NUR 330 EXAM 3 STUDY GUIDE | NUR 330 EXAM 3 PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING REVIEW 2026/2027
asthma - ✔✔asthma
asthma - ✔✔a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes hyperresponsiveness, mucosal
edema, and mucus production
inflammation - ✔✔leads to cough, chest tightness, wheezing, and dyspnea
reversible - ✔✔asthma is largely_______ ; spontaneously or with treatment
allergy - ✔✔is the strongest predisposing factor to asthma.
predisposing factors - ✔✔atopy (genetic)
female
casual factors - ✔✔•exposure to allergens
•occupational sensitizers
contributing factors - ✔✔•respiratory infections
•air pollution
•active passive smoking
•diet
inflammation leads to - ✔✔hyperresponsiveness of airways and airway limitation
risk factors for exacerbations - ✔✔•allergens
•respiratory infections
•exercise and hyperventilation
•weather changes
•exposure to food, additives, and medications
•exposure to sulfur dioxide
Pathophysiology of asthma - ✔✔primary response to chronic inflammation from exposure to allergens
or irritants
early phase response - ✔✔vascular congestion, edema, production of thick mucous, bronchial muscle
spasm, and thickening of airway walls.
late phase response - ✔✔•occurs 4-10 hours after initial attack
•can be more severe that early phase and can last 24 hours
•if airway inflammation is not treated or resolve, irreversible lung damage is possible.
triggers of asthma - ✔✔•allergens
,•exercise
•air pollutants
•occupational factors
•respiratory infections
•nose and sinus problems
•drug and food additives
•GERD
•emotional stress
clinical manifestations - ✔✔•episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, cough, or tight chest (may be
abrupt or gradual and last minutes-hours)
•expiration may be prolonged
•feeling of suffocation
wheezing - ✔✔wheezing is unreliable to gauge severity because severe attacks may have no audible
wheezing.
cough variant asthma - ✔✔Cough is only symptom
Bronchospasm is not severe enough to cause airflow obstruction
suffocation - ✔✔difficulty with air movement may create a feeling of suffocation
hypoxemia - ✔✔deficient amount of oxygen in the blood
hypoxemia - ✔✔acute attacks usually reveal signs of _______?
signs of hypoxemia - ✔✔restlessness, increased anxiety, inappropriate behavior, tachycardia,
hypertension
asthma complications - ✔✔severe acute attacks
life threatening asthma
severe acute attacks - ✔✔• respiratory rate >30
• pulse >120
• usually seen in ED or hospitalization
life threatening asthma - ✔✔•Too dyspneic to speak
•Require hospital care and often admitted to ICU
diagnostics for asthma - ✔✔•detailed history of physical exam
•pulmonary function test
•peak flow monitoring
•chest Xray
•ABGs
•oximetry
•allergy testing
•blood levels of eosinophils
•sputum culture and sensitivity
, acute asthma episode - ✔✔respiratory distress and treatment depends upon severity and response to
therapy
mild persistent asthma - ✔✔avoid tiggers of acute attacks and premedicate before exercising
severe exacerbations - ✔✔•IV corticosteroids are administered 4-6 hours, then given orally
•supplemental O2 given for an O2 sat <90
•IV fluids
•continuous monitoring of pt is critical
Quick relief medications for asthma - ✔✔Beta2-adrenergic agonists
anticholinergics
Beta2-Adrenergic Agonists - ✔✔med of choice for acute symptoms, relax smooth muscle
Anticholinergics - ✔✔great option for pts who cannot tolerate beta2-adrenergic agonists
Long acting medications for asthma - ✔✔•achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma
-corticosteroids
-long acting beta2-adrenergic agonists
-leukotriene modifiers
antiinflammatory drugs - ✔✔•have both bronchodilator and antiinflammatory effects
•not indicated for acute attacks
•used for prophylactic and maintenance therapy
antiinflammatory drugs - ✔✔corticosteroids
leukotriene modifiers
patient teaching - ✔✔•correct administration of drugs
•seek medical attention for bronchospasm
•maintain good nutrition
•exercise with limitations
•measure peak flow daily
inhalation - ✔✔is preferred method to avoid systemic effects
MDI with spacer - ✔✔is easier and improves inhalation of the drug
DPI - ✔✔dry powder inhaler - requires less manual dexterity and coordination
peak flow meter - ✔✔a handheld device often used to test those with asthma to measure how quickly
the patient can expel air
peak flow rates - ✔✔green zone
yellow zone
red zone
ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING REVIEW 2026/2027
asthma - ✔✔asthma
asthma - ✔✔a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes hyperresponsiveness, mucosal
edema, and mucus production
inflammation - ✔✔leads to cough, chest tightness, wheezing, and dyspnea
reversible - ✔✔asthma is largely_______ ; spontaneously or with treatment
allergy - ✔✔is the strongest predisposing factor to asthma.
predisposing factors - ✔✔atopy (genetic)
female
casual factors - ✔✔•exposure to allergens
•occupational sensitizers
contributing factors - ✔✔•respiratory infections
•air pollution
•active passive smoking
•diet
inflammation leads to - ✔✔hyperresponsiveness of airways and airway limitation
risk factors for exacerbations - ✔✔•allergens
•respiratory infections
•exercise and hyperventilation
•weather changes
•exposure to food, additives, and medications
•exposure to sulfur dioxide
Pathophysiology of asthma - ✔✔primary response to chronic inflammation from exposure to allergens
or irritants
early phase response - ✔✔vascular congestion, edema, production of thick mucous, bronchial muscle
spasm, and thickening of airway walls.
late phase response - ✔✔•occurs 4-10 hours after initial attack
•can be more severe that early phase and can last 24 hours
•if airway inflammation is not treated or resolve, irreversible lung damage is possible.
triggers of asthma - ✔✔•allergens
,•exercise
•air pollutants
•occupational factors
•respiratory infections
•nose and sinus problems
•drug and food additives
•GERD
•emotional stress
clinical manifestations - ✔✔•episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, cough, or tight chest (may be
abrupt or gradual and last minutes-hours)
•expiration may be prolonged
•feeling of suffocation
wheezing - ✔✔wheezing is unreliable to gauge severity because severe attacks may have no audible
wheezing.
cough variant asthma - ✔✔Cough is only symptom
Bronchospasm is not severe enough to cause airflow obstruction
suffocation - ✔✔difficulty with air movement may create a feeling of suffocation
hypoxemia - ✔✔deficient amount of oxygen in the blood
hypoxemia - ✔✔acute attacks usually reveal signs of _______?
signs of hypoxemia - ✔✔restlessness, increased anxiety, inappropriate behavior, tachycardia,
hypertension
asthma complications - ✔✔severe acute attacks
life threatening asthma
severe acute attacks - ✔✔• respiratory rate >30
• pulse >120
• usually seen in ED or hospitalization
life threatening asthma - ✔✔•Too dyspneic to speak
•Require hospital care and often admitted to ICU
diagnostics for asthma - ✔✔•detailed history of physical exam
•pulmonary function test
•peak flow monitoring
•chest Xray
•ABGs
•oximetry
•allergy testing
•blood levels of eosinophils
•sputum culture and sensitivity
, acute asthma episode - ✔✔respiratory distress and treatment depends upon severity and response to
therapy
mild persistent asthma - ✔✔avoid tiggers of acute attacks and premedicate before exercising
severe exacerbations - ✔✔•IV corticosteroids are administered 4-6 hours, then given orally
•supplemental O2 given for an O2 sat <90
•IV fluids
•continuous monitoring of pt is critical
Quick relief medications for asthma - ✔✔Beta2-adrenergic agonists
anticholinergics
Beta2-Adrenergic Agonists - ✔✔med of choice for acute symptoms, relax smooth muscle
Anticholinergics - ✔✔great option for pts who cannot tolerate beta2-adrenergic agonists
Long acting medications for asthma - ✔✔•achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma
-corticosteroids
-long acting beta2-adrenergic agonists
-leukotriene modifiers
antiinflammatory drugs - ✔✔•have both bronchodilator and antiinflammatory effects
•not indicated for acute attacks
•used for prophylactic and maintenance therapy
antiinflammatory drugs - ✔✔corticosteroids
leukotriene modifiers
patient teaching - ✔✔•correct administration of drugs
•seek medical attention for bronchospasm
•maintain good nutrition
•exercise with limitations
•measure peak flow daily
inhalation - ✔✔is preferred method to avoid systemic effects
MDI with spacer - ✔✔is easier and improves inhalation of the drug
DPI - ✔✔dry powder inhaler - requires less manual dexterity and coordination
peak flow meter - ✔✔a handheld device often used to test those with asthma to measure how quickly
the patient can expel air
peak flow rates - ✔✔green zone
yellow zone
red zone
