NURS 121 Exam 1 Study
guide- Theory 2025
What diagnosis is characterized by persistent inflammation of the lungs, recurrent
episodes of SOB, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing? - ANSWER Asthma or
aka Reactive Airway Disease
During an asthma attack, where does air become trapped? - ANSWER Lower
Respiratory Tract
What is the diagnosis term for "a severe, life-threatening asthma attack that is
refractory to usual treatment and places the patient at risk for developing respiratory
failure." - ANSWER Status Asthmaticus
Asthma attacks limits what ability? - ANSWER Expiratory Ability
What is the first treatment for an Asthma attack and this treatment activates smooth
muscle to relax, which controls acute exacerbation? - ANSWER Bronchodilator Therapy
What type of medications can suppress and reduce airway inflammation, reduce edema,
and bronchial hyperresponsiveness? - ANSWER Inhalent Corticosteroids
What is the name of Oral medications used to reduce inflammatory response? -
ANSWER Leukotreine modifiers
What is the medical term for "Lack of CO2 and starts with numbness and tingling in the
finger tips"? - ANSWER Hyperventilation
What part of the brain controls respiration? - ANSWER brain stem
Decreased O2 in blood? - ANSWER hypoxemia
Decreased O2 to tissues? - ANSWER hypoxia
Increased heart rate? - ANSWER tachycardia
Decreased heart rate? - ANSWER bradycardia
What is the medical diagnosis name for "Progressive and irreversible disease
characterized by chronic bronchitis (excessive bronchial mucus secretion) and
emphysema (destruction of alveolar walls with the enlargement of abnormal or dead
airspaces)"? - ANSWER COPD- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Increased respiratory rate? - ANSWER tachypnea
,Decreased respiratory rate? - ANSWER bradypnea
What is the medical term for "Absence of Breathing"? - ANSWER Apnea
What is the medical term for "deep and fast breathing; often associated with metabolic
acidosis"? - ANSWER Kussmauls
What is known as "decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs, shallow
respiration"? - ANSWER Hypoventilation
SOB, Labored, difficulty breathing? - ANSWER Dyspnea
What is the name for "an irregular pattern of breathing characterized by alternating
rapid or shallow respiration followed by slower respiration or apnea; End-of-Life
breathing"? - ANSWER Cheyne-Stokes
Early Symptoms of Hypoxia? - ANSWER RAT- Restlessness, Anxiety, Tachycardia
Late Symptoms of Hypoxia? - ANSWER BED: bradycardia, extreme restlessness,
dyspnea (severe)
Pediatric Symptoms of Hypoxia? - ANSWER FINES: Feeding difficulty; Inspiratory
stridor; Nares flare; Expiratory grunting; Sternal retractions
Name the Breath Sound:
Harsh or high-pitched respiratory sound, caused by an obstruction of the air passages?
- ANSWER Stridor
Name the Breath Sound:
Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper
airways; mucus blocking airway passages? - ANSWER Rhonchi
Name the Breath Sound:
Creaking or grating sound from roughened, inflamed surfaces of the pleura rubbing
together, evident during inspiration, expiration, or both and no change with coughing;
usually uncomfortable, especially on deep inspiration? - ANSWER Pleural Friction Rub
What is the position for "Sitting up and leaning forward - trying to minimize airway
obstruction; or leaning on something to be able to breathe"? - ANSWER Tripoding
What diagnosis has a rapid onset within 90 min and prevelant in severe Covid-19
damaged Alveoli? - ANSWER ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome
refers to the bluish tint of the skin due to lack of oxygen or circulation? - ANSWER
Cyanosis
Name the Chest Type:
, A condition characterized by increased anterior-posterior chest diameter caused by
increased functional residual capacity due to air trapping from small airway collapse;
common with pt's who have COPD. - ANSWER Barrel Chest
What is the goal O2 saturation for a patient with COPD? - ANSWER 88%-92%
During a nursing assessment of a patient, always assess for what? - ANSWER Tobacco
Use
True or False:
Oxygen is considered a prescription and can be harmful if too much is given. - ANSWER
True
True of False:
Albuterol can be used for Long-Term asthma. - ANSWER False- Albuterol is used for
Acute Asthma. It is Not used Long Term.
Protein threads that form the basis of a blood clot? - ANSWER Fibrin
What: ______________________ converts Fibrinogen into Fibrin? - ANSWER Thrombin
What creates the Prothrombin Activator? - ANSWER Factor X combined with Factor V
What lab test is used to measure activity of prothrombin in the blood and is from a
protein produced in the Liver. Normal Lab results: 11-13.5 seconds? - ANSWER PT-
Prothrombin Time
What type of medications are used to reduce the likelihood of blood clotting? - ANSWER
Anticoagulants such as Heparin (IV or subc)
What is the reversal agent for warfarin? - ANSWER Vitamin K
What is the reversal agent for heparin? - ANSWER protamine sulfate
What Oxygen delivery device is considered the most comfortable, can be warmed and
humidified, and has a flow rate of 2-6 LPM? - ANSWER Nasal Cannula
What Oxygen delivery device covers the nose and mouth, provides an additional gas
reservoir and has a flow rate of 5-8/ LPM with FIO2 40-50? - ANSWER Simple Mask
What Oxygen delivery device is a face mask with an additional gas reservoir (a bag on
the mask) and is a one-way valve between the reservoir and the mask that ensures that
NO Carbon Dioxide from exhalation is re-inhaled. Use at high O2 rates of 10-15 LPM? -
ANSWER Non-rebreather Mask
What Oxygen delivery device has the ability to dial in a specific flow rate of Oxygen, and
mostly used with Tracheostomy management? - ANSWER Venturi Mask
What Oxygen delivery device provides precise Oxygen delivery, can be heated and
guide- Theory 2025
What diagnosis is characterized by persistent inflammation of the lungs, recurrent
episodes of SOB, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing? - ANSWER Asthma or
aka Reactive Airway Disease
During an asthma attack, where does air become trapped? - ANSWER Lower
Respiratory Tract
What is the diagnosis term for "a severe, life-threatening asthma attack that is
refractory to usual treatment and places the patient at risk for developing respiratory
failure." - ANSWER Status Asthmaticus
Asthma attacks limits what ability? - ANSWER Expiratory Ability
What is the first treatment for an Asthma attack and this treatment activates smooth
muscle to relax, which controls acute exacerbation? - ANSWER Bronchodilator Therapy
What type of medications can suppress and reduce airway inflammation, reduce edema,
and bronchial hyperresponsiveness? - ANSWER Inhalent Corticosteroids
What is the name of Oral medications used to reduce inflammatory response? -
ANSWER Leukotreine modifiers
What is the medical term for "Lack of CO2 and starts with numbness and tingling in the
finger tips"? - ANSWER Hyperventilation
What part of the brain controls respiration? - ANSWER brain stem
Decreased O2 in blood? - ANSWER hypoxemia
Decreased O2 to tissues? - ANSWER hypoxia
Increased heart rate? - ANSWER tachycardia
Decreased heart rate? - ANSWER bradycardia
What is the medical diagnosis name for "Progressive and irreversible disease
characterized by chronic bronchitis (excessive bronchial mucus secretion) and
emphysema (destruction of alveolar walls with the enlargement of abnormal or dead
airspaces)"? - ANSWER COPD- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Increased respiratory rate? - ANSWER tachypnea
,Decreased respiratory rate? - ANSWER bradypnea
What is the medical term for "Absence of Breathing"? - ANSWER Apnea
What is the medical term for "deep and fast breathing; often associated with metabolic
acidosis"? - ANSWER Kussmauls
What is known as "decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs, shallow
respiration"? - ANSWER Hypoventilation
SOB, Labored, difficulty breathing? - ANSWER Dyspnea
What is the name for "an irregular pattern of breathing characterized by alternating
rapid or shallow respiration followed by slower respiration or apnea; End-of-Life
breathing"? - ANSWER Cheyne-Stokes
Early Symptoms of Hypoxia? - ANSWER RAT- Restlessness, Anxiety, Tachycardia
Late Symptoms of Hypoxia? - ANSWER BED: bradycardia, extreme restlessness,
dyspnea (severe)
Pediatric Symptoms of Hypoxia? - ANSWER FINES: Feeding difficulty; Inspiratory
stridor; Nares flare; Expiratory grunting; Sternal retractions
Name the Breath Sound:
Harsh or high-pitched respiratory sound, caused by an obstruction of the air passages?
- ANSWER Stridor
Name the Breath Sound:
Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper
airways; mucus blocking airway passages? - ANSWER Rhonchi
Name the Breath Sound:
Creaking or grating sound from roughened, inflamed surfaces of the pleura rubbing
together, evident during inspiration, expiration, or both and no change with coughing;
usually uncomfortable, especially on deep inspiration? - ANSWER Pleural Friction Rub
What is the position for "Sitting up and leaning forward - trying to minimize airway
obstruction; or leaning on something to be able to breathe"? - ANSWER Tripoding
What diagnosis has a rapid onset within 90 min and prevelant in severe Covid-19
damaged Alveoli? - ANSWER ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome
refers to the bluish tint of the skin due to lack of oxygen or circulation? - ANSWER
Cyanosis
Name the Chest Type:
, A condition characterized by increased anterior-posterior chest diameter caused by
increased functional residual capacity due to air trapping from small airway collapse;
common with pt's who have COPD. - ANSWER Barrel Chest
What is the goal O2 saturation for a patient with COPD? - ANSWER 88%-92%
During a nursing assessment of a patient, always assess for what? - ANSWER Tobacco
Use
True or False:
Oxygen is considered a prescription and can be harmful if too much is given. - ANSWER
True
True of False:
Albuterol can be used for Long-Term asthma. - ANSWER False- Albuterol is used for
Acute Asthma. It is Not used Long Term.
Protein threads that form the basis of a blood clot? - ANSWER Fibrin
What: ______________________ converts Fibrinogen into Fibrin? - ANSWER Thrombin
What creates the Prothrombin Activator? - ANSWER Factor X combined with Factor V
What lab test is used to measure activity of prothrombin in the blood and is from a
protein produced in the Liver. Normal Lab results: 11-13.5 seconds? - ANSWER PT-
Prothrombin Time
What type of medications are used to reduce the likelihood of blood clotting? - ANSWER
Anticoagulants such as Heparin (IV or subc)
What is the reversal agent for warfarin? - ANSWER Vitamin K
What is the reversal agent for heparin? - ANSWER protamine sulfate
What Oxygen delivery device is considered the most comfortable, can be warmed and
humidified, and has a flow rate of 2-6 LPM? - ANSWER Nasal Cannula
What Oxygen delivery device covers the nose and mouth, provides an additional gas
reservoir and has a flow rate of 5-8/ LPM with FIO2 40-50? - ANSWER Simple Mask
What Oxygen delivery device is a face mask with an additional gas reservoir (a bag on
the mask) and is a one-way valve between the reservoir and the mask that ensures that
NO Carbon Dioxide from exhalation is re-inhaled. Use at high O2 rates of 10-15 LPM? -
ANSWER Non-rebreather Mask
What Oxygen delivery device has the ability to dial in a specific flow rate of Oxygen, and
mostly used with Tracheostomy management? - ANSWER Venturi Mask
What Oxygen delivery device provides precise Oxygen delivery, can be heated and
