Health Assessment course (NURS 105/NUR
105).
The questions are categorized by topic and
formatted as multiple choice
NURS 105: Health Assessment -
Comprehensive Question Bank
Part 1: Respiratory Assessment and Oxygenation (Questions 1-40)
1. A patient presents with labored breathing. How should the RN position the patient to promote
optimal lung ventilation?
a) Partially supine with a small pillow supporting the head
b) Right Sims position with the knees flexed
c) Leaning forward with arms resting on an over-bed table
d) Semi-Fowlers with arms positioned at shoulder level
Answer: c) Leaning forward with arms resting on an over-bed table
2. When auscultating a patient's lungs, which instruction should the nurse provide?
a) "Take a deep breath in and hold it."
b) "Breathe slowly in and out through your nose."
c) "Take a slow, deep breath in through your mouth."
d) "Breathe in through your nose, and then cough."
Answer: c) "Take a slow, deep breath in through your mouth."
,3. A postoperative patient asks about the purpose of an incentive spirometer. What is the correct
response by the nurse?
a) "It helps reduce spasm in the alveolar capillaries."
b) "It is used to reduce the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia."
c) "It strengthens the muscles of respiration."
d) "It promotes thinning of secretions to clear the airway."
Answer: b) "It is used to reduce the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia."
4. Which assessment finding in a 9-month-old infant would require the nurse to collect additional data?
a) Abdominal breathing
b) Irregular depth of respirations
c) A respiratory rate of 44 breaths per minute
d) A round chest with visible ribs
Answer: c) A respiratory rate of 44 (this is elevated for a sleeping infant; while rates vary, this requires
further assessment in context).
5. Which statement by a patient using a peak flow meter at home indicates a correct understanding of
its purpose?
a) "The airways to my lungs must be really wide open today; I set a new personal high this morning."
b) "Clamping down on the mouthpiece helps me take a very deep breath."
c) "I keep my meter next to my bed so I can use it when I am stretched out."
d) "I only had to exhale once because I matched my best level on the first try."
Answer: a) "The airways to my lungs must be really wide open today; I set a new personal high this
morning." (This shows understanding that a high reading indicates open airways).
,6. Which expected outcome is most appropriate for a patient with the nursing diagnosis of Impaired Gas
Exchange?
a) The patient's respirations will be quiet and of normal depth.
b) The patient's pulse oximetry readings will be 95% or greater.
c) The patient will have a decrease in cyanosis within 2 hours.
d) The patient will be maintained in an upright sitting position.
Answer: b) The patient's pulse oximetry readings will be 95% or greater. (This is a specific, measurable
outcome directly related to gas exchange).
7. Which assessment data supports the nursing diagnosis of Ineffective Airway Clearance?
a) Use of pursed-lip breathing after activity
b) Episodes of non-productive cough with minimal expectoration
c) Shallow, irregular, hyperventilation pattern
d) Arterial blood gas analysis indicating respiratory acidosis
Answer: b) Episodes of non-productive cough with minimal expectoration (indicates an inability to clear
the airway).
8. In an assessment of a 5-year-old child, which finding would be considered abnormal?
a) Diaphragmatic breathing
b) Respiratory rate of 24
c) Enlarged tonsils
d) Retractions of upper chest muscles
Answer: d) Retractions of upper chest muscles (indicates respiratory distress).
9. Which oxygen delivery device provides the most precise and accurate amount of oxygen?
a) Partial rebreather
b) Simple face mask
, c) Nasal cannula
d) Venturi mask
Answer: d) Venturi mask
10. A patient with long-term pulmonary disease is on 2 L/min of oxygen at home via nasal cannula.
Which statement indicates a need for additional teaching?
a) "I'll check behind my ears for soreness every day."
b) "I'll clean the cannula with soap and water if it gets soiled."
c) "If I get short of breath, I can turn the oxygen up to 4 liters until I feel better."
d) "It's important to keep the oxygen away from people who are smoking."
Answer: c) "If I get short of breath, I can turn the oxygen up to 4 liters until I feel better." (Oxygen flow
rates for COPD patients must be prescribed; adjusting it independently is dangerous).
11. Ten minutes after starting a transfusion of packed red blood cells, a patient reports back pain, has a
temperature of 101.3°F, and a heart rate of 114 bpm. What is the nurse's priority action?
a) Obtain an ECG.
b) Flush the IV line with normal saline.
c) Notify the physician.
d) Discontinue the transfusion.
Answer: d) Discontinue the transfusion. (These are signs of a transfusion reaction; stopping the
transfusion is the immediate priority).
12. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has an oxygen order at 2 L/min. The
nurse understands that this prescription is designed to:
a) Maintain the patient's hypoxic drive.
b) Provide the maximum amount of oxygen without toxicity.
c) Completely saturate hemoglobin with oxygen.
105).
The questions are categorized by topic and
formatted as multiple choice
NURS 105: Health Assessment -
Comprehensive Question Bank
Part 1: Respiratory Assessment and Oxygenation (Questions 1-40)
1. A patient presents with labored breathing. How should the RN position the patient to promote
optimal lung ventilation?
a) Partially supine with a small pillow supporting the head
b) Right Sims position with the knees flexed
c) Leaning forward with arms resting on an over-bed table
d) Semi-Fowlers with arms positioned at shoulder level
Answer: c) Leaning forward with arms resting on an over-bed table
2. When auscultating a patient's lungs, which instruction should the nurse provide?
a) "Take a deep breath in and hold it."
b) "Breathe slowly in and out through your nose."
c) "Take a slow, deep breath in through your mouth."
d) "Breathe in through your nose, and then cough."
Answer: c) "Take a slow, deep breath in through your mouth."
,3. A postoperative patient asks about the purpose of an incentive spirometer. What is the correct
response by the nurse?
a) "It helps reduce spasm in the alveolar capillaries."
b) "It is used to reduce the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia."
c) "It strengthens the muscles of respiration."
d) "It promotes thinning of secretions to clear the airway."
Answer: b) "It is used to reduce the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia."
4. Which assessment finding in a 9-month-old infant would require the nurse to collect additional data?
a) Abdominal breathing
b) Irregular depth of respirations
c) A respiratory rate of 44 breaths per minute
d) A round chest with visible ribs
Answer: c) A respiratory rate of 44 (this is elevated for a sleeping infant; while rates vary, this requires
further assessment in context).
5. Which statement by a patient using a peak flow meter at home indicates a correct understanding of
its purpose?
a) "The airways to my lungs must be really wide open today; I set a new personal high this morning."
b) "Clamping down on the mouthpiece helps me take a very deep breath."
c) "I keep my meter next to my bed so I can use it when I am stretched out."
d) "I only had to exhale once because I matched my best level on the first try."
Answer: a) "The airways to my lungs must be really wide open today; I set a new personal high this
morning." (This shows understanding that a high reading indicates open airways).
,6. Which expected outcome is most appropriate for a patient with the nursing diagnosis of Impaired Gas
Exchange?
a) The patient's respirations will be quiet and of normal depth.
b) The patient's pulse oximetry readings will be 95% or greater.
c) The patient will have a decrease in cyanosis within 2 hours.
d) The patient will be maintained in an upright sitting position.
Answer: b) The patient's pulse oximetry readings will be 95% or greater. (This is a specific, measurable
outcome directly related to gas exchange).
7. Which assessment data supports the nursing diagnosis of Ineffective Airway Clearance?
a) Use of pursed-lip breathing after activity
b) Episodes of non-productive cough with minimal expectoration
c) Shallow, irregular, hyperventilation pattern
d) Arterial blood gas analysis indicating respiratory acidosis
Answer: b) Episodes of non-productive cough with minimal expectoration (indicates an inability to clear
the airway).
8. In an assessment of a 5-year-old child, which finding would be considered abnormal?
a) Diaphragmatic breathing
b) Respiratory rate of 24
c) Enlarged tonsils
d) Retractions of upper chest muscles
Answer: d) Retractions of upper chest muscles (indicates respiratory distress).
9. Which oxygen delivery device provides the most precise and accurate amount of oxygen?
a) Partial rebreather
b) Simple face mask
, c) Nasal cannula
d) Venturi mask
Answer: d) Venturi mask
10. A patient with long-term pulmonary disease is on 2 L/min of oxygen at home via nasal cannula.
Which statement indicates a need for additional teaching?
a) "I'll check behind my ears for soreness every day."
b) "I'll clean the cannula with soap and water if it gets soiled."
c) "If I get short of breath, I can turn the oxygen up to 4 liters until I feel better."
d) "It's important to keep the oxygen away from people who are smoking."
Answer: c) "If I get short of breath, I can turn the oxygen up to 4 liters until I feel better." (Oxygen flow
rates for COPD patients must be prescribed; adjusting it independently is dangerous).
11. Ten minutes after starting a transfusion of packed red blood cells, a patient reports back pain, has a
temperature of 101.3°F, and a heart rate of 114 bpm. What is the nurse's priority action?
a) Obtain an ECG.
b) Flush the IV line with normal saline.
c) Notify the physician.
d) Discontinue the transfusion.
Answer: d) Discontinue the transfusion. (These are signs of a transfusion reaction; stopping the
transfusion is the immediate priority).
12. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has an oxygen order at 2 L/min. The
nurse understands that this prescription is designed to:
a) Maintain the patient's hypoxic drive.
b) Provide the maximum amount of oxygen without toxicity.
c) Completely saturate hemoglobin with oxygen.
