NUR 198 EXAM 2 – Joyce University Latest
2026/2027 Update | Respiratory & Cardiovascular
Disorders | Questions with Correct Answers and
Rationales | INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
Introduction
This study guide provides practice questions and answers for NUR 198 Exam 2 at Joyce
University. Exam 2 focuses on Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disorders, covering:
Respiratory Disorders – Chronic bronchitis, COPD, asthma, pneumonia,
atelectasis, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pulmonary tuberculosis, obstructive
sleep apnea
Cardiovascular Disorders – Hypertension, heart failure (left vs. right), atrial
fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, cardiac catheterization, CABG
Oxygen Therapy & Monitoring – Oxygen delivery devices, ABG interpretation,
pulse oximetry
Post-Operative & Critical Care – Chest tubes, PCA pumps, epidural monitoring,
wound complications
Each question includes the correct answer in bold and a detailed rationale.
SECTION 1: RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT & DISORDERS (Questions 1-25)
,1. What are the characteristics of chronic bronchitis?
A. The bronchi are constricted with a non-productive cough
B. The bronchi are chronically inflamed and a productive cough is present
C. The alveoli are destroyed with barrel chest
D. The pleura are inflamed with sharp chest pain
Rationale: Chronic bronchitis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the bronchi
and a productive cough present for at least 3 months in 2 consecutive years. Percussion
note is resonant, trachea midline, breath sounds normal with possible scattered crackles or
wheezes, and tactile fremitus is normal .
2. What is the primary characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema and JVD
B. Hepatomegaly and ascites
C. Increased pressure in the pulmonary veins causing congestion and interstitial
edema
D. Decreased cardiac output with no pulmonary symptoms
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes increased pressure in the pulmonary veins,
leading to congestion and interstitial edema around the alveoli. This results in late
inspiratory crackles in dependent lung portions and possibly wheezes .
3. A patient has a partial lobar obstruction due to a mucus plug. What assessment
finding would the nurse expect?
A. Hyperresonance over the affected area
B. Dull percussion over the airless area, trachea shifted toward the involved side,
absent breath sounds and tactile fremitus
, C. Tympanic percussion and trachea shifted away
D. Normal percussion with decreased breath sounds
Rationale: Atelectasis occurs when a plug obstructs bronchial airflow, causing alveoli to
collapse. This results in dull percussion over the airless area, trachea shifted toward the
involved side, and absent breath sounds and tactile fremitus .
4. What assessment finding is expected with a pleural effusion?
A. Dull to flat percussion over the fluid, trachea shifted toward the unaffected side,
decreased to absent breath sounds
B. Hyperresonance with trachea shifted toward the affected side
C. Normal percussion with increased tactile fremitus
D. Tympanic percussion with crackles
Rationale: Pleural effusion involves fluid accumulation in the pleural space, separating
the lung from the chest wall. This produces dull to flat percussion over the fluid, trachea
shifted toward the unaffected side, and decreased to absent breath sounds .
5. A tension pneumothorax would cause which assessment finding?
A. Trachea shifted toward the unaffected side
B. Trachea shifted toward the affected side
C. Trachea midline
D. Trachea not assessable
Rationale: In a tension pneumothorax, air leaks into the pleural space, causing the lung
to recoil away from the chest wall. Air trapping causes pressure buildup that shifts the
trachea toward the unaffected side (mediastinal shift), a life-threatening emergency .
6. Which type of pneumonia develops 48-72 hours after hospital admission?
2026/2027 Update | Respiratory & Cardiovascular
Disorders | Questions with Correct Answers and
Rationales | INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
Introduction
This study guide provides practice questions and answers for NUR 198 Exam 2 at Joyce
University. Exam 2 focuses on Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disorders, covering:
Respiratory Disorders – Chronic bronchitis, COPD, asthma, pneumonia,
atelectasis, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pulmonary tuberculosis, obstructive
sleep apnea
Cardiovascular Disorders – Hypertension, heart failure (left vs. right), atrial
fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, cardiac catheterization, CABG
Oxygen Therapy & Monitoring – Oxygen delivery devices, ABG interpretation,
pulse oximetry
Post-Operative & Critical Care – Chest tubes, PCA pumps, epidural monitoring,
wound complications
Each question includes the correct answer in bold and a detailed rationale.
SECTION 1: RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT & DISORDERS (Questions 1-25)
,1. What are the characteristics of chronic bronchitis?
A. The bronchi are constricted with a non-productive cough
B. The bronchi are chronically inflamed and a productive cough is present
C. The alveoli are destroyed with barrel chest
D. The pleura are inflamed with sharp chest pain
Rationale: Chronic bronchitis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the bronchi
and a productive cough present for at least 3 months in 2 consecutive years. Percussion
note is resonant, trachea midline, breath sounds normal with possible scattered crackles or
wheezes, and tactile fremitus is normal .
2. What is the primary characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema and JVD
B. Hepatomegaly and ascites
C. Increased pressure in the pulmonary veins causing congestion and interstitial
edema
D. Decreased cardiac output with no pulmonary symptoms
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes increased pressure in the pulmonary veins,
leading to congestion and interstitial edema around the alveoli. This results in late
inspiratory crackles in dependent lung portions and possibly wheezes .
3. A patient has a partial lobar obstruction due to a mucus plug. What assessment
finding would the nurse expect?
A. Hyperresonance over the affected area
B. Dull percussion over the airless area, trachea shifted toward the involved side,
absent breath sounds and tactile fremitus
, C. Tympanic percussion and trachea shifted away
D. Normal percussion with decreased breath sounds
Rationale: Atelectasis occurs when a plug obstructs bronchial airflow, causing alveoli to
collapse. This results in dull percussion over the airless area, trachea shifted toward the
involved side, and absent breath sounds and tactile fremitus .
4. What assessment finding is expected with a pleural effusion?
A. Dull to flat percussion over the fluid, trachea shifted toward the unaffected side,
decreased to absent breath sounds
B. Hyperresonance with trachea shifted toward the affected side
C. Normal percussion with increased tactile fremitus
D. Tympanic percussion with crackles
Rationale: Pleural effusion involves fluid accumulation in the pleural space, separating
the lung from the chest wall. This produces dull to flat percussion over the fluid, trachea
shifted toward the unaffected side, and decreased to absent breath sounds .
5. A tension pneumothorax would cause which assessment finding?
A. Trachea shifted toward the unaffected side
B. Trachea shifted toward the affected side
C. Trachea midline
D. Trachea not assessable
Rationale: In a tension pneumothorax, air leaks into the pleural space, causing the lung
to recoil away from the chest wall. Air trapping causes pressure buildup that shifts the
trachea toward the unaffected side (mediastinal shift), a life-threatening emergency .
6. Which type of pneumonia develops 48-72 hours after hospital admission?
