NUR 4445 Respiratory System Exam 1
1. What is the primary cause of hospitalization and cardiopulmonary failure in children?
Answer
Respiratory dysfunction
2. At what age does the respiratory system fully develop? What do oxygen needs look like for
children and why?
Answer
- Respiratory system grows until age 12 years
- Consume more oxygen due to increase metabolic rate
- Short neck, can result in an occluded airway
3. What position optimizes a child's ability to breathe?
Answer
"sniffing position"
4. Why are children more at risk for respiratory dysfunction (11)?
Answer
- Small airways (trachea, lower airway)
- Fewer alveoli
- Nose, pharynx, & nasopharynx are also smaller
- Infants are nose breathers (until 4-6 months)
- Chest wall is soft & pliable
- Poorly developed respiratory muscles
- Immature immune system
- Hand-to-mouth activity
- Close contact with other children
- Preterm babies lack surfactant
- Decreased oxygen stores
5. What does skin color and respiratory effort look like in a child that is expe- riencing
respiratory distress?
, Answer
- Color
Pale or cyanosis, especially periorbital
- Respiratory Effort
Retractions, nasal flaring, Cough, sputum (color & consistency), Position of the child (tripod)
6. What do we assess in the upper respiratory tract in a pediatric patient (4)?
Answer
- Rhinorrhea - color, consistency
- Nasal passage patency
- Hoarse voice, sore throat
- Oral cavity & pharynx
7. What does it mean if baby is crying and the cry get softer or crying stops (they're trying to
cry but can't)?
Answer
it means baby is in respiratory distress
8. What is a normal O2 sat for pediatric patients?
Answer
-O2 sat of 90-95 is fine if child is breathing regularly, still and quiet, if they look okay (no
cyanosis) don't touch them
-ALWAYS inspect first
9. Can we use an adult O2 sat probe on a pediatric patient?
Answer
NO
10. For babies of color, where do we look for central cyanosis?
Answer
1. What is the primary cause of hospitalization and cardiopulmonary failure in children?
Answer
Respiratory dysfunction
2. At what age does the respiratory system fully develop? What do oxygen needs look like for
children and why?
Answer
- Respiratory system grows until age 12 years
- Consume more oxygen due to increase metabolic rate
- Short neck, can result in an occluded airway
3. What position optimizes a child's ability to breathe?
Answer
"sniffing position"
4. Why are children more at risk for respiratory dysfunction (11)?
Answer
- Small airways (trachea, lower airway)
- Fewer alveoli
- Nose, pharynx, & nasopharynx are also smaller
- Infants are nose breathers (until 4-6 months)
- Chest wall is soft & pliable
- Poorly developed respiratory muscles
- Immature immune system
- Hand-to-mouth activity
- Close contact with other children
- Preterm babies lack surfactant
- Decreased oxygen stores
5. What does skin color and respiratory effort look like in a child that is expe- riencing
respiratory distress?
, Answer
- Color
Pale or cyanosis, especially periorbital
- Respiratory Effort
Retractions, nasal flaring, Cough, sputum (color & consistency), Position of the child (tripod)
6. What do we assess in the upper respiratory tract in a pediatric patient (4)?
Answer
- Rhinorrhea - color, consistency
- Nasal passage patency
- Hoarse voice, sore throat
- Oral cavity & pharynx
7. What does it mean if baby is crying and the cry get softer or crying stops (they're trying to
cry but can't)?
Answer
it means baby is in respiratory distress
8. What is a normal O2 sat for pediatric patients?
Answer
-O2 sat of 90-95 is fine if child is breathing regularly, still and quiet, if they look okay (no
cyanosis) don't touch them
-ALWAYS inspect first
9. Can we use an adult O2 sat probe on a pediatric patient?
Answer
NO
10. For babies of color, where do we look for central cyanosis?
Answer
