NUR 211 1 Questions With Correct Answers
1. A student nurse is explaining to a pt about the respiratory system. Which statement by the
student nurse would require correction from the clinical instructor?
a. Neural & chemical regulators control the rate and depth of respiration in response to
changing tissue O2 demands.
b. The respiratory system is the system responsible for supplying O2 to the rest of the body.
c. The exchange of respiratory gases occurs between the environment and the blood.
d. Respiration is the exchange of O2 and CO2 during cellular metabolism. - correct answer ✔✔
B: Both the respiratory and cardiac systems are responsible for supplying O2 to the rest of the
body.
2. While doing a respiratory assessment on a pt. during clinical, a student nurse notices that the
pt. elevates his clavicles upon inspiration. The student nurse knows that raised clavicles could
indicate which of the following? SATA.
a. Increased lung expansion
b. Ventilatory fatigue
c. Air hunger
d. Decrease in work of breathing - correct answer ✔✔B & C: Elevation of the clavicles upon
inspiration can indicate ventilatory fatigue, air hunger, or decreased lunch expansion.
3. A student nurse's pt is immobile. She knows that her pt is mainly at risk for which respiratory
event?
a. Increased work of breathing
b. Decreased surfactant
c. Decreased compliance
d. Atelectasis
e. Increased airway resistance - correct answer ✔✔D: Atelectasis (collapse of the alveoli the
prevents normal exchange of gases) is a major concern for immobile pts. The pt's work of
breathing (effort required to expand & contract the lungs) may be increased, compliance (ability
of the lungs to expand in response to increase alveolar pressure) may be decreased, and
, airway resistance (increase in pressure that occurs as the diameter of airway decreases from
nose/mouth to the alveoli) may be increased, but the main concern would be atelectasis.
Surfactant is the chemical produced in the lungs to maintain the surface tension of the alveoli &
keep them from collapsing; surfactant dysfunction typically occurs in newborns & children.
4. Which of the following terms is matched correctly with its definition? SATA.
a. Ventilation: exchange of respiratory gases in the alveoli & capillaries
b. Perfusion: ability of the CVS to pump oxygenated blood to the tissues & deoxygenated blood
back to the lungs
c. Inspiration: passive process; stimulated by chemical receptors in the aorta
d. Expiration: passive process; depends on elastic recoil of lungs & requires little to no muscle
work - correct answer ✔✔B & D: Ventilation is the process of moving gases into and out of the
lungs. Diffusion is the exchange of respiratory gases in the alveoli & capillaries (bc of
concentration gradient). Inspiration is an active process, stimulated by chemical receptors in the
aorta.
5. What are the three steps in oxygenation?
a. Inspiration, expiration, & ventilation
b. Ventilation, perfusion, & diffusion
c. Compliance, airway resistance, & surfactant
d. Ventilation, diffusion & expiration - correct answer ✔✔B: Ventilation, perfusion, & diffusion
are the three steps in oxygenation.
6. Your pt is immobile and at risk for atelectasis. Which nursing interventions should you
implement in order to prevent alveolar collapse? SATA.
a. Teach pt how to use an incentive spirometer 5-10 time every hour
b. Turn pt every three hours
c. Ambulate pts as soon as possible
d. Give the pt a nebulizer treatment PRN - correct answer ✔✔A & C: Pts should be turned
every two hours. Nebulizer treatments must be ordered by the HCP and are typically given by
the respiratory therapist, not the nurse.
1. A student nurse is explaining to a pt about the respiratory system. Which statement by the
student nurse would require correction from the clinical instructor?
a. Neural & chemical regulators control the rate and depth of respiration in response to
changing tissue O2 demands.
b. The respiratory system is the system responsible for supplying O2 to the rest of the body.
c. The exchange of respiratory gases occurs between the environment and the blood.
d. Respiration is the exchange of O2 and CO2 during cellular metabolism. - correct answer ✔✔
B: Both the respiratory and cardiac systems are responsible for supplying O2 to the rest of the
body.
2. While doing a respiratory assessment on a pt. during clinical, a student nurse notices that the
pt. elevates his clavicles upon inspiration. The student nurse knows that raised clavicles could
indicate which of the following? SATA.
a. Increased lung expansion
b. Ventilatory fatigue
c. Air hunger
d. Decrease in work of breathing - correct answer ✔✔B & C: Elevation of the clavicles upon
inspiration can indicate ventilatory fatigue, air hunger, or decreased lunch expansion.
3. A student nurse's pt is immobile. She knows that her pt is mainly at risk for which respiratory
event?
a. Increased work of breathing
b. Decreased surfactant
c. Decreased compliance
d. Atelectasis
e. Increased airway resistance - correct answer ✔✔D: Atelectasis (collapse of the alveoli the
prevents normal exchange of gases) is a major concern for immobile pts. The pt's work of
breathing (effort required to expand & contract the lungs) may be increased, compliance (ability
of the lungs to expand in response to increase alveolar pressure) may be decreased, and
, airway resistance (increase in pressure that occurs as the diameter of airway decreases from
nose/mouth to the alveoli) may be increased, but the main concern would be atelectasis.
Surfactant is the chemical produced in the lungs to maintain the surface tension of the alveoli &
keep them from collapsing; surfactant dysfunction typically occurs in newborns & children.
4. Which of the following terms is matched correctly with its definition? SATA.
a. Ventilation: exchange of respiratory gases in the alveoli & capillaries
b. Perfusion: ability of the CVS to pump oxygenated blood to the tissues & deoxygenated blood
back to the lungs
c. Inspiration: passive process; stimulated by chemical receptors in the aorta
d. Expiration: passive process; depends on elastic recoil of lungs & requires little to no muscle
work - correct answer ✔✔B & D: Ventilation is the process of moving gases into and out of the
lungs. Diffusion is the exchange of respiratory gases in the alveoli & capillaries (bc of
concentration gradient). Inspiration is an active process, stimulated by chemical receptors in the
aorta.
5. What are the three steps in oxygenation?
a. Inspiration, expiration, & ventilation
b. Ventilation, perfusion, & diffusion
c. Compliance, airway resistance, & surfactant
d. Ventilation, diffusion & expiration - correct answer ✔✔B: Ventilation, perfusion, & diffusion
are the three steps in oxygenation.
6. Your pt is immobile and at risk for atelectasis. Which nursing interventions should you
implement in order to prevent alveolar collapse? SATA.
a. Teach pt how to use an incentive spirometer 5-10 time every hour
b. Turn pt every three hours
c. Ambulate pts as soon as possible
d. Give the pt a nebulizer treatment PRN - correct answer ✔✔A & C: Pts should be turned
every two hours. Nebulizer treatments must be ordered by the HCP and are typically given by
the respiratory therapist, not the nurse.
