NUR 355 EXAM 3 FINAL PAPER 2026 STUDY
GUIDE DETAILED ANSWERS READY
◉ Pulmonary edema.
Answer: Fluid collecting in alveoli and interstitial area-
Can result from many primary conditions
Reduces amount of oxygen diffusing into blood
Interferes with lung expansion
May develop when-
Inflammation in lungs is present.
Increases permeability of capillaries
Plasma protein levels are low.
Decreases osmotic pressure of plasma
Pulmonary hypertension develops
◉ Signs and symptoms of pulmonary edema.
Answer: Mild pulmonary edema-
Cough
Orthopnea
Rales
With increased congestion-
,hemoptysis often occurs
Pink, frothy sputum
breathing becomes labored; feels like "drowning"
hypoxemia worsens
cyanosis develops in the advanced stage
◉ pulmonary embolus.
Answer: Blood clot or mass that obstructs pulmonary artery or any
of its branches
Effect of embolus depends on material, size, and location.
Small pulmonary emboli might be "silent" unless they involve a large
area of lung.
Large emboli may cause sudden death.
90% of pulmonary emboli originate from deep vein thromboses in
legs and are preventable.
◉ signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolus.
Answer: Small emboli-
Transient chest pain
Cough
Dyspnea may occur
Larger emboli-
,Chest pain
Tachypnea
Dyspnea develops suddenly.
Later, hemoptysis and fever are present.
Hypoxia stimulates a sympathetic response, with anxiety and
restlessness, pallor, and tachycardia.
massive- Severe crushing chest pain
Low blood pressure
Rapid weak pulse
Loss of consciousness
◉ treatment of pulmonary embolism PE.
Answer: Assessment of risk factors
Surgically Inserted filter into vena cava (some cases)
Heparin or streptokinase
Mechanical ventilation
Embolectomy
◉ Lung expansion disorders.
Answer: Atelectasis
Pleural effusion
Pneumothorax
, Flail chest
Infant respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory failure
◉ Atelectasis.
Answer: Nonaeration or collapse of lung or part of a lung (incensive
spirometer)
Leads to decreased gas exchange and hypoxia
Alveoli become airless.
Collapse and inflammation or atrophy occur.
Process interferes with blood flow through the lung.
Both ventilation and perfusion are altered.
Affects oxygen diffusion
◉ mechanisms that cause atelactasis.
Answer: Obstructive atelectasis-
Caused by total obstruction of airway - tumor or mucous
Compression atelectasis-
Tumor, fluid, or air in pleural space exerts pressure on lung.
Increased surface tension in alveoli-
Prevents expansion of lung - ex. pulmonary edema
Fibrotic tissue in lungs or pleura-
GUIDE DETAILED ANSWERS READY
◉ Pulmonary edema.
Answer: Fluid collecting in alveoli and interstitial area-
Can result from many primary conditions
Reduces amount of oxygen diffusing into blood
Interferes with lung expansion
May develop when-
Inflammation in lungs is present.
Increases permeability of capillaries
Plasma protein levels are low.
Decreases osmotic pressure of plasma
Pulmonary hypertension develops
◉ Signs and symptoms of pulmonary edema.
Answer: Mild pulmonary edema-
Cough
Orthopnea
Rales
With increased congestion-
,hemoptysis often occurs
Pink, frothy sputum
breathing becomes labored; feels like "drowning"
hypoxemia worsens
cyanosis develops in the advanced stage
◉ pulmonary embolus.
Answer: Blood clot or mass that obstructs pulmonary artery or any
of its branches
Effect of embolus depends on material, size, and location.
Small pulmonary emboli might be "silent" unless they involve a large
area of lung.
Large emboli may cause sudden death.
90% of pulmonary emboli originate from deep vein thromboses in
legs and are preventable.
◉ signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolus.
Answer: Small emboli-
Transient chest pain
Cough
Dyspnea may occur
Larger emboli-
,Chest pain
Tachypnea
Dyspnea develops suddenly.
Later, hemoptysis and fever are present.
Hypoxia stimulates a sympathetic response, with anxiety and
restlessness, pallor, and tachycardia.
massive- Severe crushing chest pain
Low blood pressure
Rapid weak pulse
Loss of consciousness
◉ treatment of pulmonary embolism PE.
Answer: Assessment of risk factors
Surgically Inserted filter into vena cava (some cases)
Heparin or streptokinase
Mechanical ventilation
Embolectomy
◉ Lung expansion disorders.
Answer: Atelectasis
Pleural effusion
Pneumothorax
, Flail chest
Infant respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory failure
◉ Atelectasis.
Answer: Nonaeration or collapse of lung or part of a lung (incensive
spirometer)
Leads to decreased gas exchange and hypoxia
Alveoli become airless.
Collapse and inflammation or atrophy occur.
Process interferes with blood flow through the lung.
Both ventilation and perfusion are altered.
Affects oxygen diffusion
◉ mechanisms that cause atelactasis.
Answer: Obstructive atelectasis-
Caused by total obstruction of airway - tumor or mucous
Compression atelectasis-
Tumor, fluid, or air in pleural space exerts pressure on lung.
Increased surface tension in alveoli-
Prevents expansion of lung - ex. pulmonary edema
Fibrotic tissue in lungs or pleura-
