Respiratory Exam Med-Surg
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and pneumonia
who has an order for arterial blood gases to be drawn. What is the minimum length of time the nurse
should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes
B. 5 minutes
After obtaining blood for an arterial blood gas measurement, the nurse should hold pressure on the
puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is an elastic
vessel under much higher pressure than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma formation could
occur if the time is insufficient.
A patient with a recent history of a dry cough has had a chest x-ray that revealed the presence of
nodules. In an effort to determine whether the nodules are malignant or benign, what is the primary
care provider likely to order?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Pulmonary angiogram
C. CT scan of the patient's chest
D. Positron emission tomography (PET)
D. Positron emission tomography (PET)
PET is used to distinguish benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Because malignant lung cells have
an increased uptake of glucose, the PET scan (which uses an IV radioactive glucose preparation) can
demonstrate increased uptake of glucose in malignant lung cells. This differentiation cannot be made
using CT, a pulmonary angiogram, or thoracentesis.
, After assisting at the bedside with a thoracentesis, the nurse should continue to assess the patient for
signs and symptoms of what?
A. Bronchospasm
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Respiratory acidosis
B. Pneumothorax
Because thoracentesis involves the introduction of a catheter into the pleural space, there is a risk of
pneumothorax. Thoracentesis does not carry a significant potential for causing bronchospasm,
pulmonary edema, or respiratory acidosis.
The patient had abdominal surgery yesterday. Today the lung sounds in the lower lobes have decreased.
The nurse knows this could be due to what occurring?
A. Pain
B. Atelectasis
C. Pneumonia
D. Pleural effusion
B. Atelectasis
Postoperatively there is an increased risk for atelectasis from anesthesia as well as restricted breathing
from pain. Without deep breathing to stretch the alveoli, surfactant secretion to hold the alveoli open is
not promoted. Pneumonia will occur later after surgery. Pleural effusion occurs because of blockage of
lymphatic drainage or an imbalance between intravascular and oncotic fluid pressures, which is not
expected in this case
The patient is hospitalized with pneumonia. Which diagnostic test should be used to measure the
efficiency of gas transfer in the lung and tissue oxygenation?
A. Thoracentesis
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and pneumonia
who has an order for arterial blood gases to be drawn. What is the minimum length of time the nurse
should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes
B. 5 minutes
After obtaining blood for an arterial blood gas measurement, the nurse should hold pressure on the
puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to be sure that bleeding has stopped. An artery is an elastic
vessel under much higher pressure than veins, and significant blood loss or hematoma formation could
occur if the time is insufficient.
A patient with a recent history of a dry cough has had a chest x-ray that revealed the presence of
nodules. In an effort to determine whether the nodules are malignant or benign, what is the primary
care provider likely to order?
A. Thoracentesis
B. Pulmonary angiogram
C. CT scan of the patient's chest
D. Positron emission tomography (PET)
D. Positron emission tomography (PET)
PET is used to distinguish benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Because malignant lung cells have
an increased uptake of glucose, the PET scan (which uses an IV radioactive glucose preparation) can
demonstrate increased uptake of glucose in malignant lung cells. This differentiation cannot be made
using CT, a pulmonary angiogram, or thoracentesis.
, After assisting at the bedside with a thoracentesis, the nurse should continue to assess the patient for
signs and symptoms of what?
A. Bronchospasm
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Respiratory acidosis
B. Pneumothorax
Because thoracentesis involves the introduction of a catheter into the pleural space, there is a risk of
pneumothorax. Thoracentesis does not carry a significant potential for causing bronchospasm,
pulmonary edema, or respiratory acidosis.
The patient had abdominal surgery yesterday. Today the lung sounds in the lower lobes have decreased.
The nurse knows this could be due to what occurring?
A. Pain
B. Atelectasis
C. Pneumonia
D. Pleural effusion
B. Atelectasis
Postoperatively there is an increased risk for atelectasis from anesthesia as well as restricted breathing
from pain. Without deep breathing to stretch the alveoli, surfactant secretion to hold the alveoli open is
not promoted. Pneumonia will occur later after surgery. Pleural effusion occurs because of blockage of
lymphatic drainage or an imbalance between intravascular and oncotic fluid pressures, which is not
expected in this case
The patient is hospitalized with pneumonia. Which diagnostic test should be used to measure the
efficiency of gas transfer in the lung and tissue oxygenation?
A. Thoracentesis
