NSG 300 Exam 3 STUDY GUIDE
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
GRADED A+
hypoventilation
decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs
Causes excessive CO2 retention= respiratory acidosis & respiratory
arrest
S/S: mental status change, dysrhythmias, cardiac arrect, convulsions,
unconsciousness, death
hyperventilation
increased rate and depth of breathing
Causes: severe anxiety, infection, drugs, acid-base imbalance
S/S: rapid respirations, sighing breaths, numbness/tingling of
extremities, light-headedness, LOC
hypoxia
lack of oxygen at the cellular level
-check HgB levels
hypoxia cause
-decreased hemoglobin and lowered oxygen- carrying capacity of the
blood;
-diminished concentration of inspired oxygen (high-altitude);
,-inability of tissues to extract oxygen from the blood (cyanide
poisoning);
-decreased diffusion of oxygen from alveoli to the blood (pneumonia);
poor tissue perfusion with oxygenated blood (shock)
-impaired ventilated (chest trauma)
early signs of hypoxia
Restlessness
Agitation
Tachycardia
-inc BP and RR
late signs of hypoxia
Bradycardia
Extreme restlessness
Dyspnea
-dec RR
cyanosis
bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen
NOT a reliable sign of hypoxia
central cyanosis
observed on tongue, soft palate, conjunctiva.
peripheral cyanosis
seen in extremities, nail beds, earlobes (vasoconstriction)
what influences the capacity of blood to carry O2
1. amount of dissolved O2 in plasma
2. amount of HgB
3. ability of HgB to bind with O2
tidal volume
Amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs during a normal
breath
what affects tidal volume
, Pregnancy, obesity, exercise, obstructive/restrictive lungs, conditions
of lungs
inspiration
active process of breathing oxygen in; stimulated by chemical
receptors in the aorta
expiration
passive process of breathing out; depends on elastic recoil properties
of the lungs
surfactant
chemical produced in lugs to maintain surface tension/to keep alveoli
from collapsing
pathophysiology of COPD
Scar tissue in the parenchyma decreases elastic recoil of lungs and
thorax (compliance) which inc work of breathing
compliance
ability of the lungs to expand in response to increased interalveolar
pressure
-dec with pulmonary edema, interstitial & pleural fibrosis,
congenital/traumatic structural abnormalities like kyphosis or
fractured ribs
accessory muscles
increase lung volume during inspiration. overuse causes noneffective
ventilation and fatigue
airway resistance
the increase in pressure that occurs as the diameter of the airways
decreases from mouth/nose to alveoli.
what are some factors that block the airway and prevent gas
exchange
asthma, flu, covid, mucus, atelectasis (risk inc. w/ immobility)
diffusion (pulmonary circulation)
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
GRADED A+
hypoventilation
decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs
Causes excessive CO2 retention= respiratory acidosis & respiratory
arrest
S/S: mental status change, dysrhythmias, cardiac arrect, convulsions,
unconsciousness, death
hyperventilation
increased rate and depth of breathing
Causes: severe anxiety, infection, drugs, acid-base imbalance
S/S: rapid respirations, sighing breaths, numbness/tingling of
extremities, light-headedness, LOC
hypoxia
lack of oxygen at the cellular level
-check HgB levels
hypoxia cause
-decreased hemoglobin and lowered oxygen- carrying capacity of the
blood;
-diminished concentration of inspired oxygen (high-altitude);
,-inability of tissues to extract oxygen from the blood (cyanide
poisoning);
-decreased diffusion of oxygen from alveoli to the blood (pneumonia);
poor tissue perfusion with oxygenated blood (shock)
-impaired ventilated (chest trauma)
early signs of hypoxia
Restlessness
Agitation
Tachycardia
-inc BP and RR
late signs of hypoxia
Bradycardia
Extreme restlessness
Dyspnea
-dec RR
cyanosis
bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen
NOT a reliable sign of hypoxia
central cyanosis
observed on tongue, soft palate, conjunctiva.
peripheral cyanosis
seen in extremities, nail beds, earlobes (vasoconstriction)
what influences the capacity of blood to carry O2
1. amount of dissolved O2 in plasma
2. amount of HgB
3. ability of HgB to bind with O2
tidal volume
Amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs during a normal
breath
what affects tidal volume
, Pregnancy, obesity, exercise, obstructive/restrictive lungs, conditions
of lungs
inspiration
active process of breathing oxygen in; stimulated by chemical
receptors in the aorta
expiration
passive process of breathing out; depends on elastic recoil properties
of the lungs
surfactant
chemical produced in lugs to maintain surface tension/to keep alveoli
from collapsing
pathophysiology of COPD
Scar tissue in the parenchyma decreases elastic recoil of lungs and
thorax (compliance) which inc work of breathing
compliance
ability of the lungs to expand in response to increased interalveolar
pressure
-dec with pulmonary edema, interstitial & pleural fibrosis,
congenital/traumatic structural abnormalities like kyphosis or
fractured ribs
accessory muscles
increase lung volume during inspiration. overuse causes noneffective
ventilation and fatigue
airway resistance
the increase in pressure that occurs as the diameter of the airways
decreases from mouth/nose to alveoli.
what are some factors that block the airway and prevent gas
exchange
asthma, flu, covid, mucus, atelectasis (risk inc. w/ immobility)
diffusion (pulmonary circulation)
