Resp HESI EXAM STUDY GUIDE
FLSHCARDS QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY TESTED WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
\.A client comes to the emergency department reporting chest pain and difficulty breathing. A
chest x-ray reveals a pneumothorax. Which finding should the nurse expect to identify when
assessing the client?
Distended neck veins
Paradoxical respirations
Increasing amounts of purulent sputum
Absence of breath sounds over the affected area - Answer- D
When the lung is collapsed, air is not moving into and out of the area, and therefore breath
sounds are absent. Distended neck veins are associated with failure of the right side of the heart
and can occur with a mediastinal shift, but there is no evidence of either. Paradoxical
respirations occur with flail chest, not pneumothorax. Purulent sputum is a sign of infection, not
pneumothorax.
\.The nurse is assessing a client's arterial blood gases and determines that the client is in
compensated respiratory acidosis. The pH value is 7.34; which other result helped the nurse
reach this conclusion?
,PO 2 value is 80 mm Hg.
PCO 2 value is 60 mm Hg.
HCO 3 value is 50 mEq/L (50 mmol/L).
Serum potassium value is 4 mEq/L (4 mmol/L). - Answer- C
The HCO 3 value is elevated. The urinary system compensates by retaining H + ions, which
become part of the bicarbonate ions; the bicarbonate level becomes elevated and increases the
pH level to near the expected range. The expected HCO 3 value is 21 to 28 mEq/L (21 to 28
mmol/L), and the expected pH value is 7.35 to 7.45. The body's usual PO 2 value is 80 to 100
mm Hg; 80 mm Hg is within the expected range. The body's PCO 2 value is 35 to 45 mm Hg;
although in compensated respiratory acidosis[1][2] the PCO 2 level may be increased, it is the
increased HCO 3 level that indicates compensation. A K + level of 4 mEq/L (4 mmol/L) is within
the expected range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L (3.5 to 5 mmol/L); the serum potassium level is not
significant in identifying compensated respiratory acidosis.
\.A client returns from surgery after a total laryngectomy with a laryngectomy tube in the
permanent stoma. In which position should the nurse place this client to facilitate respirations
and promote comfort?
Side-lying position
Orthopneic position
High-Fowler position
Semi-Fowler position - Answer- D
,\.Polycythemia is frequently associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Which should the nurse monitor for when assessing for this complication?
Pallor and cyanosis
Dyspnea on exertion
Elevated hemoglobin
Decreased hematocrit - Answer- C
\.A nurse is teaching breathing exercises to a client with emphysema. What is the reason the
nurse should include in the teaching as to why these exercises are necessary to promote
effective use of the diaphragm?
The residual capacity of the lungs has been increased.
Inspiration has been markedly prolonged and difficult.
The client has an increase in the vital capacity of the lungs.
Abdominal breathing is an effective compensatory mechanism and is spontaneously initiated. -
Answer- A
\.A nurse works with a large population of immigrant clients and is concerned about the
debilitating effects of influenza. Which action by the nurse is the first line of defense against an
emerging influenza pandemic?
, Complying with quarantine measures
Instituting strict international travel restrictions
Seeking aid from the international public health community
Reporting surveillance findings to appropriate public health officials - Answer- D
\.The nurse is teaching the client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to use
pursed-lip breathing (PLB). What is the rationale for the nurse's teaching?
Prolonged exhalation to decrease air trapping
Shortened inhalation to reduce bronchial swelling
Increased respiratory rate to improve arterial oxygenation
Decreased use of diaphragm to increase amount of inspired air - Answer- A
\.Soft swishing sounds of breathing are heard when the nurse auscultates a client's chest. What
term should be used when documenting this assessment?
Fine crackles
Adventitious sounds
FLSHCARDS QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY TESTED WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
\.A client comes to the emergency department reporting chest pain and difficulty breathing. A
chest x-ray reveals a pneumothorax. Which finding should the nurse expect to identify when
assessing the client?
Distended neck veins
Paradoxical respirations
Increasing amounts of purulent sputum
Absence of breath sounds over the affected area - Answer- D
When the lung is collapsed, air is not moving into and out of the area, and therefore breath
sounds are absent. Distended neck veins are associated with failure of the right side of the heart
and can occur with a mediastinal shift, but there is no evidence of either. Paradoxical
respirations occur with flail chest, not pneumothorax. Purulent sputum is a sign of infection, not
pneumothorax.
\.The nurse is assessing a client's arterial blood gases and determines that the client is in
compensated respiratory acidosis. The pH value is 7.34; which other result helped the nurse
reach this conclusion?
,PO 2 value is 80 mm Hg.
PCO 2 value is 60 mm Hg.
HCO 3 value is 50 mEq/L (50 mmol/L).
Serum potassium value is 4 mEq/L (4 mmol/L). - Answer- C
The HCO 3 value is elevated. The urinary system compensates by retaining H + ions, which
become part of the bicarbonate ions; the bicarbonate level becomes elevated and increases the
pH level to near the expected range. The expected HCO 3 value is 21 to 28 mEq/L (21 to 28
mmol/L), and the expected pH value is 7.35 to 7.45. The body's usual PO 2 value is 80 to 100
mm Hg; 80 mm Hg is within the expected range. The body's PCO 2 value is 35 to 45 mm Hg;
although in compensated respiratory acidosis[1][2] the PCO 2 level may be increased, it is the
increased HCO 3 level that indicates compensation. A K + level of 4 mEq/L (4 mmol/L) is within
the expected range of 3.5 to 5 mEq/L (3.5 to 5 mmol/L); the serum potassium level is not
significant in identifying compensated respiratory acidosis.
\.A client returns from surgery after a total laryngectomy with a laryngectomy tube in the
permanent stoma. In which position should the nurse place this client to facilitate respirations
and promote comfort?
Side-lying position
Orthopneic position
High-Fowler position
Semi-Fowler position - Answer- D
,\.Polycythemia is frequently associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Which should the nurse monitor for when assessing for this complication?
Pallor and cyanosis
Dyspnea on exertion
Elevated hemoglobin
Decreased hematocrit - Answer- C
\.A nurse is teaching breathing exercises to a client with emphysema. What is the reason the
nurse should include in the teaching as to why these exercises are necessary to promote
effective use of the diaphragm?
The residual capacity of the lungs has been increased.
Inspiration has been markedly prolonged and difficult.
The client has an increase in the vital capacity of the lungs.
Abdominal breathing is an effective compensatory mechanism and is spontaneously initiated. -
Answer- A
\.A nurse works with a large population of immigrant clients and is concerned about the
debilitating effects of influenza. Which action by the nurse is the first line of defense against an
emerging influenza pandemic?
, Complying with quarantine measures
Instituting strict international travel restrictions
Seeking aid from the international public health community
Reporting surveillance findings to appropriate public health officials - Answer- D
\.The nurse is teaching the client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to use
pursed-lip breathing (PLB). What is the rationale for the nurse's teaching?
Prolonged exhalation to decrease air trapping
Shortened inhalation to reduce bronchial swelling
Increased respiratory rate to improve arterial oxygenation
Decreased use of diaphragm to increase amount of inspired air - Answer- A
\.Soft swishing sounds of breathing are heard when the nurse auscultates a client's chest. What
term should be used when documenting this assessment?
Fine crackles
Adventitious sounds
