NUR 1020 EXAM 3 REVIEW
| QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE |
WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS.
SECTION 1: OXYGENATION AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Question 1
A patient with COPD has an oxygen saturation of 88%. What is the priority nursing
intervention?
A) Increase oxygen flow to 6 L/min via nasal cannula
B) Administer oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
C) Place the patient in a supine position
D) Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
,Rationale: For patients with COPD, the target SpO₂ is 88-92% to avoid suppressing the
hypoxic drive. Oxygen should be administered at low flow rates (1-3 L/min). Increasing
to 6 L/min could cause respiratory depression.
Question 2
What is the normal range for arterial blood gas (ABG) values? (pH)
A) 7.25-7.35
B) 7.35-7.45
C) 7.45-7.55
D) 7.30-7.40
Rationale: Normal arterial pH is 7.35-7.45. pH < 7.35 indicates acidosis; pH > 7.45
indicates alkalosis. The body tightly regulates pH to maintain homeostasis.
Question 3
What is the normal range for PaCO₂?
A) 25-35 mmHg
B) 35-45 mmHg
C) 45-55 mmHg
D) 55-65 mmHg
Rationale: Normal PaCO₂ is 35-45 mmHg. PaCO₂ > 45 mmHg indicates respiratory
acidosis (hypoventilation). PaCO₂ < 35 mmHg indicates respiratory alkalosis
(hyperventilation).
Question 4
What is the normal range for PaO₂?
,A) 60-70 mmHg
B) 80-100 mmHg
C) 100-120 mmHg
D) 50-60 mmHg
Rationale: Normal PaO₂ is 80-100 mmHg. Values below 80 mmHg indicate hypoxemia.
PaO₂ < 60 mmHg indicates significant hypoxemia requiring intervention.
Question 5
What is the normal range for bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻)?
A) 18-22 mEq/L
B) 22-26 mEq/L
C) 26-30 mEq/L
D) 30-34 mEq/L
Rationale: Normal bicarbonate is 22-26 mEq/L. HCO₃⁻ < 22 mEq/L indicates metabolic
acidosis. HCO₃⁻ > 26 mEq/L indicates metabolic alkalosis.
Question 6
What is the normal base excess (BE) range?
A) 0 to +2 mEq/L
B) -2 to 0 mEq/L
C) -2 to +2 mEq/L
D) -4 to +4 mEq/L
Rationale: Normal base excess is -2 to +2 mEq/L. BE < -2 mEq/L indicates metabolic
acidosis. BE > +2 mEq/L indicates metabolic alkalosis.
, Question 7
What is the normal range for oxygen saturation (SpO₂)?
A) 85-90%
B) 90-95%
C) 95-100%
D) 80-85%
Rationale: Normal SpO₂ is 95-100%. Values below 90% indicate hypoxemia requiring
intervention. In COPD patients, target SpO₂ may be 88-92%.
Question 8
When using a pulse oximeter, the nurse should select a site with:
A) Adequate peripheral perfusion
B) Low blood pressure
C) High temperature
D) Edema
Rationale: The pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation in peripheral tissues. If the
patient has poor peripheral perfusion (cold, cyanotic, edematous), the reading may be
inaccurate. Select a site with adequate perfusion.
Question 9
What is the purpose of incentive spirometry?
A) To promote lung expansion and prevent atelectasis
B) To measure oxygen saturation
C) To deliver oxygen therapy
D) To assess lung sounds
| QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE |
WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS.
SECTION 1: OXYGENATION AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Question 1
A patient with COPD has an oxygen saturation of 88%. What is the priority nursing
intervention?
A) Increase oxygen flow to 6 L/min via nasal cannula
B) Administer oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
C) Place the patient in a supine position
D) Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
,Rationale: For patients with COPD, the target SpO₂ is 88-92% to avoid suppressing the
hypoxic drive. Oxygen should be administered at low flow rates (1-3 L/min). Increasing
to 6 L/min could cause respiratory depression.
Question 2
What is the normal range for arterial blood gas (ABG) values? (pH)
A) 7.25-7.35
B) 7.35-7.45
C) 7.45-7.55
D) 7.30-7.40
Rationale: Normal arterial pH is 7.35-7.45. pH < 7.35 indicates acidosis; pH > 7.45
indicates alkalosis. The body tightly regulates pH to maintain homeostasis.
Question 3
What is the normal range for PaCO₂?
A) 25-35 mmHg
B) 35-45 mmHg
C) 45-55 mmHg
D) 55-65 mmHg
Rationale: Normal PaCO₂ is 35-45 mmHg. PaCO₂ > 45 mmHg indicates respiratory
acidosis (hypoventilation). PaCO₂ < 35 mmHg indicates respiratory alkalosis
(hyperventilation).
Question 4
What is the normal range for PaO₂?
,A) 60-70 mmHg
B) 80-100 mmHg
C) 100-120 mmHg
D) 50-60 mmHg
Rationale: Normal PaO₂ is 80-100 mmHg. Values below 80 mmHg indicate hypoxemia.
PaO₂ < 60 mmHg indicates significant hypoxemia requiring intervention.
Question 5
What is the normal range for bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻)?
A) 18-22 mEq/L
B) 22-26 mEq/L
C) 26-30 mEq/L
D) 30-34 mEq/L
Rationale: Normal bicarbonate is 22-26 mEq/L. HCO₃⁻ < 22 mEq/L indicates metabolic
acidosis. HCO₃⁻ > 26 mEq/L indicates metabolic alkalosis.
Question 6
What is the normal base excess (BE) range?
A) 0 to +2 mEq/L
B) -2 to 0 mEq/L
C) -2 to +2 mEq/L
D) -4 to +4 mEq/L
Rationale: Normal base excess is -2 to +2 mEq/L. BE < -2 mEq/L indicates metabolic
acidosis. BE > +2 mEq/L indicates metabolic alkalosis.
, Question 7
What is the normal range for oxygen saturation (SpO₂)?
A) 85-90%
B) 90-95%
C) 95-100%
D) 80-85%
Rationale: Normal SpO₂ is 95-100%. Values below 90% indicate hypoxemia requiring
intervention. In COPD patients, target SpO₂ may be 88-92%.
Question 8
When using a pulse oximeter, the nurse should select a site with:
A) Adequate peripheral perfusion
B) Low blood pressure
C) High temperature
D) Edema
Rationale: The pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation in peripheral tissues. If the
patient has poor peripheral perfusion (cold, cyanotic, edematous), the reading may be
inaccurate. Select a site with adequate perfusion.
Question 9
What is the purpose of incentive spirometry?
A) To promote lung expansion and prevent atelectasis
B) To measure oxygen saturation
C) To deliver oxygen therapy
D) To assess lung sounds
