Nurse 272 Exam 3 Review Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
A patient with acute shortness of breath is admitted to the hospital.
Which action should the nurse take during the initial assessment of
the patient?
a. Ask the patient to lie down to complete a full physical
assessment.
b. Briefly ask specific questions about this episode of respiratory
distress.
c. Complete the admission database to check for allergies before
treatment.
d. Delay the physical assessment to first complete pulmonary
function tests. -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
When a patient has severe respiratory distress, only information
pertinent to the current episode is obtained, and a more thorough
assessment is deferred until later. Obtaining a comprehensive
health history or full physical examination is unnecessary until the
acute distress has resolved. Brief questioning and a focused
physical assessment should be done rapidly to help determine the
cause of the distress and suggest treatment. Checking for allergies
is important, but it is not appropriate to complete the entire
admission database at this time. The initial respiratory assessment
must be completed before any diagnostic tests or interventions can
be ordered
,Nurse 272 Exam 3 Review Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
The nurse prepares a patient with a left-sided pleural effusion for a
thoracentesis. How should the nurse position the patient?
a. Supine with the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees
b. In a high-Fowler's position with the left arm extended
c. On the right side with the left arm extended above the head
d. Sitting upright with the arms supported on an over bed table -
correct answer ✅ANS: D
The upright position with the arms supported increases lung
expansion, allows fluid to collect at the lung bases, and expands the
intercostal space so that access to the pleural space is easier. The
other positions would increase the work of breathing for the
patient and make it more difficult for the health care provider
performing the thoracentesis
The nurse teaches a patient about pulmonary function testing
(PFT). Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates teaching
was effective?
a. "I will use my inhaler right before the test."
b. "I won't eat or drink anything 8 hours before the test."
,Nurse 272 Exam 3 Review Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
c. "I should inhale deeply and blow out as hard as I can during the
test."
d. "My blood pressure and pulse will be checked every 15 minutes
after the test." -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
For PFT, the patient should inhale deeply and exhale as long, hard,
and fast as possible. The other actions are not needed with PFT. The
administration of inhaled bronchodilators should be avoided 6
hours before the procedure.
what does extrinsic PEEP do -
correct answer ✅used to increase oxygenation
when is extrinsic PEEP used -
correct answer ✅when a person is experiencing ARDS
A patient who has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) was hospitalized for increasing shortness of breath
and chronic hypoxemia (SaO2 levels of 89% to 90%). In planning for
discharge, which action by the nurse will be most effective in
improving compliance with discharge teaching?
, Nurse 272 Exam 3 Review Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
a. Start giving the patient discharge teaching on the day of
admission.
b. Have the patient repeat the instructions immediately after
teaching.
c. Accomplish the patient teaching just before the scheduled
discharge.
d. Arrange for the patient's caregiver to be present during the
teaching. -
correct answer ✅ANS: D
Hypoxemia interferes with the patient's ability to learn and retain
information, so having the patient's caregiver present will increase
the likelihood that discharge instructions will be followed. Having
the patient repeat the instructions will indicate that the information
is understood at the time, but it does not guarantee retention of
the information. Because the patient is likely to be distracted just
before discharge, giving discharge instructions just before discharge
is not ideal. The patient is likely to be anxious and even more
hypoxemic than usual on the day of admission, so teaching about
discharge should be postponed.
A patient is admitted to the emergency department complaining of
sudden onset shortness of breath and is diagnosed with a possible
pulmonary embolus. How should the nurse prepare the patient for
diagnostic testing to confirm the diagnosis?
Answers (Grade A+)
A patient with acute shortness of breath is admitted to the hospital.
Which action should the nurse take during the initial assessment of
the patient?
a. Ask the patient to lie down to complete a full physical
assessment.
b. Briefly ask specific questions about this episode of respiratory
distress.
c. Complete the admission database to check for allergies before
treatment.
d. Delay the physical assessment to first complete pulmonary
function tests. -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
When a patient has severe respiratory distress, only information
pertinent to the current episode is obtained, and a more thorough
assessment is deferred until later. Obtaining a comprehensive
health history or full physical examination is unnecessary until the
acute distress has resolved. Brief questioning and a focused
physical assessment should be done rapidly to help determine the
cause of the distress and suggest treatment. Checking for allergies
is important, but it is not appropriate to complete the entire
admission database at this time. The initial respiratory assessment
must be completed before any diagnostic tests or interventions can
be ordered
,Nurse 272 Exam 3 Review Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
The nurse prepares a patient with a left-sided pleural effusion for a
thoracentesis. How should the nurse position the patient?
a. Supine with the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees
b. In a high-Fowler's position with the left arm extended
c. On the right side with the left arm extended above the head
d. Sitting upright with the arms supported on an over bed table -
correct answer ✅ANS: D
The upright position with the arms supported increases lung
expansion, allows fluid to collect at the lung bases, and expands the
intercostal space so that access to the pleural space is easier. The
other positions would increase the work of breathing for the
patient and make it more difficult for the health care provider
performing the thoracentesis
The nurse teaches a patient about pulmonary function testing
(PFT). Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates teaching
was effective?
a. "I will use my inhaler right before the test."
b. "I won't eat or drink anything 8 hours before the test."
,Nurse 272 Exam 3 Review Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
c. "I should inhale deeply and blow out as hard as I can during the
test."
d. "My blood pressure and pulse will be checked every 15 minutes
after the test." -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
For PFT, the patient should inhale deeply and exhale as long, hard,
and fast as possible. The other actions are not needed with PFT. The
administration of inhaled bronchodilators should be avoided 6
hours before the procedure.
what does extrinsic PEEP do -
correct answer ✅used to increase oxygenation
when is extrinsic PEEP used -
correct answer ✅when a person is experiencing ARDS
A patient who has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) was hospitalized for increasing shortness of breath
and chronic hypoxemia (SaO2 levels of 89% to 90%). In planning for
discharge, which action by the nurse will be most effective in
improving compliance with discharge teaching?
, Nurse 272 Exam 3 Review Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
a. Start giving the patient discharge teaching on the day of
admission.
b. Have the patient repeat the instructions immediately after
teaching.
c. Accomplish the patient teaching just before the scheduled
discharge.
d. Arrange for the patient's caregiver to be present during the
teaching. -
correct answer ✅ANS: D
Hypoxemia interferes with the patient's ability to learn and retain
information, so having the patient's caregiver present will increase
the likelihood that discharge instructions will be followed. Having
the patient repeat the instructions will indicate that the information
is understood at the time, but it does not guarantee retention of
the information. Because the patient is likely to be distracted just
before discharge, giving discharge instructions just before discharge
is not ideal. The patient is likely to be anxious and even more
hypoxemic than usual on the day of admission, so teaching about
discharge should be postponed.
A patient is admitted to the emergency department complaining of
sudden onset shortness of breath and is diagnosed with a possible
pulmonary embolus. How should the nurse prepare the patient for
diagnostic testing to confirm the diagnosis?
