2025-2026 NUR 445 Exam 3|ACTUAL EXAM
Qs&As|GRADED A+:-ARIZONA COLLEGE OF
NURSING
On a ventilator, what is tidal volume and how does it affect a patient's CO2?
- Volume of air moved in and outside the lungs in each respiratory cycle
- Increasing tidal volume will decrease a patient's CO2
How does the ventilator rate affect a patient's CO2?
increasing the rate will decrease CO2
What is PEEP?
- Positive end expiratory pressure
- It opens the alveoli and keeps them from collapsing and improves gas
exchange to the capillary bed
***Increases intrathoracic pressure which decreases venous return and may
cause hypotension and decreased cardiac output
What can be manipulated on a ventilator to increase a patient's PaO2?
increasing PEEP and FiO2
,How is a patient weaned off of a ventilator? what should nurses watch out for
during this?
- the ventilator is placed in CPAP mode, which allows the patient to inhale and
exhale on their own will a small amount of assistance
- watch out for hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, anxiety, and diaphoresis
because this indicates a failed wean
What is indicated if a high pressure alarm goes off on a ventilator?
obstruction of some sort:
- patient biting the vent
- mucus plug blocking passage of air
- pneumothorax
- fluid in tube
-kink in tube
What is indicated if a low pressure alarm goes off on the vent?
Leak somewhere in the ventilation tubing or collapse of the balloon that is
allowing air to escape around the patient's larynx
, What is VQ mismatch? Causes?
- abnormal distribution of ventilation and perfusion
- PE, pneumothorax, ARDS, COPD, atelectasis
What are the s/s of ARDS?
- refractory hypoxemia (increased ventilation but decreasing PaO2),
pulmonary edema (auscultate crackles), increased WOB (dyspnea, tachypnea,
accessory muscle use/retractions), anxiety, as this progresses it may show
absent lung sounds due to fibrosis
- initial respiratory alkalosis followed by respiratory acidosis
- bilateral infiltrates: chest x-ray shows "ground glass" lungs
What are the phases of ARDS and s/s in each?
1. Exudative: 24-48 hours after injury inflammation occurs and fluid begins to
shift into alveolar spaces
-s/s: hyperventilation, tachycardia, respiratory alkalosis, increased CO,
pulmonary edema on x-ray
2. Proliferative: more fluid and inflammatory cells enter lung space, reducing
oxygenation, increased CO2 causes vasoconstriction which results in
pulmonary hypertension and right side HF; lungs begin to stiffen and become
noncompliant
-s/s: hypercarbia (high co2), worsening hypoxemia, refractory hypoxemia
(hyperventilation/increased oxygenation and dropping PaO2), increased WOB
Qs&As|GRADED A+:-ARIZONA COLLEGE OF
NURSING
On a ventilator, what is tidal volume and how does it affect a patient's CO2?
- Volume of air moved in and outside the lungs in each respiratory cycle
- Increasing tidal volume will decrease a patient's CO2
How does the ventilator rate affect a patient's CO2?
increasing the rate will decrease CO2
What is PEEP?
- Positive end expiratory pressure
- It opens the alveoli and keeps them from collapsing and improves gas
exchange to the capillary bed
***Increases intrathoracic pressure which decreases venous return and may
cause hypotension and decreased cardiac output
What can be manipulated on a ventilator to increase a patient's PaO2?
increasing PEEP and FiO2
,How is a patient weaned off of a ventilator? what should nurses watch out for
during this?
- the ventilator is placed in CPAP mode, which allows the patient to inhale and
exhale on their own will a small amount of assistance
- watch out for hypertension, tachycardia, tachypnea, anxiety, and diaphoresis
because this indicates a failed wean
What is indicated if a high pressure alarm goes off on a ventilator?
obstruction of some sort:
- patient biting the vent
- mucus plug blocking passage of air
- pneumothorax
- fluid in tube
-kink in tube
What is indicated if a low pressure alarm goes off on the vent?
Leak somewhere in the ventilation tubing or collapse of the balloon that is
allowing air to escape around the patient's larynx
, What is VQ mismatch? Causes?
- abnormal distribution of ventilation and perfusion
- PE, pneumothorax, ARDS, COPD, atelectasis
What are the s/s of ARDS?
- refractory hypoxemia (increased ventilation but decreasing PaO2),
pulmonary edema (auscultate crackles), increased WOB (dyspnea, tachypnea,
accessory muscle use/retractions), anxiety, as this progresses it may show
absent lung sounds due to fibrosis
- initial respiratory alkalosis followed by respiratory acidosis
- bilateral infiltrates: chest x-ray shows "ground glass" lungs
What are the phases of ARDS and s/s in each?
1. Exudative: 24-48 hours after injury inflammation occurs and fluid begins to
shift into alveolar spaces
-s/s: hyperventilation, tachycardia, respiratory alkalosis, increased CO,
pulmonary edema on x-ray
2. Proliferative: more fluid and inflammatory cells enter lung space, reducing
oxygenation, increased CO2 causes vasoconstriction which results in
pulmonary hypertension and right side HF; lungs begin to stiffen and become
noncompliant
-s/s: hypercarbia (high co2), worsening hypoxemia, refractory hypoxemia
(hyperventilation/increased oxygenation and dropping PaO2), increased WOB
