MECHANICAL VENTILATION NCLEX EXAM
2 EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS FULL SOLUTION VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Which assessment information obtained by the nurse when caring for
a patient receiving mechanical ventilation indicates the need for
suctioning?
a. The respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min.
b. The pulse oximeter shows a SpO2 of 93%.
c. The patient has not been suctioned for the last 6 hours.
d. The lungs have occasional audible expiratory wheezes. Answer: A
⩥ Four hours after mechanical ventilation is initiated for a patient with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the patients arterial
blood gas (ABG) results include a pH of 7.50, PaO2 of 80 mm Hg,
PaCO2 of 29 mm Hg, and HCO3 of 23 mEq/L (23 mmol/L). The nurse
will anticipate the need to
a. increase the FIO2.
b. decrease the respiratory rate.
c. increase the tidal volume (VT).
,d. leave the ventilator at the current settings.. Answer: B
⩥ When the nurse is weaning a patient who has chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) from mechanical ventilation, which patient
assessment indicates that the weaning protocol should be discontinued?
a. The patient heart rate is 98 beats/min.
b. The patients oxygen saturation is 93%.
c. The patient respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min.
d. The patients spontaneous tidal volume is 500 mL.. Answer: C
⩥ A patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation is anxious and is
fighting the ventilator. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Ventilate the patient with a manual resuscitation bag.
b. Verbally coach the patient to breathe with the ventilator.
c. Sedate the patient with the ordered PRN lorazepam (Ativan).
d. Increase the rate for the ordered propofol (Diprivan) infusion..
Answer: B
⩥ A patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage is intubated and placed on
a mechanical ventilator. When monitoring the patient, the nurse will
need to notify the health care provider if the patient develops
, a. oxygen saturation of 94%.
b. respirations of 18 breaths/min.
c. green nasogastric tube drainage.
d. increased jugular vein distention (JVD).. Answer: D
⩥ A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing respiratory distress.
Which of the following early manifestations of hypoxemia should the
nurse recognize? Select all that apply
a. confusion
b. pale skin
c. bradycardia
d. hypotension
e. elevated blood pressure. Answer: BE
⩥ A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client who is receiving
mechanical ventilation. Which of the following ventilator modes will
increase the client's work of breathing? Select all that apply
a. assist-control
b. synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation
c. continuous positive airway pressure
d. pressure support ventilation
2 EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS FULL SOLUTION VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Which assessment information obtained by the nurse when caring for
a patient receiving mechanical ventilation indicates the need for
suctioning?
a. The respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min.
b. The pulse oximeter shows a SpO2 of 93%.
c. The patient has not been suctioned for the last 6 hours.
d. The lungs have occasional audible expiratory wheezes. Answer: A
⩥ Four hours after mechanical ventilation is initiated for a patient with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the patients arterial
blood gas (ABG) results include a pH of 7.50, PaO2 of 80 mm Hg,
PaCO2 of 29 mm Hg, and HCO3 of 23 mEq/L (23 mmol/L). The nurse
will anticipate the need to
a. increase the FIO2.
b. decrease the respiratory rate.
c. increase the tidal volume (VT).
,d. leave the ventilator at the current settings.. Answer: B
⩥ When the nurse is weaning a patient who has chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) from mechanical ventilation, which patient
assessment indicates that the weaning protocol should be discontinued?
a. The patient heart rate is 98 beats/min.
b. The patients oxygen saturation is 93%.
c. The patient respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min.
d. The patients spontaneous tidal volume is 500 mL.. Answer: C
⩥ A patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation is anxious and is
fighting the ventilator. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Ventilate the patient with a manual resuscitation bag.
b. Verbally coach the patient to breathe with the ventilator.
c. Sedate the patient with the ordered PRN lorazepam (Ativan).
d. Increase the rate for the ordered propofol (Diprivan) infusion..
Answer: B
⩥ A patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage is intubated and placed on
a mechanical ventilator. When monitoring the patient, the nurse will
need to notify the health care provider if the patient develops
, a. oxygen saturation of 94%.
b. respirations of 18 breaths/min.
c. green nasogastric tube drainage.
d. increased jugular vein distention (JVD).. Answer: D
⩥ A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing respiratory distress.
Which of the following early manifestations of hypoxemia should the
nurse recognize? Select all that apply
a. confusion
b. pale skin
c. bradycardia
d. hypotension
e. elevated blood pressure. Answer: BE
⩥ A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client who is receiving
mechanical ventilation. Which of the following ventilator modes will
increase the client's work of breathing? Select all that apply
a. assist-control
b. synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation
c. continuous positive airway pressure
d. pressure support ventilation
