Galen NUR 265 Exam 2: 100
Practice Questions and Answer
Explanations
Part One: Oxygenation and
Respiratory Assessment (1–25)
1. Which assessment finding is expected in a patient with hypoxemia?
A. Bradycardia
B. Cyanosis
C. Hypertension
D. Decreased respiratory rate
Answer: B
Explanation: Cyanosis is a late sign of inadequate oxygenation. Early signs include
restlessness, anxiety, and tachycardia .
2. A patient suddenly develops sharp chest pain and dyspnea. The nurse suspects:
A. Pneumonia
B. Asthma exacerbation
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: C
Explanation: Sudden chest pain and shortness of breath are classic for PE .
3. Which intervention is priority for a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism?
A. Encourage coughing
B. Administer oxygen
C. Place in Trendelenburg
D. Obtain sputum culture
Answer: B
Explanation: Oxygenation is the immediate priority in PE .
4. A chest tube placed to treat pneumothorax helps by:
A. Preventing infection
B. Removing excess fluid
C. Restoring negative pressure
D. Increasing lung compliance
,Answer: C
Explanation: Chest tubes remove air and restore negative intrapleural pressure .
5. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates:
A. Normal function
B. Air leak
C. Tube obstruction
D. Lung re-expansion
Answer: B
Explanation: Continuous bubbling = air leak in the system .
6. The nurse should encourage deep breathing and coughing after surgery to prevent:
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Atelectasis
C. Bronchospasm
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: B
Explanation: Deep breathing expands alveoli and prevents collapse .
7. Which finding indicates effective suctioning of a patient's airway?
A. Decreased oxygen saturation
B. Increased respiratory rate
C. Clear breath sounds
D. Cyanosis
Answer: C
Explanation: Clear breath sounds indicate removal of secretions .
8. When suctioning a patient, the nurse should:
A. Apply suction during insertion
B. Limit suction to 10–15 seconds
C. Use continuous suction
D. Hyperventilate the patient after
Answer: B
Explanation: Suctioning longer than 15 seconds increases hypoxia risk .
9. Which disease requires airborne precautions?
A. Pneumonia
B. Tuberculosis
C. Influenza
D. Bronchitis
Answer: B
Explanation: Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions, including a negative-pressure room
and N95 respirator .
, 10. The nurse knows N95 masks are required when caring for a patient with:
A. Pneumonia
B. Influenza
C. Tuberculosis
D. COPD
Answer: C
Explanation: N95 masks are required for airborne precautions such as tuberculosis .
11. A patient with emphysema will most likely have:
A. Productive cough
B. Pink puffer appearance
C. Crackles
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B
Explanation: Emphysema patients often appear thin and use pursed-lip breathing .
12. Pursed-lip breathing helps COPD patients by:
A. Increasing oxygen demand
B. Preventing airway collapse
C. Reducing CO₂ production
D. Slowing heart rate
Answer: B
Explanation: Pursed lips maintain positive pressure during exhalation .
13. Which finding suggests worsening respiratory distress?
A. Nasal flaring
B. Increased oxygen saturation
C. Decreased respiratory rate
D. Calm behavior
Answer: A
Explanation: Nasal flaring indicates increased work of breathing .
14. Which patient is at highest risk for aspiration?
A. COPD patient
B. Stroke patient with dysphagia
C. Asthma patient
D. Patient on oxygen therapy
Answer: B
Explanation: Impaired swallowing greatly increases aspiration risk .
15. Which symptom is most common in left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular vein distention
Practice Questions and Answer
Explanations
Part One: Oxygenation and
Respiratory Assessment (1–25)
1. Which assessment finding is expected in a patient with hypoxemia?
A. Bradycardia
B. Cyanosis
C. Hypertension
D. Decreased respiratory rate
Answer: B
Explanation: Cyanosis is a late sign of inadequate oxygenation. Early signs include
restlessness, anxiety, and tachycardia .
2. A patient suddenly develops sharp chest pain and dyspnea. The nurse suspects:
A. Pneumonia
B. Asthma exacerbation
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: C
Explanation: Sudden chest pain and shortness of breath are classic for PE .
3. Which intervention is priority for a patient with suspected pulmonary embolism?
A. Encourage coughing
B. Administer oxygen
C. Place in Trendelenburg
D. Obtain sputum culture
Answer: B
Explanation: Oxygenation is the immediate priority in PE .
4. A chest tube placed to treat pneumothorax helps by:
A. Preventing infection
B. Removing excess fluid
C. Restoring negative pressure
D. Increasing lung compliance
,Answer: C
Explanation: Chest tubes remove air and restore negative intrapleural pressure .
5. Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates:
A. Normal function
B. Air leak
C. Tube obstruction
D. Lung re-expansion
Answer: B
Explanation: Continuous bubbling = air leak in the system .
6. The nurse should encourage deep breathing and coughing after surgery to prevent:
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Atelectasis
C. Bronchospasm
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: B
Explanation: Deep breathing expands alveoli and prevents collapse .
7. Which finding indicates effective suctioning of a patient's airway?
A. Decreased oxygen saturation
B. Increased respiratory rate
C. Clear breath sounds
D. Cyanosis
Answer: C
Explanation: Clear breath sounds indicate removal of secretions .
8. When suctioning a patient, the nurse should:
A. Apply suction during insertion
B. Limit suction to 10–15 seconds
C. Use continuous suction
D. Hyperventilate the patient after
Answer: B
Explanation: Suctioning longer than 15 seconds increases hypoxia risk .
9. Which disease requires airborne precautions?
A. Pneumonia
B. Tuberculosis
C. Influenza
D. Bronchitis
Answer: B
Explanation: Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions, including a negative-pressure room
and N95 respirator .
, 10. The nurse knows N95 masks are required when caring for a patient with:
A. Pneumonia
B. Influenza
C. Tuberculosis
D. COPD
Answer: C
Explanation: N95 masks are required for airborne precautions such as tuberculosis .
11. A patient with emphysema will most likely have:
A. Productive cough
B. Pink puffer appearance
C. Crackles
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B
Explanation: Emphysema patients often appear thin and use pursed-lip breathing .
12. Pursed-lip breathing helps COPD patients by:
A. Increasing oxygen demand
B. Preventing airway collapse
C. Reducing CO₂ production
D. Slowing heart rate
Answer: B
Explanation: Pursed lips maintain positive pressure during exhalation .
13. Which finding suggests worsening respiratory distress?
A. Nasal flaring
B. Increased oxygen saturation
C. Decreased respiratory rate
D. Calm behavior
Answer: A
Explanation: Nasal flaring indicates increased work of breathing .
14. Which patient is at highest risk for aspiration?
A. COPD patient
B. Stroke patient with dysphagia
C. Asthma patient
D. Patient on oxygen therapy
Answer: B
Explanation: Impaired swallowing greatly increases aspiration risk .
15. Which symptom is most common in left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular vein distention
