NU551 Unit 7 Purdue University Global | UPDATED Questions with
100% Verified Answers
Question:
A 10-year-old female develops pneumonia. Physical exam
reveals subcostal and intercostal retractions. She reports that
breathing is difficult and she feels she cannot get enough air.
What term should the nurse use to document this condition?
a. Cyanosis
b. Dyspnea
c. Hyperpnea
d. Orthopnea
Answer:
b. Dyspnea
Rationale: Dyspnea is defined as "a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that
consists of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity."
Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration to the skin.
Hyperpnea is an increased ventilatory rate.
Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when an individual lies flat.
Question:
A 20-year-old male presents to his primary care provider
reporting difficulty breathing when lying down. What term
should the nurse use to document this condition?
a. Dyspnea
b. Orthopnea
c. Apnea
d. Tachypnea
Answer:
b. Orthopnea
Rationale: Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when an individual lies flat.
Dyspnea is shortness of breath that occurs with activity.
Apnea is cessation of breathing.
Tachypnea is rapid breathing.
,Question:
A 50-year-old diabetic male did not take his medication and is
now in metabolic acidosis. He is experiencing Kussmaul
respirations. What type of breathing will the nurse observe
upon assessment?
a. Audible wheezing or stridor
b. A slightly increased ventilatory rate, large tidal volumes, and
no expiratory pause
c. Rapid respirations with periods of apnea
d. Very slow inhalations and rapid expirations
Answer:
b. A slightly increased ventilatory rate, large tidal volumes, and no expiratory pause
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are characterized by a slightly increased ventilatory rate,
very large tidal volumes, and no expiratory pause.
Audible wheezing is usually associated with conditions such as asthma, and stridor
indicates a narrowed airway.
Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by alternating periods of deep and shallow
breathing, with periods of apnea lasting from 15 to 60 seconds.
Kussmaul respirations do not have slow inhalations; bronchiolar disorders have these
characteristics.
Question:
A 30-year-old female received a severe head injury in a motor
vehicle accident. She is now experiencing respiratory
abnormalities characterized by alternating periods of deep
and shallow breathing with periods of apnea. What term
should the nurse use when charting this condition?
a. Cheyne-Stokes
b. Frank-Starling
c. Apnea
d. Orthopnea
Answer:
, a. Cheyne-Stokes
Rationale: Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by alternating periods of deep
and shallow breathing, with periods of apnea lasting from 15 to 60 seconds.
Frank-Starling is related to the stretch of fibers.
Apnea is cessation of respirations.
Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when an individual lies flat.
Question:
Which patient would the nurse assess for paroxysmal
nocturnal dyspnea (PND)? A patient with:
a. Pulmonary fibrosis
b. Asthma
c. Left ventricular failure
d. Hypotension
Answer:
c. Left ventricular failure
Rationale: Some individuals with cardiac disease awake at night gasping for air and have
to sit up or stand to relieve the dyspnea (PND).
PND occurs primarily with cardiac disease, not pulmonary fibrosis.
Individuals with asthma experience orthopnea, rather than PND.
Question:
A 20-year-old male is in acute pain. An arterial blood gas
reveals decreased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. Which of the
following does the nurse suspect is the most likely cause?
a. Hyperventilation
b. Hypoventilation
c. Apnea
d. Cyanosis
Answer:
a. Hyperventilation
Rationale: Individuals with hyperventilation blow off CO2.
Individuals with hypoventilation retain CO2.
Apnea is cessation of breathing.
100% Verified Answers
Question:
A 10-year-old female develops pneumonia. Physical exam
reveals subcostal and intercostal retractions. She reports that
breathing is difficult and she feels she cannot get enough air.
What term should the nurse use to document this condition?
a. Cyanosis
b. Dyspnea
c. Hyperpnea
d. Orthopnea
Answer:
b. Dyspnea
Rationale: Dyspnea is defined as "a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that
consists of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity."
Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration to the skin.
Hyperpnea is an increased ventilatory rate.
Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when an individual lies flat.
Question:
A 20-year-old male presents to his primary care provider
reporting difficulty breathing when lying down. What term
should the nurse use to document this condition?
a. Dyspnea
b. Orthopnea
c. Apnea
d. Tachypnea
Answer:
b. Orthopnea
Rationale: Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when an individual lies flat.
Dyspnea is shortness of breath that occurs with activity.
Apnea is cessation of breathing.
Tachypnea is rapid breathing.
,Question:
A 50-year-old diabetic male did not take his medication and is
now in metabolic acidosis. He is experiencing Kussmaul
respirations. What type of breathing will the nurse observe
upon assessment?
a. Audible wheezing or stridor
b. A slightly increased ventilatory rate, large tidal volumes, and
no expiratory pause
c. Rapid respirations with periods of apnea
d. Very slow inhalations and rapid expirations
Answer:
b. A slightly increased ventilatory rate, large tidal volumes, and no expiratory pause
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are characterized by a slightly increased ventilatory rate,
very large tidal volumes, and no expiratory pause.
Audible wheezing is usually associated with conditions such as asthma, and stridor
indicates a narrowed airway.
Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by alternating periods of deep and shallow
breathing, with periods of apnea lasting from 15 to 60 seconds.
Kussmaul respirations do not have slow inhalations; bronchiolar disorders have these
characteristics.
Question:
A 30-year-old female received a severe head injury in a motor
vehicle accident. She is now experiencing respiratory
abnormalities characterized by alternating periods of deep
and shallow breathing with periods of apnea. What term
should the nurse use when charting this condition?
a. Cheyne-Stokes
b. Frank-Starling
c. Apnea
d. Orthopnea
Answer:
, a. Cheyne-Stokes
Rationale: Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by alternating periods of deep
and shallow breathing, with periods of apnea lasting from 15 to 60 seconds.
Frank-Starling is related to the stretch of fibers.
Apnea is cessation of respirations.
Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when an individual lies flat.
Question:
Which patient would the nurse assess for paroxysmal
nocturnal dyspnea (PND)? A patient with:
a. Pulmonary fibrosis
b. Asthma
c. Left ventricular failure
d. Hypotension
Answer:
c. Left ventricular failure
Rationale: Some individuals with cardiac disease awake at night gasping for air and have
to sit up or stand to relieve the dyspnea (PND).
PND occurs primarily with cardiac disease, not pulmonary fibrosis.
Individuals with asthma experience orthopnea, rather than PND.
Question:
A 20-year-old male is in acute pain. An arterial blood gas
reveals decreased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. Which of the
following does the nurse suspect is the most likely cause?
a. Hyperventilation
b. Hypoventilation
c. Apnea
d. Cyanosis
Answer:
a. Hyperventilation
Rationale: Individuals with hyperventilation blow off CO2.
Individuals with hypoventilation retain CO2.
Apnea is cessation of breathing.
