1
ATI RN Targeted Medical Surgical:
Respiratory Online Practice 2024/2025|
Approved Questions and Answers|
[Verified Exam]
Nurse notices the patient has a tracheostomy with a dislodged inner cannula. What’s the first
step?
Try to reinsert the clean inner cannula if possible. If not, call for help and keep airway open
with a bag valve mask if needed.
Patient with COPD is having a hard time eating and breathing at the same time. What’s a helpful
tip?
Small, frequent meals and rest before eating — don’t want them to use up all their energy on
eating.
Nurse is checking ABGs and sees PaCO₂ is 55 mm Hg in a patient with COPD. What’s the
interpretation?
That’s respiratory acidosis — their lungs aren’t blowing off enough CO₂. Might be chronic
for them though.
Patient just returned from a CT with contrast and is now wheezing and flushed. What’s the
priority?
Possible allergic reaction — stop the contrast, give oxygen, and notify the provider.
, 2
Patient has a new trach and there’s a lot of bleeding at the site. What should the nurse do?
Some bleeding is normal at first, but if it’s a lot or doesn’t stop, call the provider — could be
a vessel issue.
After a thoracentesis, the nurse notes tracheal deviation to the left. What’s the concern?
Could be a tension pneumothorax — that’s serious and needs immediate help.
Nurse is giving teaching on home oxygen. What’s something important to say?
No smoking around oxygen — it’s super flammable even if the oxygen isn’t "on fire" itself.
Patient post-lobectomy has absent breath sounds on the surgical side. What should the nurse
consider?
Might be expected depending on surgery, but if it’s sudden or the other side’s affected too,
gotta assess for pneumothorax or fluid.
Patient with asthma uses their long-acting bronchodilator wrong. What should the nurse clarify?
Those are for prevention, not for rescue. Can’t rely on it for sudden attacks.
Patient with pneumonia is confused and has low-grade fever. Why is the confusion important?
In older adults, confusion might be the only or first sign of worsening infection or hypoxia.
, 3
Patient with TB asks when they can stop taking meds. What’s the best reply?
Even if symptoms improve, they need to finish the full 6–12 month course or risk resistance.
A patient is on a ventilator and their ABGs show PaO₂ of 50 mm Hg. What’s the nurse’s priority?
That’s hypoxemia. Increase oxygen delivery or check for problems with the ventilator.
Patient says they’re claustrophobic and refuses to wear the CPAP mask. What’s a good
approach?
Try a nasal interface or explain the benefits slowly — don’t force it, but help them
understand how it prevents complications.
During suctioning, a trach patient suddenly becomes cyanotic. What’s the immediate action?
Stop suctioning, give oxygen, and check if the airway is still patent. Might need to reinsert or
call a code.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube after a pneumothorax. What should the nurse do
if the water seal chamber stops fluctuating?
Might mean the lung re-expanded, but also could mean there’s a blockage or kink in the
tubing. I’d check for kinks or clots first before assuming it’s all good.
A patient with COPD is on 2L nasal cannula but still has low O2 sats. Why shouldn’t the nurse
bump up the oxygen right away?
ATI RN Targeted Medical Surgical:
Respiratory Online Practice 2024/2025|
Approved Questions and Answers|
[Verified Exam]
Nurse notices the patient has a tracheostomy with a dislodged inner cannula. What’s the first
step?
Try to reinsert the clean inner cannula if possible. If not, call for help and keep airway open
with a bag valve mask if needed.
Patient with COPD is having a hard time eating and breathing at the same time. What’s a helpful
tip?
Small, frequent meals and rest before eating — don’t want them to use up all their energy on
eating.
Nurse is checking ABGs and sees PaCO₂ is 55 mm Hg in a patient with COPD. What’s the
interpretation?
That’s respiratory acidosis — their lungs aren’t blowing off enough CO₂. Might be chronic
for them though.
Patient just returned from a CT with contrast and is now wheezing and flushed. What’s the
priority?
Possible allergic reaction — stop the contrast, give oxygen, and notify the provider.
, 2
Patient has a new trach and there’s a lot of bleeding at the site. What should the nurse do?
Some bleeding is normal at first, but if it’s a lot or doesn’t stop, call the provider — could be
a vessel issue.
After a thoracentesis, the nurse notes tracheal deviation to the left. What’s the concern?
Could be a tension pneumothorax — that’s serious and needs immediate help.
Nurse is giving teaching on home oxygen. What’s something important to say?
No smoking around oxygen — it’s super flammable even if the oxygen isn’t "on fire" itself.
Patient post-lobectomy has absent breath sounds on the surgical side. What should the nurse
consider?
Might be expected depending on surgery, but if it’s sudden or the other side’s affected too,
gotta assess for pneumothorax or fluid.
Patient with asthma uses their long-acting bronchodilator wrong. What should the nurse clarify?
Those are for prevention, not for rescue. Can’t rely on it for sudden attacks.
Patient with pneumonia is confused and has low-grade fever. Why is the confusion important?
In older adults, confusion might be the only or first sign of worsening infection or hypoxia.
, 3
Patient with TB asks when they can stop taking meds. What’s the best reply?
Even if symptoms improve, they need to finish the full 6–12 month course or risk resistance.
A patient is on a ventilator and their ABGs show PaO₂ of 50 mm Hg. What’s the nurse’s priority?
That’s hypoxemia. Increase oxygen delivery or check for problems with the ventilator.
Patient says they’re claustrophobic and refuses to wear the CPAP mask. What’s a good
approach?
Try a nasal interface or explain the benefits slowly — don’t force it, but help them
understand how it prevents complications.
During suctioning, a trach patient suddenly becomes cyanotic. What’s the immediate action?
Stop suctioning, give oxygen, and check if the airway is still patent. Might need to reinsert or
call a code.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube after a pneumothorax. What should the nurse do
if the water seal chamber stops fluctuating?
Might mean the lung re-expanded, but also could mean there’s a blockage or kink in the
tubing. I’d check for kinks or clots first before assuming it’s all good.
A patient with COPD is on 2L nasal cannula but still has low O2 sats. Why shouldn’t the nurse
bump up the oxygen right away?
