MS Chapter 31 Exam Questions With
Accurate Answers
A patient is admitted to a respiratory unit with a diagnosis of left lower lobe
pneumonia. The nursing assessment reveals the patient to be febrile and
experiencing a weak, congested-sounding cough. The patient has moist
crackles throughout the lung fields. Based on the data provided, which nursing
diagnosis is most appropriate?
a. Anxiety
b. Impaired Gas Exchange
c. Ineffective Breathing Pattern
d. Ineffective Airway Clearance - ANSWER d. Ineffective Airway Clearance
The nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which laboratory test would
best help the nurse to monitor the condition of this patient?
a. Electrolytes, serum creatinine
b. Complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis
c. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT), serum potassium
d. White blood cell (WBC) count, arterial blood gases (ABGs) - ANSWER d. White
blood cell (WBC) count, arterial blood gases (ABGs)
A patient is unable to maintain a clear airway effectively with coughing and has a
respiratory rate of 22/min with coarse crackles bilaterally. Which intervention
should the nurse provide first?
a. Encourage fluids.
b. Encourage bedrest.
c. Perform tracheal suctioning.
d. Assess the patient's coughing technique. - ANSWER d. Assess the patient's
coughing technique.
The nurse is reviewing data collected on a patient with a respiratory disorder.
Which factor should the nurse identify that places the patient at risk for lung
cancer?
a. Smoking and exposure to radon gas
b. Living in a cold climate and having pets
c. Eating foods high in beta carotene and fiber
d. Living in crowded conditions and lack of sunlight - ANSWER a. Smoking and
exposure to radon gas
, A patient with lung cancer who is scheduled to begin a course of radiation
therapy asks the nurse, "How will they know if I'm cured?" The nurse's best
response is based on which understanding of the disease process?
a. Lung cancer is never a curable disease; prolonged life is the goal.
b. Eighty percent of lung cancers are curable with radiation therapy.
c. Radiation in lung cancer is most often used to increase comfort, not cure
disease.
d. Radiation therapy reduces inflammation; chemotherapy is used to shrink the
tumor. - ANSWER c. Radiation in lung cancer is most often used to increase
comfort, not cure disease.
A patient with lung cancer develops pleural effusion. Which explanation by the
nurse would help the patient understand this problem?
a. "Pus has developed in your alveoli that must be removed to improve your
breathing."
b. "You have large amounts of fluid collecting in your airways because of the
lung cancer."
c. "Fluid has collected in the space between your lungs and the sac surrounding
your lungs."
d. "Fluid in your pericardial sac places pressure on your lungs, making it difficult
to breathe." - ANSWER c. "Fluid has collected in the space between your lungs
and the sac surrounding your lungs."
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a patient with newly diagnosed
asthma. What should be included in the discharge teaching?
a. "Fluid fills the tiny sacs in the lungs and makes breathing difficult."
b. "Symptoms are caused by inflammation in the lining of your airways."
c. "You may notice large amounts of pus-like sputum that has a foul odor."
d. "The chest wall becomes stiff and air movement is restricted in individuals
with asthma." - ANSWER b. "Symptoms are caused by inflammation in the lining
of your airways."
The nurse is providing routine follow-up care for a young adult with asthma who
has been on a 3-month course of maintenance therapy. Which activity would
best help the nurse to determine if the patient's treatment plan was effective?
a. Obtain an ABG analysis.
b. Determine the patient's pulse oximeter reading.
c. Evaluate the patient's use of an incentive spirometer.
d. Examine daily tracking records of the peak expiratory flow rate. - ANSWER d.
Examine daily tracking records of the peak expiratory flow rate.
A summer camp worker reports to the camp nurse with complaints of shortness
of breath and audible wheezing. Which inhaled medication should the nurse
provide?
a. Albuterol (Proventil)
b. Cromolyn sodium (Intal)
Accurate Answers
A patient is admitted to a respiratory unit with a diagnosis of left lower lobe
pneumonia. The nursing assessment reveals the patient to be febrile and
experiencing a weak, congested-sounding cough. The patient has moist
crackles throughout the lung fields. Based on the data provided, which nursing
diagnosis is most appropriate?
a. Anxiety
b. Impaired Gas Exchange
c. Ineffective Breathing Pattern
d. Ineffective Airway Clearance - ANSWER d. Ineffective Airway Clearance
The nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which laboratory test would
best help the nurse to monitor the condition of this patient?
a. Electrolytes, serum creatinine
b. Complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis
c. Partial thromboplastin time (PTT), serum potassium
d. White blood cell (WBC) count, arterial blood gases (ABGs) - ANSWER d. White
blood cell (WBC) count, arterial blood gases (ABGs)
A patient is unable to maintain a clear airway effectively with coughing and has a
respiratory rate of 22/min with coarse crackles bilaterally. Which intervention
should the nurse provide first?
a. Encourage fluids.
b. Encourage bedrest.
c. Perform tracheal suctioning.
d. Assess the patient's coughing technique. - ANSWER d. Assess the patient's
coughing technique.
The nurse is reviewing data collected on a patient with a respiratory disorder.
Which factor should the nurse identify that places the patient at risk for lung
cancer?
a. Smoking and exposure to radon gas
b. Living in a cold climate and having pets
c. Eating foods high in beta carotene and fiber
d. Living in crowded conditions and lack of sunlight - ANSWER a. Smoking and
exposure to radon gas
, A patient with lung cancer who is scheduled to begin a course of radiation
therapy asks the nurse, "How will they know if I'm cured?" The nurse's best
response is based on which understanding of the disease process?
a. Lung cancer is never a curable disease; prolonged life is the goal.
b. Eighty percent of lung cancers are curable with radiation therapy.
c. Radiation in lung cancer is most often used to increase comfort, not cure
disease.
d. Radiation therapy reduces inflammation; chemotherapy is used to shrink the
tumor. - ANSWER c. Radiation in lung cancer is most often used to increase
comfort, not cure disease.
A patient with lung cancer develops pleural effusion. Which explanation by the
nurse would help the patient understand this problem?
a. "Pus has developed in your alveoli that must be removed to improve your
breathing."
b. "You have large amounts of fluid collecting in your airways because of the
lung cancer."
c. "Fluid has collected in the space between your lungs and the sac surrounding
your lungs."
d. "Fluid in your pericardial sac places pressure on your lungs, making it difficult
to breathe." - ANSWER c. "Fluid has collected in the space between your lungs
and the sac surrounding your lungs."
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a patient with newly diagnosed
asthma. What should be included in the discharge teaching?
a. "Fluid fills the tiny sacs in the lungs and makes breathing difficult."
b. "Symptoms are caused by inflammation in the lining of your airways."
c. "You may notice large amounts of pus-like sputum that has a foul odor."
d. "The chest wall becomes stiff and air movement is restricted in individuals
with asthma." - ANSWER b. "Symptoms are caused by inflammation in the lining
of your airways."
The nurse is providing routine follow-up care for a young adult with asthma who
has been on a 3-month course of maintenance therapy. Which activity would
best help the nurse to determine if the patient's treatment plan was effective?
a. Obtain an ABG analysis.
b. Determine the patient's pulse oximeter reading.
c. Evaluate the patient's use of an incentive spirometer.
d. Examine daily tracking records of the peak expiratory flow rate. - ANSWER d.
Examine daily tracking records of the peak expiratory flow rate.
A summer camp worker reports to the camp nurse with complaints of shortness
of breath and audible wheezing. Which inhaled medication should the nurse
provide?
a. Albuterol (Proventil)
b. Cromolyn sodium (Intal)
