Medical-Surgical Nursing: Respiratory Disorders - 330 Nclex Questions With Rationales

MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING: RESPIRATORY
DISORDERS - 330 NCLEX QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
Medical-Surgical Nursing: Respiratory Disorders - 330 NCLEX Questions with Rationales
Course: Respiratory | Total: 330 Questions | Format: Q + Options + Answer + Rationale | Edition: 2026 NCLEX-RN
High-Yield | Author: Original Content
All questions are original and based on current nursing textbooks (Lewis, Saunders, ATI). Not copied from any exam bank.


[1] COPD client has barrel chest due to?
Air trapping and hyperinflation
Fluid overload
Muscle hypertrophy
Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: COPD chronic air trapping -> hyperinflation -> increased AP diameter barrel chest.

[2] ABG pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24 indicates?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Low pH with high CO2 = respiratory acidosis (hypoventilation).

[3] Sign of oxygen toxicity?
Substernal pain, dry cough, dyspnea
Improved breathing
Decreased RR only
Euphoria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prolonged high FiO2 >60% can cause oxygen toxicity: substernal pain, cough, dyspnea.

[4] Tracheostomy suctioning should last?
10-15 seconds max
60 seconds
30 seconds continuous
2 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Suction 10-15 sec to prevent hypoxia. Pre-oxygenate with 100% O2.

[5] COPD client has barrel chest due to?
Air trapping and hyperinflation
Fluid overload
Muscle hypertrophy
Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: COPD chronic air trapping -> hyperinflation -> increased AP diameter barrel chest.

[6] ABG pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24 indicates?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis

, Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Low pH with high CO2 = respiratory acidosis (hypoventilation).

[7] Sign of oxygen toxicity?
Substernal pain, dry cough, dyspnea
Improved breathing
Decreased RR only
Euphoria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prolonged high FiO2 >60% can cause oxygen toxicity: substernal pain, cough, dyspnea.

[8] Tracheostomy suctioning should last?
10-15 seconds max
60 seconds
30 seconds continuous
2 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Suction 10-15 sec to prevent hypoxia. Pre-oxygenate with 100% O2.

[9] COPD client has barrel chest due to?
Air trapping and hyperinflation
Fluid overload
Muscle hypertrophy
Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: COPD chronic air trapping -> hyperinflation -> increased AP diameter barrel chest.

[10] ABG pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24 indicates?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Low pH with high CO2 = respiratory acidosis (hypoventilation).

[11] Sign of oxygen toxicity?
Substernal pain, dry cough, dyspnea
Improved breathing
Decreased RR only
Euphoria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prolonged high FiO2 >60% can cause oxygen toxicity: substernal pain, cough, dyspnea.

[12] Tracheostomy suctioning should last?
10-15 seconds max
60 seconds
30 seconds continuous
2 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Suction 10-15 sec to prevent hypoxia. Pre-oxygenate with 100% O2.

,[13] COPD client has barrel chest due to?
Air trapping and hyperinflation
Fluid overload
Muscle hypertrophy
Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: COPD chronic air trapping -> hyperinflation -> increased AP diameter barrel chest.

[14] ABG pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24 indicates?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Low pH with high CO2 = respiratory acidosis (hypoventilation).

[15] Sign of oxygen toxicity?
Substernal pain, dry cough, dyspnea
Improved breathing
Decreased RR only
Euphoria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prolonged high FiO2 >60% can cause oxygen toxicity: substernal pain, cough, dyspnea.

[16] Tracheostomy suctioning should last?
10-15 seconds max
60 seconds
30 seconds continuous
2 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Suction 10-15 sec to prevent hypoxia. Pre-oxygenate with 100% O2.

[17] COPD client has barrel chest due to?
Air trapping and hyperinflation
Fluid overload
Muscle hypertrophy
Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: COPD chronic air trapping -> hyperinflation -> increased AP diameter barrel chest.

[18] ABG pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24 indicates?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Low pH with high CO2 = respiratory acidosis (hypoventilation).

[19] Sign of oxygen toxicity?
Substernal pain, dry cough, dyspnea
Improved breathing
Decreased RR only

, Euphoria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prolonged high FiO2 >60% can cause oxygen toxicity: substernal pain, cough, dyspnea.

[20] Tracheostomy suctioning should last?
10-15 seconds max
60 seconds
30 seconds continuous
2 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Suction 10-15 sec to prevent hypoxia. Pre-oxygenate with 100% O2.

[21] COPD client has barrel chest due to?
Air trapping and hyperinflation
Fluid overload
Muscle hypertrophy
Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: COPD chronic air trapping -> hyperinflation -> increased AP diameter barrel chest.

[22] ABG pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24 indicates?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Low pH with high CO2 = respiratory acidosis (hypoventilation).

[23] Sign of oxygen toxicity?
Substernal pain, dry cough, dyspnea
Improved breathing
Decreased RR only
Euphoria
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Prolonged high FiO2 >60% can cause oxygen toxicity: substernal pain, cough, dyspnea.

[24] Tracheostomy suctioning should last?
10-15 seconds max
60 seconds
30 seconds continuous
2 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Suction 10-15 sec to prevent hypoxia. Pre-oxygenate with 100% O2.

[25] COPD client has barrel chest due to?
Air trapping and hyperinflation
Fluid overload
Muscle hypertrophy
Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: COPD chronic air trapping -> hyperinflation -> increased AP diameter barrel chest.

[26] ABG pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24 indicates?