Within one second after initiating a forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuver, a patient with nor-
mal lungs should be able exhale what percent of the FVC?
A. 35-50% of the FVC
B. 50-70% of the FVC
C. 70-83% of the FVC
D. 84-93% of the FVC - ANSWER 70 to 83% of the FVC
Simple spirometry CANNOT be used to measure the:
A. vital capacity
B. residual volume
C. tidal volume
D. inspiratory reserve volume - ANSWER residual volume
Which of the following approaches can be used to obtain a medication history from a pa-
tient with a depressed level of consciousness or who is severely agitated?
A. obtain and review the patient's past medical history
B. ask the patient's nurse about the patient's prescriptions
C. request that the lab run a comprehensive blood drug screen
1
,D. obtain the patient's current prescription vials from the family - ANSWER obtain the
patient's current prescription vials from the family
Which of the following thoracic ultrasound findings is consistent with the presence of a
pneumothorax?
A. presence of gliding sign
B. absence of A-lines
C. presence of barcode sign
D. presence of seashore sign - ANSWER presence of barcode sign
Which of the following would tend to increase insensible water loss?
A. hypothermia
B. bypassed upper airway
C. hypoventilation
D. diuretic administration - ANSWER bypassed upper airway
Which of the following would tend to decrease a patient's energy expenditure?
A. hypothermia
B. inflammation
C. major trauma
D. agitation/pain - ANSWER hypothermia
A patient has acute respiratory acidosis. You would expect the base excess (BE) to range be-
tween:
2
,A. + 6 mEq/L
B. - 6 mEq/L
C. +/- 2 mEq/L
D. +/- 8 mEq/L - ANSWER +/- 2 mEq/L
The APGAR score for a normal newborn infant ranges between:
A. 1-4
B. 4-7
C. 7-10
D. 10-13 - ANSWER 7 to 10
Which of the following arterial blood gas results would most likely be reported for a patient
who is having a mild asthma attack?
A. pH = 7.31 PCO2 = 50 torr PO2 = 60 torr
B. pH = 7.40 PCO2 = 50 torr PO2 = 50 torr
C. pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 32 torr PO2 = 60 torr
D. pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 40 torr PO2 = 50 torr - ANSWER pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 32 torr PO2 =
60 torr
Asthma is respiratory alkalosis
On inspection of a patient's ECG strip, you note no identifiable P waves; rapid irregular undu-
lations of the isoelectric line; and an irregular ventricular rhythm. In addition, the precordial
cardiac rate is greater than the peripheral pulse rate. The most likely problem is:
3
, A. 2nd degree (Wenckebach) heart block
B. ventricular fibrillation
C. atrial fibrillation
D. ventricular tachycardia - ANSWER atrial fibrillation
The normal range for vital capacity in a young healthy male of average size is:
A. 5000 to 6000 ml
B. 2000 to 3000 ml
C. 3000 to 4000 ml
D. 4000 to 5000 ml - ANSWER 4000 to 5000 ml
Pulmonary function parameters that signify an obstructive disease process include which of
the following?
A. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - NO
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
B. Increase Airway Resistance - NO
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
C. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
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mal lungs should be able exhale what percent of the FVC?
A. 35-50% of the FVC
B. 50-70% of the FVC
C. 70-83% of the FVC
D. 84-93% of the FVC - ANSWER 70 to 83% of the FVC
Simple spirometry CANNOT be used to measure the:
A. vital capacity
B. residual volume
C. tidal volume
D. inspiratory reserve volume - ANSWER residual volume
Which of the following approaches can be used to obtain a medication history from a pa-
tient with a depressed level of consciousness or who is severely agitated?
A. obtain and review the patient's past medical history
B. ask the patient's nurse about the patient's prescriptions
C. request that the lab run a comprehensive blood drug screen
1
,D. obtain the patient's current prescription vials from the family - ANSWER obtain the
patient's current prescription vials from the family
Which of the following thoracic ultrasound findings is consistent with the presence of a
pneumothorax?
A. presence of gliding sign
B. absence of A-lines
C. presence of barcode sign
D. presence of seashore sign - ANSWER presence of barcode sign
Which of the following would tend to increase insensible water loss?
A. hypothermia
B. bypassed upper airway
C. hypoventilation
D. diuretic administration - ANSWER bypassed upper airway
Which of the following would tend to decrease a patient's energy expenditure?
A. hypothermia
B. inflammation
C. major trauma
D. agitation/pain - ANSWER hypothermia
A patient has acute respiratory acidosis. You would expect the base excess (BE) to range be-
tween:
2
,A. + 6 mEq/L
B. - 6 mEq/L
C. +/- 2 mEq/L
D. +/- 8 mEq/L - ANSWER +/- 2 mEq/L
The APGAR score for a normal newborn infant ranges between:
A. 1-4
B. 4-7
C. 7-10
D. 10-13 - ANSWER 7 to 10
Which of the following arterial blood gas results would most likely be reported for a patient
who is having a mild asthma attack?
A. pH = 7.31 PCO2 = 50 torr PO2 = 60 torr
B. pH = 7.40 PCO2 = 50 torr PO2 = 50 torr
C. pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 32 torr PO2 = 60 torr
D. pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 40 torr PO2 = 50 torr - ANSWER pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 32 torr PO2 =
60 torr
Asthma is respiratory alkalosis
On inspection of a patient's ECG strip, you note no identifiable P waves; rapid irregular undu-
lations of the isoelectric line; and an irregular ventricular rhythm. In addition, the precordial
cardiac rate is greater than the peripheral pulse rate. The most likely problem is:
3
, A. 2nd degree (Wenckebach) heart block
B. ventricular fibrillation
C. atrial fibrillation
D. ventricular tachycardia - ANSWER atrial fibrillation
The normal range for vital capacity in a young healthy male of average size is:
A. 5000 to 6000 ml
B. 2000 to 3000 ml
C. 3000 to 4000 ml
D. 4000 to 5000 ml - ANSWER 4000 to 5000 ml
Pulmonary function parameters that signify an obstructive disease process include which of
the following?
A. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - NO
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
B. Increase Airway Resistance - NO
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
C. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
4
