Respiratory Practice Questions

A charge nurse is panning a room assignment for a client who has a productive cough, a questionable chest x-ray, and a positive mantoux test. Room 208 is a private, negative-pressure airflow room; room 212 is semi-private, positive-pressure airflow room; 214 is a negative-pressure, semi-private room; and room 216 is a private, positive-pressure airflow room. To which of the following rooms should the nurse assign the client? a) 208 b) 212 c) 214 d) 216

a) 208

A nurse is assessing a client who has pulmonary tuberculosis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? a) lethargy b) high-grade fever c) weight gain d) dry cough

a) lethargy

A nurse is admitting a client who is having an exacerbation of his asthma. When reviewing the provider's orders, the nurse recognizes that clarification is needed for which of the following medications? a) propranolol b) theophylline c) montelukast d) prednisone

a) propranolol

A college health nurse interprets the peak expiratory flow rate for a student who has asthma and finds that the student is in the yellow zone of his asthma action plan. The nurse should base her actions on which of the following information? (Select all that apply) a) the student should use his quick-relief inhaler b) the student's asthma is not well controlled c) the student's peak flow is 50% to 80% of his best peak flow d) the student needs to go to the hospital e) the nurse should obtain a secondary expiratory flow rate

a) the student should use his quick-relief inhaler b) the student's asthma is not well controlled c) the student's peak flow is 50% to 80% of his best peak flow e) the nurse should obtain a secondary expiratory flow rate

A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has asthma and new prescriptions for cromolyn and albuterol, both the nebulizer. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? a) "if my breathing begins to feel tight, I will use the cromolyn immediately" b) "I will be sure to take the albuterol before taking the cromolyn" c) "I will use both medications immediately after exercising" d) "I will administer the medications 10 minutes apart"

b) "I will be sure to take the albuterol before taking the cromolyn"

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who has respiratory acidosis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? a) HCO3 30 mEq/L b) PaCO2 50mm Hg c) pH 7.45 d) potassium 2.2 mEq/L

b) PaCO2 50mm Hg

A nurse is teaching a client who has been taking prednisone to treat asthma and has a new prescription to discontinue the medication. The nurse should explain to the client to reduce the dose gradually to prevent which of the following adverse effects? a) hyperglycemia b) adrenocortical insufficiency c) severe dehydration d) rebound pulmonary congestion

b) adrenocortical insufficiency

A nurse is collaborating on care for a client who has COPD. Which of the following tasks should the nurse recommend be referred to an occupational therapist for assistance? a) instructing how to measure oxygen saturation b) instructing how to use kitchen tools to prepare a meal c) instruction how to plan a diet based on individual caloric needs d) instructing how to perform pursed-lip breathing

b) instructing how to use kitchen tools to prepare a meal

A nurse is preparing for the admission of a client who has suspected active tuberculosis. Which of the following precautions should the nurse plan to implement to safely care for this client? a) have staff and visitors wear gowns, masks, and gloves while in the client's room. b) place the client in a private room with a special ventilation system c) assign the client to a room with other clients who require droplet precautions d) modify the protocol for donning and removing personal protective equipment before entering or leaving the client's room.

b) place the client in a private room with a special ventilation system

A nurse is assessing a client who has chronic bronchitis. Which of the following percussion sounds should the nurse expect? a) dullness b) resonance c) tympany d) flatness

b) resonance

A charge nurse is observing a nurse performing a mantoux tuberculin skin test for a client. Which of the following actions should prompt the charge nurse to intervene? a) creating a 6mm (1/4 in) bleb in the intradermal space of the forearm b) withdrawing the needle and massaging the site gently c) stretching the skin tightly before injection d) visualizing the tip of the needle under the skin

b) withdrawing the needle and massaging the site gently

A nurse is instructing a client who is newly diagnoses with pulmonary tuberculosis about the use of antitubercular medications. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching? a) medications will need to be taken for the rest of the client's life, even if the client feels better b) medications will need to be taken until the mantoux test is negative c) a typical course of treatment involves 6 to 9 months of consistent medication use d) the client's family will also need to take medications to prevent infection

c) a typical course of treatment involves 6 to 9 months of consistent medication use

A nurse is assessing for cyanosis in a client who has dark skin. Which of the following sites should the nurse examine to identify cyanosis in this client? a) pinnae of the ears b) dorsal surface of the hand c) conjunctivae d) dorsal surface of the foot

c) conjunctivae

A nurse is teaching a client who is to begin medicated treatment of tuberculosis. The nurse should instruct the client that which of the following herbal supplements can interact adversely with the treatment? a) milk thistle b) green tea c) echinacea d) st. john's wort

c) echinacea

A client is planning to perform nasotracheal suction for a client who has COPD and an artificial airway. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? a) perform suctioning for up to four passes b) apply suction to the catheter when advancing it into the trachea c) preoxygenate the client with 100% oxygen for up to 3 min d) limit each suction pass to 25 seconds

c) preoxygenate the client with 100% oxygen for up to 3 min

A nurse is giving a presentation at a community center about chronic bronchitis. Which of the following information should the nurse include as effective for preventing this disorder? a) Maintenance of ideal weight b) annual influenza immunization c) smoking cessation d) regular moderate exercises

c) smoking cessation

A nurse is teaching a client who has tuberculosis and is to start medication therapy with isoniazid, rifampin and pyrazinamide. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include? a) "take isoniazid with an antacid" b) "provide a sputum specimen every 2 weeks to the clinic for testing" c) "expect your sputum cultures to be negative after 6 months of therapy" d) "drink at least 8 ounces of water when you take the pyrazinamide tablet"

d) "drink at least 8 ounces of water when you take the pyrazinamide tablet"

A nurse in an urgent care center is caring for a client who is having an acute asthma exacerbation. Which of the following actions is the nurse's highest priority? a) initiating oxygen therapy b) providing immediate rest for the client c) positioning the client in high-fowler's d) administering a nebulized beta-adrenergic

d) administering a nebulized beta-adrenergic

A nurse is assessing a client who has COPD. The nurse should expect the client's chest to be which of the following shapes? a) pigeon b) funnel c) kyphotic d) barrel

d) barrel

A nurse is caring for a client who has emphysema and has difficulty with mobility. The client receives home health care and spends most of his day in a reclining chair. Which of the following physiological responses to prolonged immobility should the nurse expect? a) increased insulin production b) decreased RBC production c) decreased sodium excretion d) increased calcium excretion

d) increased calcium excretion

A nurse is teaching a client about taking an expectorant to treat a cough. The nurse should explain that this type of medication has which of the following actions? a) reduces inflammation b) suppresses the urge to cough c) dries mucous membranes d) stimulates secretions

d) stimulates secretions

A nurse is assessing a client who has hypoxia. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? a) bradypnea b) somnolence c) pallor d) tachycardia

d) tachycardia

A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who has a asthma and is about to start taking theophylline. The nurse should tell the client that this medication might cause which of the following adverse effects? a) drowsiness b) constipation c) oliguria d) tachycardia

d) tachycardia

A nurse is auscultating the breath sounds of a client who has asthma. When the client exhales, the nurse hears continuous high-pitched squeaking sounds. The nurse should document this as which of the following adventitious breath sounds? a) crackles b) rhonchi c) stridor d) wheezes

d) wheezes