Nclex exam respiratory disorders
1. Dr. Jones prescribes albuterol sulfate (Proventil) for a patient with newly diagnose asthma.
When teaching the patient about this drug, the nurse should explain that it may cause:
A. Nasal congestion
B. Nervousness
C. Lethargy
D. Hyperkalemia
2. Miriam, a college student with acute rhinitis sees the campus nurse because of excessive
nasal drainage. The nurse asks the patient about the color of the drainage. In acute rhinitis,
nasal drainage normally is:
A. Yellow
B. Green
C. Clear
D. Gray
3. A male adult patient hospitalized for treatment of a pulmonary embolism develops respiratory
alkalosis. Which clinical findings commonly accompany respiratory alkalosis?
A. Nausea or vomiting
B. Abdominal pain or diarrhea
C. Hallucinations or tinnitus
D. Lightheadedness or paresthesia
4. Before administering ephedrine, Nurse Tony assesses the patient’s history. Because of
ephedrine’s central nervous system (CNS) effects, it is not recommended for:
A. Patients with an acute asthma attack
B. Patients with narcolepsy
C. Patients under age 6
D. Elderly patients
,5. A female patient suffers adult respiratory distress syndrome as a consequence of shock. The
patient’s condition deteriorates rapidly, and endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation
are initiated. When the high-pressure alarm on the mechanical ventilator, alarm sounds, the
nurse starts to check for the cause. Which condition triggers the high-pressure alarm?
A. Kinking of the ventilator tubing
B. A disconnected ventilator tube
C. An endotracheal cuff leak
D. A change in the oxygen concentration without resetting the oxygen level alarm
6. A male adult patient on mechanical ventilation is receiving pancuronium bromide (Pavulon),
0.01 mg/kg I.V. as needed. Which assessment finding indicates that the patient needs another
pancuronium dose?
A. Leg movement
B. Finger movement
C. Lip movement
D. Fighting the ventilator
7. On auscultation, which finding suggests a right pneumothorax?
A. Bilateral inspiratory and expiratory crackles
B. Absence of breaths sound in the right thorax
C. Inspiratory wheezes in the right thorax
D. Bilateral pleural friction rub.
8. Rhea, confused and short breath, is brought to the emergency department by a family
member. The medical history reveals chronic bronchitis and hypertension. To learn more about
the current respiratory problem, the doctor orders a chest x-ray and arterial blood gas (ABG)
analysis. When reviewing the ABG report, the nurses sees many abbreviations. What does a
lowercase “a” in ABG value present?
A. Acid-base balance
B. Arterial Blood
,C. Arterial oxygen saturation
D. Alveoli
9. A male patient is admitted to the healthcare facility for treatment of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Which nursing diagnosis is most important for this patient?
A. Activity intolerance related to fatigue
B. Anxiety related to actual threat to health status
C. Risk for infection related to retained secretions
D. Impaired gas exchange related to airflow obstruction
10. Nurse Ruth assessing a patient for tracheal displacement should know that the trachea will
deviate toward the:
A. Contralateral side in a simple pneumothorax
B. Affected side in a hemothorax
C. Affected side in a tension pneumothorax
D. Contralateral side in hemothorax
11. After undergoing a left pneumonectomy, a female patient has a chest tube in place for
drainage. When caring for this patient, the nurse must:
A. Monitor fluctuations in the water-seal chamber
B. Clamp the chest tube once every shift
C. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
D. Milk the chest tube every 2 hours
12. When caring for a male patient who has just had a total laryngectomy, the nurse should plan
to:
A. Encourage oral feeding as soon as possible
B. Develop an alternative communication method
C. Keep the tracheostomy cuff fully inflated
D. Keep the patient flat in bed
, 13. A male patient has a sucking stab wound to the chest. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Drawing blood for a hematocrit and hemoglobin level
B. Applying a dressing over the wound and taping it on three sides
C. Preparing a chest tube insertion tray
D. Preparing to start an I.V. line
14. For a patient with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which nursing
action best promotes adequate gas exchange?
A. Encouraging the patient to drink three glasses of fluid daily
B. Keeping the patient in semi-Fowler’s position
C. Using a high-flow venture mask to deliver oxygen as prescribe
D. Administering a sedative, as prescribe
15. A male patient’s X-ray result reveals bilateral white-outs, indicating adult respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS). This syndrome results from:
A. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Increased pulmonary capillary permeability
D. Renal failure
16. For a female patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which nursing intervention
would help maintain a patent airway?
A. Restricting fluid intake to 1,000 ml per day
B. Enforcing absolute bed rest
C. Teaching the patient how to perform controlled coughing
D. Administering prescribe sedatives regularly and in large amounts
1. Dr. Jones prescribes albuterol sulfate (Proventil) for a patient with newly diagnose asthma.
When teaching the patient about this drug, the nurse should explain that it may cause:
A. Nasal congestion
B. Nervousness
C. Lethargy
D. Hyperkalemia
2. Miriam, a college student with acute rhinitis sees the campus nurse because of excessive
nasal drainage. The nurse asks the patient about the color of the drainage. In acute rhinitis,
nasal drainage normally is:
A. Yellow
B. Green
C. Clear
D. Gray
3. A male adult patient hospitalized for treatment of a pulmonary embolism develops respiratory
alkalosis. Which clinical findings commonly accompany respiratory alkalosis?
A. Nausea or vomiting
B. Abdominal pain or diarrhea
C. Hallucinations or tinnitus
D. Lightheadedness or paresthesia
4. Before administering ephedrine, Nurse Tony assesses the patient’s history. Because of
ephedrine’s central nervous system (CNS) effects, it is not recommended for:
A. Patients with an acute asthma attack
B. Patients with narcolepsy
C. Patients under age 6
D. Elderly patients
,5. A female patient suffers adult respiratory distress syndrome as a consequence of shock. The
patient’s condition deteriorates rapidly, and endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation
are initiated. When the high-pressure alarm on the mechanical ventilator, alarm sounds, the
nurse starts to check for the cause. Which condition triggers the high-pressure alarm?
A. Kinking of the ventilator tubing
B. A disconnected ventilator tube
C. An endotracheal cuff leak
D. A change in the oxygen concentration without resetting the oxygen level alarm
6. A male adult patient on mechanical ventilation is receiving pancuronium bromide (Pavulon),
0.01 mg/kg I.V. as needed. Which assessment finding indicates that the patient needs another
pancuronium dose?
A. Leg movement
B. Finger movement
C. Lip movement
D. Fighting the ventilator
7. On auscultation, which finding suggests a right pneumothorax?
A. Bilateral inspiratory and expiratory crackles
B. Absence of breaths sound in the right thorax
C. Inspiratory wheezes in the right thorax
D. Bilateral pleural friction rub.
8. Rhea, confused and short breath, is brought to the emergency department by a family
member. The medical history reveals chronic bronchitis and hypertension. To learn more about
the current respiratory problem, the doctor orders a chest x-ray and arterial blood gas (ABG)
analysis. When reviewing the ABG report, the nurses sees many abbreviations. What does a
lowercase “a” in ABG value present?
A. Acid-base balance
B. Arterial Blood
,C. Arterial oxygen saturation
D. Alveoli
9. A male patient is admitted to the healthcare facility for treatment of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Which nursing diagnosis is most important for this patient?
A. Activity intolerance related to fatigue
B. Anxiety related to actual threat to health status
C. Risk for infection related to retained secretions
D. Impaired gas exchange related to airflow obstruction
10. Nurse Ruth assessing a patient for tracheal displacement should know that the trachea will
deviate toward the:
A. Contralateral side in a simple pneumothorax
B. Affected side in a hemothorax
C. Affected side in a tension pneumothorax
D. Contralateral side in hemothorax
11. After undergoing a left pneumonectomy, a female patient has a chest tube in place for
drainage. When caring for this patient, the nurse must:
A. Monitor fluctuations in the water-seal chamber
B. Clamp the chest tube once every shift
C. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
D. Milk the chest tube every 2 hours
12. When caring for a male patient who has just had a total laryngectomy, the nurse should plan
to:
A. Encourage oral feeding as soon as possible
B. Develop an alternative communication method
C. Keep the tracheostomy cuff fully inflated
D. Keep the patient flat in bed
, 13. A male patient has a sucking stab wound to the chest. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Drawing blood for a hematocrit and hemoglobin level
B. Applying a dressing over the wound and taping it on three sides
C. Preparing a chest tube insertion tray
D. Preparing to start an I.V. line
14. For a patient with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which nursing
action best promotes adequate gas exchange?
A. Encouraging the patient to drink three glasses of fluid daily
B. Keeping the patient in semi-Fowler’s position
C. Using a high-flow venture mask to deliver oxygen as prescribe
D. Administering a sedative, as prescribe
15. A male patient’s X-ray result reveals bilateral white-outs, indicating adult respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS). This syndrome results from:
A. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Increased pulmonary capillary permeability
D. Renal failure
16. For a female patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which nursing intervention
would help maintain a patent airway?
A. Restricting fluid intake to 1,000 ml per day
B. Enforcing absolute bed rest
C. Teaching the patient how to perform controlled coughing
D. Administering prescribe sedatives regularly and in large amounts
