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ATI Respiratory System Oxygenation|
Nursing Skills and Practices|
Assessment 2.0 Questions and Answers|
2025/2026
A patient with COPD is using accessory muscles to breathe and looks tired. What should the
nurse do first?
Sit them up in high Fowler’s and encourage pursed-lip breathing. It helps ease breathing and
keeps airways open longer.
You notice a patient's oxygen sat dropped to 88% while lying flat. What immediate action should
you take?
Raise the head of the bed. Gravity helps the lungs expand more, which should help the sats
go up.
A client with pneumonia has thick sputum they’re struggling to cough up. What nursing action
helps the most?
Encourage fluids unless contraindicated. Hydration thins mucus and makes it easier to cough
out.
You're giving oxygen through a nasal cannula at 6 L/min. What should you be concerned about?
That's too high for a nasal cannula—it can dry out the mucosa and irritate the nose. Use a
mask if higher flow is needed.
, 2
The client is on 2 L/min oxygen via nasal cannula but still complains of shortness of breath.
What’s a smart next step?
Check their pulse ox before increasing oxygen. You need data before changing anything.
A patient with asthma is wheezing and can’t finish a sentence. What’s the most urgent thing to
do?
Give their prescribed bronchodilator ASAP. That opens the airways fast and can stop things
getting worse.
You're suctioning a trach and the client’s heart rate drops suddenly. What might have happened?
Probably hit the vagus nerve or suctioned too long. Stop suctioning and give them oxygen
right away.
A patient on oxygen via simple face mask is complaining of dryness. What’s one easy
intervention?
Add humidification to the oxygen. That helps prevent dry mouth and throat irritation.
A post-op patient refuses to use the incentive spirometer. What’s a good way to respond?
Explain how it prevents pneumonia by keeping lungs expanded. People are more likely to
use it if they get why it matters.
ATI Respiratory System Oxygenation|
Nursing Skills and Practices|
Assessment 2.0 Questions and Answers|
2025/2026
A patient with COPD is using accessory muscles to breathe and looks tired. What should the
nurse do first?
Sit them up in high Fowler’s and encourage pursed-lip breathing. It helps ease breathing and
keeps airways open longer.
You notice a patient's oxygen sat dropped to 88% while lying flat. What immediate action should
you take?
Raise the head of the bed. Gravity helps the lungs expand more, which should help the sats
go up.
A client with pneumonia has thick sputum they’re struggling to cough up. What nursing action
helps the most?
Encourage fluids unless contraindicated. Hydration thins mucus and makes it easier to cough
out.
You're giving oxygen through a nasal cannula at 6 L/min. What should you be concerned about?
That's too high for a nasal cannula—it can dry out the mucosa and irritate the nose. Use a
mask if higher flow is needed.
, 2
The client is on 2 L/min oxygen via nasal cannula but still complains of shortness of breath.
What’s a smart next step?
Check their pulse ox before increasing oxygen. You need data before changing anything.
A patient with asthma is wheezing and can’t finish a sentence. What’s the most urgent thing to
do?
Give their prescribed bronchodilator ASAP. That opens the airways fast and can stop things
getting worse.
You're suctioning a trach and the client’s heart rate drops suddenly. What might have happened?
Probably hit the vagus nerve or suctioned too long. Stop suctioning and give them oxygen
right away.
A patient on oxygen via simple face mask is complaining of dryness. What’s one easy
intervention?
Add humidification to the oxygen. That helps prevent dry mouth and throat irritation.
A post-op patient refuses to use the incentive spirometer. What’s a good way to respond?
Explain how it prevents pneumonia by keeping lungs expanded. People are more likely to
use it if they get why it matters.
