,Hondros NUR 185 Exam 1 | Concepts of Adult Health Nursing for the
Practical Nurse II (2026) Q&A
1. Which assessment finding is most consistent with early hypoxemia?
A) Restlessness and confusion
B) Bradycardia and hypertension
C) Warm, flushed skin
D) Increased urinary output
Correct Answer: Restlessness and confusion
Rationale: Early hypoxemia often manifests as neurological changes such as restlessness,
anxiety, and confusion because the brain is highly sensitive to reduced oxygen levels.
Bradycardia, hypertension, warm flushed skin, and increased urinary output are not typical early
indicators of hypoxemia.
2. What is the primary purpose of a chest tube inserted into the pleural space?
A) To administer medications directly into the lung tissue
B) To remove air or fluid and restore negative pressure
C) To measure lung volumes and capacities
D) To provide mechanical ventilation
Correct Answer: To remove air or fluid and restore negative pressure
Rationale: A chest tube is inserted to drain air, blood, or fluid from the pleural space, allowing
the lung to re-expand and restoring normal negative pressure. It does not deliver medications,
measure lung volumes, or provide ventilation.
,3. Which ventilator alarm indicates a possible disconnection or leak in the circuit?
A) High-pressure alarm
B) Low-pressure alarm
C) Apnea alarm
D) Oxygen concentration alarm
Correct Answer: Low-pressure alarm
Rationale: A low-pressure ventilator alarm typically signals a leak or disconnection in the
ventilator circuit. High-pressure alarms indicate obstruction or decreased compliance. Apnea
alarms signal absent spontaneous breaths, and oxygen concentration alarms indicate a mismatch
in FiO2.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient with a new tracheostomy. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A) Pink, moist stoma
B) Small amount of serosanguineous drainage
C) Audible air leak around the tube
D) Clear breath sounds bilaterally
Correct Answer: Audible air leak around the tube
Rationale: An audible air leak around the tracheostomy tube may indicate that the cuff is not
properly inflated or that the tube has become dislodged, compromising ventilation. A pink moist
stoma and small serosanguineous drainage are expected. Clear breath sounds are a normal
finding.
5. Which oxygen delivery device provides the most precise low-flow oxygen concentration?
A) Nasal cannula
, B) Simple face mask
C) Venturi mask
D) Non-rebreather mask
Correct Answer: Venturi mask
Rationale: The Venturi mask delivers precise oxygen concentrations because it uses a jet
adapter to mix room air with oxygen in specific proportions. Nasal cannula and simple face
masks provide variable concentrations. Non-rebreather masks deliver high concentrations but not
precise low-flow amounts.
6. What is the primary purpose of suctioning an artificial airway?
A) To stimulate cough reflex
B) To maintain airway patency by removing secretions
C) To administer medications
D) To measure tidal volume
Correct Answer: To maintain airway patency by removing secretions
Rationale: Suctioning is performed to remove accumulated secretions from the airway that the
patient cannot clear independently, maintaining patency and preventing obstruction. It does not
stimulate cough, deliver medications, or measure tidal volume.
7. Which finding indicates effective gas exchange in a patient receiving oxygen therapy?
A) Oxygen saturation increases from 88% to 94%
B) Respiratory rate decreases from 30 to 12
C) Patient reports decreased anxiety
D) Arterial blood gas shows PaCO2 of 55 mm Hg
Practical Nurse II (2026) Q&A
1. Which assessment finding is most consistent with early hypoxemia?
A) Restlessness and confusion
B) Bradycardia and hypertension
C) Warm, flushed skin
D) Increased urinary output
Correct Answer: Restlessness and confusion
Rationale: Early hypoxemia often manifests as neurological changes such as restlessness,
anxiety, and confusion because the brain is highly sensitive to reduced oxygen levels.
Bradycardia, hypertension, warm flushed skin, and increased urinary output are not typical early
indicators of hypoxemia.
2. What is the primary purpose of a chest tube inserted into the pleural space?
A) To administer medications directly into the lung tissue
B) To remove air or fluid and restore negative pressure
C) To measure lung volumes and capacities
D) To provide mechanical ventilation
Correct Answer: To remove air or fluid and restore negative pressure
Rationale: A chest tube is inserted to drain air, blood, or fluid from the pleural space, allowing
the lung to re-expand and restoring normal negative pressure. It does not deliver medications,
measure lung volumes, or provide ventilation.
,3. Which ventilator alarm indicates a possible disconnection or leak in the circuit?
A) High-pressure alarm
B) Low-pressure alarm
C) Apnea alarm
D) Oxygen concentration alarm
Correct Answer: Low-pressure alarm
Rationale: A low-pressure ventilator alarm typically signals a leak or disconnection in the
ventilator circuit. High-pressure alarms indicate obstruction or decreased compliance. Apnea
alarms signal absent spontaneous breaths, and oxygen concentration alarms indicate a mismatch
in FiO2.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient with a new tracheostomy. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A) Pink, moist stoma
B) Small amount of serosanguineous drainage
C) Audible air leak around the tube
D) Clear breath sounds bilaterally
Correct Answer: Audible air leak around the tube
Rationale: An audible air leak around the tracheostomy tube may indicate that the cuff is not
properly inflated or that the tube has become dislodged, compromising ventilation. A pink moist
stoma and small serosanguineous drainage are expected. Clear breath sounds are a normal
finding.
5. Which oxygen delivery device provides the most precise low-flow oxygen concentration?
A) Nasal cannula
, B) Simple face mask
C) Venturi mask
D) Non-rebreather mask
Correct Answer: Venturi mask
Rationale: The Venturi mask delivers precise oxygen concentrations because it uses a jet
adapter to mix room air with oxygen in specific proportions. Nasal cannula and simple face
masks provide variable concentrations. Non-rebreather masks deliver high concentrations but not
precise low-flow amounts.
6. What is the primary purpose of suctioning an artificial airway?
A) To stimulate cough reflex
B) To maintain airway patency by removing secretions
C) To administer medications
D) To measure tidal volume
Correct Answer: To maintain airway patency by removing secretions
Rationale: Suctioning is performed to remove accumulated secretions from the airway that the
patient cannot clear independently, maintaining patency and preventing obstruction. It does not
stimulate cough, deliver medications, or measure tidal volume.
7. Which finding indicates effective gas exchange in a patient receiving oxygen therapy?
A) Oxygen saturation increases from 88% to 94%
B) Respiratory rate decreases from 30 to 12
C) Patient reports decreased anxiety
D) Arterial blood gas shows PaCO2 of 55 mm Hg
