hypercapnia. When planning care for this patient. What does the nurse understand is the main goal of treatment? A. Providing sufficient oxygen to improve oxygenation B. Avoiding the use of oxygen to decrease the hypoxic drive. C. Monitoring the pulse oximetry to assess need for early intervention when PCO2 levels rise. D. Increasing pH.

*A. Providing sufficient oxygen to improve oxygenation

A patient comes to the clinic complaining of a possible upper respiratory infection. What should the nurse inspect that would indicate that an upper respiratory infections may be present? A. the nasal mucosa B. the buccal mucosa C. the frontal sinuses D. the tracheal mucosa

*A. the nasal mucosa

A patient playing softball is hit in the nose by the ball and has been determined to have an uncomplicated fractured nose with epistaxis. The nurse should prepare to assist the physician with what tasks? A. Preparing the patient for a septoplasty. B. Applying nasal packing. C. Administering nasal lavage. D. Applying steroidal nasal spray.

*B. Applying nasal packing.

The nurse is conducting a community program about prevention of respiratory illness. What illness does the nursing know is the most common cause of death in the United States? A. Atelectasis B. Pulmonary Embolus C. Pneumonia D. Tracheobronchitis

*C. Pneumonia

The nurse is educating the patient diagnosed with acute pharyngitis on methods to alleviate discomfort. What interventions should the nurse include in the information? Select all that apply. A. Apply an ice collar B. Stay on bedrest during the febrile stage of the illness. C. Gargle with alcohol based mouthwash. D. Try a liquid of soft diet during the acute stage of the disease. E.Drink warm or hot liquids during the acute stage of the disease.

*A. Apply an ice collar *B. Stay on bedrest during the febrile stage of the illness. *D. Try a liquid of soft diet during the acute stage of the disease.

The nurse should be alert for a complication of bronchiectasis that results from a combination of retained secretions and obstruction and that leads to the collapse of alveoli. What complication should the nurse monitor for? A. Atelectasis B. Emphysema C. Pleurisy D. Pneumonia

*A. Atelectasis

The nurse is auscultating the patient's lung sounds to determine the presence of pulmonary edema. What adventitious lung sounds are significant for pulmonary edema? A. Crackles in the lung bases. B. Low-pitched rhonchi during expiration. C. Pleural friction rub. D. Sibilant wheezes

*A. Crackles in the lung bases.

A patient who had a colon resection 3 days ago is complaining of discomfort in the left calf. How should the nurse assess Homan's sign to determine if the patient may have a thrombus formation in the leg? A. Dorsiflex the foot while the leg is elevated to check for calf pain. B. Elevate the patient's legs for 20 minutes and then lower the slowly with checking for areas of inadequate blood return. C. Extend the leg, plantar flex the foot, and check for the patency of the dorsalis pedis pulse. D. Lower the patient's legs and massage the calf muscles to note an areas of tenderness.

*A. Dorsiflex the foot while the leg is elevated to check for calf pain.

The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is diagnosed with status asthmaticus. Why does the nurse include fluid intake as being an important aspect of the plan of care? Select all that apply. A. To combat dehydration B. To assist with the effectiveness of the corticosteroids C. To loosen secretions D. To facilitate expectoration E. To relieve bronchospasm

*A. To combat dehydration *C. To loosen secretions *D. To facilitate expectoration

A patient has herpes simplex infection that developed after having the common cold. What medication does the nurse anticipate will be administered for this infection? A. an antiviral agent such as acyclovir B. an antibiotic such as amoxicillin C. an antihistamine such as Benadryl D. an ointment such as bacitracin

*A. an antiviral agent such as acyclovir

The nurse is educating a patient diagnosed with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis about interventions that may assist with symptom control. What should the nurse include in this information? A. Take an over-the-counter nasal decongestant. B. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine. C. Ensure an adequate fluid intake. D. Increase humidity in the home. E. Apply local heat to promote drainage.

*C. Ensure an adequate fluid intake. *D. Increase humidity in the home. *E. Apply local heat to promote drainage.

The nurse is caring for the patient with pleurisy. What symptoms does the nurse recognize are significant for this patient's diagnosis? A. Dullness or flatness on percussion over areas of collected fluid. B. Dyspnea and coughing. C. Fever and chills D. Stabbing pain during respiratory movement.

*D. Stabbing pain during respiratory movement.

The nurse assesses for a possible pulmonary embolism. What frequent signs of pulmonary embolism does the nurse anticipate finding on assessment? A. Cough B. Hemoptysis C. Syncope D. Tachypnea

*D. Tachypnea