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EXAM 2- MECHANICAL VENTILATION
(NCLEX) 2026 | COMPREHENSIVE Q&A
FOR CERTIFICATION SUCCESS
A patient receiving mechanical ventilation is very anxious and agitated, and
neuromuscular blocking agents are used to promote vasodilation. What should
the nurse recognize about the care of this patient?
a. the patient will be too sedated to be aware of the details of care
b. caregivers should be encouraged to provide stimulation and diversion
c. the patient should always be addressed and explanations of care given
d. communication will not be possible with the use of neuromuscular blocking
agents - correct-answer -C
The nurse determines that alveolar hypoventilation is occurring in a patient on a
ventilator when what happens?
a. the patient develops cardiac dysrhythmias
b. auscultation reveals an air leak around the ET tube cuff
c. ABG results show a PaCO2 of 32 mm Hg and a pH of 7.47
d. the patient tries to breathe faster than the ventilator setting - correct-answer -
B
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What plan should the nurse use when weaning a patient from a ventilator?
a. decrease the delivered FIO2 concentration
b. intermittent trials of spontaneous ventilation followed by ventilatory support
to provide rest
c. substitute ventilator support with manual resuscitation bag if the patient
becomes hypoxic
d. implement weaning procedures around the clock until the patient does not
experience ventilator fatigue - correct-answer -B
A 68-yr-old male patient diagnosed with sepsis is orally intubated on mechanical
ventilation. Which nursing action is most important?
a. Use the open-suctioning technique.
b. Administer morphine for discomfort.
c. Limit noise and cluster care activities.
d. Elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees. - correct-answer -D
The nurse is caring for a 65-yr-old man with acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS) who is on pressure support ventilation (PSV), fraction of inspired oxygen
(FIO2) at 80%, and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) at 15 cm H2O. The
patient weighs 72 kg. What finding would indicate that treatment is effective?
a. PaO2 of 60 mm Hg
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b. Tidal volume of 700 mL
c. Cardiac output of 2.7 L/min
d. Inspiration to expiration ratio of 1:2 - correct-answer -A
When planning care for a patient on a mechanical ventilator, the nurse
understands that the application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the
ventilator settings has which therapeutic effect?
a. Increased inflation of the lungs
b. Prevention of barotrauma to the lung tissue
c. Prevention of alveolar collapse during expiration
d. Increased fraction of inspired oxygen concentration (FIO2) administration -
correct-answer -C
Which assessment information obtained by the nurse when caring for a patient
receiving mechanical ventilation indicates the need for suctioning?
a. The respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min.
b. The pulse oximeter shows a SpO2 of 93%.
c. The patient has not been suctioned for the last 6 hours.
d. The lungs have occasional audible expiratory wheezes. - correct-answer -A
EXAM 2- MECHANICAL VENTILATION
(NCLEX) 2026 | COMPREHENSIVE Q&A
FOR CERTIFICATION SUCCESS
A patient receiving mechanical ventilation is very anxious and agitated, and
neuromuscular blocking agents are used to promote vasodilation. What should
the nurse recognize about the care of this patient?
a. the patient will be too sedated to be aware of the details of care
b. caregivers should be encouraged to provide stimulation and diversion
c. the patient should always be addressed and explanations of care given
d. communication will not be possible with the use of neuromuscular blocking
agents - correct-answer -C
The nurse determines that alveolar hypoventilation is occurring in a patient on a
ventilator when what happens?
a. the patient develops cardiac dysrhythmias
b. auscultation reveals an air leak around the ET tube cuff
c. ABG results show a PaCO2 of 32 mm Hg and a pH of 7.47
d. the patient tries to breathe faster than the ventilator setting - correct-answer -
B
,2|Page
What plan should the nurse use when weaning a patient from a ventilator?
a. decrease the delivered FIO2 concentration
b. intermittent trials of spontaneous ventilation followed by ventilatory support
to provide rest
c. substitute ventilator support with manual resuscitation bag if the patient
becomes hypoxic
d. implement weaning procedures around the clock until the patient does not
experience ventilator fatigue - correct-answer -B
A 68-yr-old male patient diagnosed with sepsis is orally intubated on mechanical
ventilation. Which nursing action is most important?
a. Use the open-suctioning technique.
b. Administer morphine for discomfort.
c. Limit noise and cluster care activities.
d. Elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees. - correct-answer -D
The nurse is caring for a 65-yr-old man with acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS) who is on pressure support ventilation (PSV), fraction of inspired oxygen
(FIO2) at 80%, and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) at 15 cm H2O. The
patient weighs 72 kg. What finding would indicate that treatment is effective?
a. PaO2 of 60 mm Hg
, 3|Page
b. Tidal volume of 700 mL
c. Cardiac output of 2.7 L/min
d. Inspiration to expiration ratio of 1:2 - correct-answer -A
When planning care for a patient on a mechanical ventilator, the nurse
understands that the application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the
ventilator settings has which therapeutic effect?
a. Increased inflation of the lungs
b. Prevention of barotrauma to the lung tissue
c. Prevention of alveolar collapse during expiration
d. Increased fraction of inspired oxygen concentration (FIO2) administration -
correct-answer -C
Which assessment information obtained by the nurse when caring for a patient
receiving mechanical ventilation indicates the need for suctioning?
a. The respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min.
b. The pulse oximeter shows a SpO2 of 93%.
c. The patient has not been suctioned for the last 6 hours.
d. The lungs have occasional audible expiratory wheezes. - correct-answer -A
