ATI MEDICAL SURGICAL RESPIRATORY RETAKE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES Q&A INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
150 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Interpret arterial blood gases and pulmonary function data to differentiate respiratory failure types and
guide management
2 Prioritize nursing interventions for acute respiratory emergencies including PE, pneumothorax, and status
asthmaticus
3 Apply evidence-based guidelines (GOLD 2025, GINA 2025) to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic
respiratory management
4 Evaluate chest tube and mechanical ventilation parameters for complications and needed adjustments
5 Design patient education that reduces respiratory rehospitalization and improves self-management
6 Ati Medical Surgical Respiratory Retake Exam Questions And Correct Answers
7 Verified Answers
8 Plus Rationales Q&A Instant Download Pdf
9 Foundations of Medical-Surgical Nursing - Respiratory Care
10 Applied Medical-Surgical Nursing - Respiratory Care
11 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing - Respiratory Care
12 Medical-Surgical Nursing - Respiratory Care Review
ABSTRACT
Page 1
,This study document brings together 150 carefully worded exam questions drawn from Ati Medical
Surgical Respiratory Retake Exam Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales Q&A Instant Download Pdf, with the strongest emphasis placed on Interpret arterial
blood gases and pulmonary function data to differentiate respiratory failure types and guide
management, Prioritize nursing interventions for acute respiratory emergencies including PE,
pneumothorax, and status asthmaticus, Apply evidence-based guidelines (GOLD 2025 and GINA
2025) to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic respiratory management. Every item follows the
wording style and level of reasoning you meet in the real paper, and each one is paired with a clear
rationale so the correct choice is never a guess. Work through the set at your own pace, mark the
questions that slow you down, then come back to them until the reasoning feels automatic.
Learners who revise this way walk into the exam room recognising the pattern behind the
questions instead of meeting them for the first time. Keep going - steady, honest practice is what
turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Q1 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
Which ABG finding most specifically indicates chronic respiratory acidosis with
metabolic compensation?
A. pH 7.30, PaCO2 55, HCO3 26
B. pH 7.36, PaCO2 60, HCO3 34 CORRECT
C. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, HCO3 24
D. pH 7.32, PaCO2 30, HCO3 15
RATIONALE: Chronic respiratory acidosis shows near-normal pH with elevated PaCO2 and
compensatory elevated HCO3 (renal retention). Option B demonstrates this fully compensated
state. Option A is uncompensated acute respiratory acidosis; C is respiratory alkalosis; D is
metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation.
Page 2
,Q2 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
A patient with COPD has PaO2 52 mmHg. Which oxygen delivery target aligns with
GOLD 2025?
A. Maintain SpO2 88-92% CORRECT
B. Maintain SpO2 >95%
C. Maintain PaO2 >80 mmHg
D. Use 100% nonrebreather continuously
RATIONALE: GOLD 2025 recommends target SpO2 88-92% for COPD patients with chronic
hypercapnia risk to avoid oxygen-induced hypercapnia. Higher targets (B, C) risk CO2 retention.
Routine 100% oxygen (D) is not indicated and may worsen hypercapnia.
Q3 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
Which assessment finding best differentiates tension pneumothorax from
spontaneous pneumothorax?
A. Sudden pleuritic chest pain
B. Tracheal deviation away from affected side CORRECT
C. Decreased breath sounds unilaterally
D. Hyperresonance on percussion
RATIONALE: Tension pneumothorax causes mediastinal shift with tracheal deviation away from
the affected side, indicating hemodynamic compromise. While A, C, and D occur in both types,
tracheal deviation is specific to tension physiology requiring emergency decompression.
Page 3
, Q4 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
Which intervention is priority for a patient with a new chest tube and sudden
bubbling in the water-seal chamber?
A. Clamp the chest tube immediately
B. Assess for air leak and reinforce dressing CORRECT
C. Increase suction to -40 cm H2O
D. Milking the chest tube vigorously
RATIONALE: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak; the nurse
should assess the insertion site and tubing, reinforce the dressing, and notify the provider.
Clamping (A) can cause tension pneumothorax; increasing suction (C) or milking (D) are not
indicated and may cause harm.
Q5 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
Which ventilator mode allows spontaneous breathing with a preset pressure and
mandatory breaths?
A. Assist-control (AC)
B. Pressure support ventilation (PSV)
C. Synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) CORRECT
D. Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV)
RATIONALE: SIMV delivers a preset number of mandatory breaths and allows spontaneous
breaths between them, often with pressure support. AC (A) provides full support for every breath;
PSV (B) only supports spontaneous breaths; APRV (D) uses high continuous airway pressure
with intermittent releases.
Page 4
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES Q&A INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
150 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Interpret arterial blood gases and pulmonary function data to differentiate respiratory failure types and
guide management
2 Prioritize nursing interventions for acute respiratory emergencies including PE, pneumothorax, and status
asthmaticus
3 Apply evidence-based guidelines (GOLD 2025, GINA 2025) to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic
respiratory management
4 Evaluate chest tube and mechanical ventilation parameters for complications and needed adjustments
5 Design patient education that reduces respiratory rehospitalization and improves self-management
6 Ati Medical Surgical Respiratory Retake Exam Questions And Correct Answers
7 Verified Answers
8 Plus Rationales Q&A Instant Download Pdf
9 Foundations of Medical-Surgical Nursing - Respiratory Care
10 Applied Medical-Surgical Nursing - Respiratory Care
11 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing - Respiratory Care
12 Medical-Surgical Nursing - Respiratory Care Review
ABSTRACT
Page 1
,This study document brings together 150 carefully worded exam questions drawn from Ati Medical
Surgical Respiratory Retake Exam Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales Q&A Instant Download Pdf, with the strongest emphasis placed on Interpret arterial
blood gases and pulmonary function data to differentiate respiratory failure types and guide
management, Prioritize nursing interventions for acute respiratory emergencies including PE,
pneumothorax, and status asthmaticus, Apply evidence-based guidelines (GOLD 2025 and GINA
2025) to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic respiratory management. Every item follows the
wording style and level of reasoning you meet in the real paper, and each one is paired with a clear
rationale so the correct choice is never a guess. Work through the set at your own pace, mark the
questions that slow you down, then come back to them until the reasoning feels automatic.
Learners who revise this way walk into the exam room recognising the pattern behind the
questions instead of meeting them for the first time. Keep going - steady, honest practice is what
turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Q1 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
Which ABG finding most specifically indicates chronic respiratory acidosis with
metabolic compensation?
A. pH 7.30, PaCO2 55, HCO3 26
B. pH 7.36, PaCO2 60, HCO3 34 CORRECT
C. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, HCO3 24
D. pH 7.32, PaCO2 30, HCO3 15
RATIONALE: Chronic respiratory acidosis shows near-normal pH with elevated PaCO2 and
compensatory elevated HCO3 (renal retention). Option B demonstrates this fully compensated
state. Option A is uncompensated acute respiratory acidosis; C is respiratory alkalosis; D is
metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation.
Page 2
,Q2 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
A patient with COPD has PaO2 52 mmHg. Which oxygen delivery target aligns with
GOLD 2025?
A. Maintain SpO2 88-92% CORRECT
B. Maintain SpO2 >95%
C. Maintain PaO2 >80 mmHg
D. Use 100% nonrebreather continuously
RATIONALE: GOLD 2025 recommends target SpO2 88-92% for COPD patients with chronic
hypercapnia risk to avoid oxygen-induced hypercapnia. Higher targets (B, C) risk CO2 retention.
Routine 100% oxygen (D) is not indicated and may worsen hypercapnia.
Q3 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
Which assessment finding best differentiates tension pneumothorax from
spontaneous pneumothorax?
A. Sudden pleuritic chest pain
B. Tracheal deviation away from affected side CORRECT
C. Decreased breath sounds unilaterally
D. Hyperresonance on percussion
RATIONALE: Tension pneumothorax causes mediastinal shift with tracheal deviation away from
the affected side, indicating hemodynamic compromise. While A, C, and D occur in both types,
tracheal deviation is specific to tension physiology requiring emergency decompression.
Page 3
, Q4 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
Which intervention is priority for a patient with a new chest tube and sudden
bubbling in the water-seal chamber?
A. Clamp the chest tube immediately
B. Assess for air leak and reinforce dressing CORRECT
C. Increase suction to -40 cm H2O
D. Milking the chest tube vigorously
RATIONALE: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak; the nurse
should assess the insertion site and tubing, reinforce the dressing, and notify the provider.
Clamping (A) can cause tension pneumothorax; increasing suction (C) or milking (D) are not
indicated and may cause harm.
Q5 INTERPRET ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION DATA TO
DIFFERENTIATE RESPIRATORY FAILURE TYPES AND GUIDE MANAGEMENT
Which ventilator mode allows spontaneous breathing with a preset pressure and
mandatory breaths?
A. Assist-control (AC)
B. Pressure support ventilation (PSV)
C. Synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) CORRECT
D. Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV)
RATIONALE: SIMV delivers a preset number of mandatory breaths and allows spontaneous
breaths between them, often with pressure support. AC (A) provides full support for every breath;
PSV (B) only supports spontaneous breaths; APRV (D) uses high continuous airway pressure
with intermittent releases.
Page 4
