NUR 203 RESPIRATORY
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 100%
GUARANTEED PASS [LATEST
2026-2027]
)
Which mechanical vent setting requires the patient to be completely sedated so that it can
completely control pt. breathing? - CORRECT ANSWER-CMV (used for pt's who are *sedated* or
who have been given *paralytics*) --> gives a prescribed *rate, tidal volume, and % of O2 to the
pt.* (alarms will go off if the pt tries to breathe over the vent)
*the diaphragm is not used at all*
(if they are breathing on this setting they need more meds or to step down to ACV)
Ex:
RR = 12 (spaced evenly over 1 minute)
TV = 450 mL
,FiO2 = 0.8 (80% oxygen w/ each breath)
True or False:
Older adults or those who have decreased muscle tone are harder to wean off the ventilator -
CORRECT ANSWER-true
What is the term used to describe how much air is being pushed into the lungs with each
breath? - CORRECT ANSWER-tidal volume (400-500 mL is used for adults)
What is the biggest difference between CMV and ACV? - CORRECT ANSWER-CMV --> the patient
does *NOT* help breathe
ACV --> the patient helps breathe with the vent
What mechanical vent setting is used when the pt is beginning to breathe on their own but may
still require additional help by the machine? - CORRECT ANSWER-*ACV* --> the pt is still
receiving a prescribed rate, TV, and FiO2 amount but is able to breathe over the vent on their
own
*the machine still controls TV for the breaths that the pt. breathes on their own*
Your pt. is on the ACV setting with a prescribed R of 12. You assess them and find that their RR =
20. How many times per minute are they breathing on their own? - CORRECT ANSWER-8
What alarm will sound when the ventilator meets resistance while trying to push air in? -
CORRECT ANSWER-*high pressure alarm*
- increased amount of secretions (*suction PRN*)
,- pt coughs, gags, or bites the ET tube
- anxious or fighting the ventilator (*re-orient them so you don't have to admin meds --> least
invasive options first*)
- pneumothorax occurs
- artificial airway is displaced (may have slipped into the right bronchus)
-kink in the tubing
- non-compliant lungs
*this decreases oxygenation b/c they are messing with the vent*
______ ________ alarm will sound when it is not meeting the minimal pressure to expand the
lungs. - CORRECT ANSWER-*low pressure* --> decreased oxygenation b/c they are not getting
any air*
- deflated cuff/hole
- tube has come out
- vent becomes disconnected from the airway
What type of alarm would *asynchronous breathing* set off? - CORRECT ANSWER-high
pressure
ex: when a patient coughs/talks it causes resistance against the ET tube*
True or False:
The RN is responsible for pre-oxygenating the patient with an ambu-bag before & after insertion
of an ET tube - CORRECT ANSWER-true --> *100% O2* (will hear O2)
, -will have a moment of no O2 during intubation --> this is why we want to limit the number of
seconds for each attempt (no longer than 30 seconds)
What setting is used to wean patients off mechanical ventilation (like if only used for surgery)/
when moving towards extubation (*almost awake*)? - CORRECT ANSWER-*SIMV*
(synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation)
-pt's *mandatory R* is *lower* b/c we want the pt to breathe on their own (if not, change
setting to AC)
-seeing if the diaphragm is strong enough/if patient can breathe on their own like before
surgery
-pt decides their own TV for each breath they breathe on their own (but the vent still has a set
TV for the breaths that are given by the machine)
How is pressure in the ET tube cuff measured? - CORRECT ANSWER-aneroid pressure
manometer (must be trained to use it --> green area is how much pressure should be in it)
-*too much pressure* = decreased blood flow --> tissue damage/necrosis in trachea
-*too little pressure* = air leaks out
Which vent setting is used to push air in during *inspiration*? - CORRECT ANSWER-*pressure
support*
-can *weaken diaphragm* and result in difficulty extubating
-can also *decrease RR* -> assess pt response
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 100%
GUARANTEED PASS [LATEST
2026-2027]
)
Which mechanical vent setting requires the patient to be completely sedated so that it can
completely control pt. breathing? - CORRECT ANSWER-CMV (used for pt's who are *sedated* or
who have been given *paralytics*) --> gives a prescribed *rate, tidal volume, and % of O2 to the
pt.* (alarms will go off if the pt tries to breathe over the vent)
*the diaphragm is not used at all*
(if they are breathing on this setting they need more meds or to step down to ACV)
Ex:
RR = 12 (spaced evenly over 1 minute)
TV = 450 mL
,FiO2 = 0.8 (80% oxygen w/ each breath)
True or False:
Older adults or those who have decreased muscle tone are harder to wean off the ventilator -
CORRECT ANSWER-true
What is the term used to describe how much air is being pushed into the lungs with each
breath? - CORRECT ANSWER-tidal volume (400-500 mL is used for adults)
What is the biggest difference between CMV and ACV? - CORRECT ANSWER-CMV --> the patient
does *NOT* help breathe
ACV --> the patient helps breathe with the vent
What mechanical vent setting is used when the pt is beginning to breathe on their own but may
still require additional help by the machine? - CORRECT ANSWER-*ACV* --> the pt is still
receiving a prescribed rate, TV, and FiO2 amount but is able to breathe over the vent on their
own
*the machine still controls TV for the breaths that the pt. breathes on their own*
Your pt. is on the ACV setting with a prescribed R of 12. You assess them and find that their RR =
20. How many times per minute are they breathing on their own? - CORRECT ANSWER-8
What alarm will sound when the ventilator meets resistance while trying to push air in? -
CORRECT ANSWER-*high pressure alarm*
- increased amount of secretions (*suction PRN*)
,- pt coughs, gags, or bites the ET tube
- anxious or fighting the ventilator (*re-orient them so you don't have to admin meds --> least
invasive options first*)
- pneumothorax occurs
- artificial airway is displaced (may have slipped into the right bronchus)
-kink in the tubing
- non-compliant lungs
*this decreases oxygenation b/c they are messing with the vent*
______ ________ alarm will sound when it is not meeting the minimal pressure to expand the
lungs. - CORRECT ANSWER-*low pressure* --> decreased oxygenation b/c they are not getting
any air*
- deflated cuff/hole
- tube has come out
- vent becomes disconnected from the airway
What type of alarm would *asynchronous breathing* set off? - CORRECT ANSWER-high
pressure
ex: when a patient coughs/talks it causes resistance against the ET tube*
True or False:
The RN is responsible for pre-oxygenating the patient with an ambu-bag before & after insertion
of an ET tube - CORRECT ANSWER-true --> *100% O2* (will hear O2)
, -will have a moment of no O2 during intubation --> this is why we want to limit the number of
seconds for each attempt (no longer than 30 seconds)
What setting is used to wean patients off mechanical ventilation (like if only used for surgery)/
when moving towards extubation (*almost awake*)? - CORRECT ANSWER-*SIMV*
(synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation)
-pt's *mandatory R* is *lower* b/c we want the pt to breathe on their own (if not, change
setting to AC)
-seeing if the diaphragm is strong enough/if patient can breathe on their own like before
surgery
-pt decides their own TV for each breath they breathe on their own (but the vent still has a set
TV for the breaths that are given by the machine)
How is pressure in the ET tube cuff measured? - CORRECT ANSWER-aneroid pressure
manometer (must be trained to use it --> green area is how much pressure should be in it)
-*too much pressure* = decreased blood flow --> tissue damage/necrosis in trachea
-*too little pressure* = air leaks out
Which vent setting is used to push air in during *inspiration*? - CORRECT ANSWER-*pressure
support*
-can *weaken diaphragm* and result in difficulty extubating
-can also *decrease RR* -> assess pt response
