NR 293 GAS EXCHANGE UNIT 6 | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING & PHARMACOLOGY
STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Uses of Respiratory Medications
Which conditions are respiratory medications used to treat?
Congestive heart failure
Asthma
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis
Allergies and hay fever
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - ANS ✔✔Asthma
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis
Allergies and hay fever
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Respiratory Drug Classifications
Which drug classifications are respiratory drugs? Select all that apply.
Bronchodilators
Antibiotics
Decongestants
Antihistamines
Diuretics
Antitussives
Expectorants - ANS ✔✔Bronchodilators
Decongestants
Antihistamines
Antitussives
Expectorants
Use of Bronchodilators
Which drug class should be used as a rescue inhaler for an acute asthma attack?
Mast cell stabilizers
Long-acting inhaled beta 2-agonists
Short-acting inhaled beta 2-agonists
Inhaled corticosteroids - ANS ✔✔Short-acting inhaled beta 2-agonists
Therapeutic Use of Respiratory Drugs
Match the respiratory drug classification to the therapeutic effect.
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Antitussives
Expectorants
Bronchodilators
Nonbronchodilators
Dry up secretions
,Decrease the amount of secretions
Suppress cough
Move secretions out of body
Open airway through dilation
Suppress underlying cause of illness - ANS ✔✔Antihistamines - Dry up secretions
Decongestants - Decrease the amount of secretions
Antitussives - Suppress cough
Expectorants - Move secretions out of body
Bronchodilators - Open airway through dilation
Nonbronchodilators - Suppress underlying cause of illness
Respiratory Drug Classes
Drag each drug to its correct classification.
Classifications:
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Antitussives
Expectorants
Respiratory Drugs:
Loratidine
Fexofenadine
Fluticasone
Triamcinolone
Codeine
Dextromethorphan
Guaifenesin - ANS ✔✔Antihistamines
- fexofenadine
- loratadine
Decongestants
- fluticasone
- triamcinolone
Antitussives
- codeine
- dextromethorphan
Expectorants
- guaifenesin
Treatment for Asthma
,The nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with asthma. Which drug should the nurse educate the
client to use as a rescue inhaler?
Fluticasone
Albuterol
Diphenhydramine
Salmeterol - ANS ✔✔Albuterol
Beta-Adrenergic Agonists
The medication actions and side effects of beta-adrenergic agonists will mimic the (parasympathetic OR
sympathetic) nervous system. - ANS ✔✔sympathetic
Mast Cell Stabilizer Use
Mast cell stabilizers are an alternative medication mostly prescribed for (emphysema OR allergies OR
exercise-induced asthma.) - ANS ✔✔exercise-induced asthma
Adverse Effects
What is one of the most common side effects that occurs with diphenhydramine?
Abdominal pain
Decreased libido
Diarrhea
Drowsiness - ANS ✔✔Drowsiness
Nursing Assessment With Respiratory Drugs
Match the assessment to the correct drug group.
Drug group:
- Antitussives
- Expectorants
- Decongestants
- Antihistamines
Assessment:
- Assess for other medications that may interact with these opioid-based medications
- Assess for thick secretions within the airway
- Monitor blood pressure closely; many drugs in this group can raise blood pressure
- If the client is scheduled for an allergy test, remind them to stop taking this medication four days prior
to the exam - ANS ✔✔Antitussives - Assess for other medications that may interact with these opioid-
based medications
Expectorants - Assess for thick secretions within the airway
Decongestants - Monitor blood pressure closely; many drugs in this group can raise blood pressure
Antihistamines - If the client is scheduled for an allergy test, remind them to stop taking this medication
four days prior to the exam
Mechanisms of Action
Match the drug group to its mechanism of action.
, MOA:
These drugs relax smooth muscles and decrease itching and bodily secretions.
These drugs function by preventing inflammatory chemicals from attaching to receptors on circulating
immune cells throughout the respiratory system, which results in a reduction in inflammation and relief
of asthma symptoms.
These drugs act by soothing the cell membranes of specific types of cells to prevent the release of
histamine, an inflammatory mediator.
These drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, to prevent bronchial constriction and
narrowing of the airways, which indirectly facilitates bronchodilation.
Drug group:
Antihistamines
Anticholinergics
Mast cell stabilizers
Leukotriene receptor antagonists - ANS ✔✔Antihistamines
- These drugs relax smooth muscles and decrease itching and bodily secretions.
Anticholinergics
- These drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, to prevent bronchial constriction and
narrowing of the airways, which indirectly facilitates bronchodilation
Mast cell stabilizers
- These drugs act by soothing the cell membranes of specific types of cells to prevent the release of
histamine, an inflammatory mediator.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists
- These drugs function by preventing inflammatory chemicals from attaching to receptors on circulating
immune cells throughout the respiratory system, which results in a reduction in inflammation and relief
of asthma symptoms.
Contraindications and Administration
Match the drug group to its contraindications and administration considerations.
Drug group:
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Antitussives
Expectorants
Contra and adm consideration:
Contraindicated in narrow-angle glaucoma, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes,
and prostatitis.
STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Uses of Respiratory Medications
Which conditions are respiratory medications used to treat?
Congestive heart failure
Asthma
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis
Allergies and hay fever
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - ANS ✔✔Asthma
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis
Allergies and hay fever
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Respiratory Drug Classifications
Which drug classifications are respiratory drugs? Select all that apply.
Bronchodilators
Antibiotics
Decongestants
Antihistamines
Diuretics
Antitussives
Expectorants - ANS ✔✔Bronchodilators
Decongestants
Antihistamines
Antitussives
Expectorants
Use of Bronchodilators
Which drug class should be used as a rescue inhaler for an acute asthma attack?
Mast cell stabilizers
Long-acting inhaled beta 2-agonists
Short-acting inhaled beta 2-agonists
Inhaled corticosteroids - ANS ✔✔Short-acting inhaled beta 2-agonists
Therapeutic Use of Respiratory Drugs
Match the respiratory drug classification to the therapeutic effect.
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Antitussives
Expectorants
Bronchodilators
Nonbronchodilators
Dry up secretions
,Decrease the amount of secretions
Suppress cough
Move secretions out of body
Open airway through dilation
Suppress underlying cause of illness - ANS ✔✔Antihistamines - Dry up secretions
Decongestants - Decrease the amount of secretions
Antitussives - Suppress cough
Expectorants - Move secretions out of body
Bronchodilators - Open airway through dilation
Nonbronchodilators - Suppress underlying cause of illness
Respiratory Drug Classes
Drag each drug to its correct classification.
Classifications:
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Antitussives
Expectorants
Respiratory Drugs:
Loratidine
Fexofenadine
Fluticasone
Triamcinolone
Codeine
Dextromethorphan
Guaifenesin - ANS ✔✔Antihistamines
- fexofenadine
- loratadine
Decongestants
- fluticasone
- triamcinolone
Antitussives
- codeine
- dextromethorphan
Expectorants
- guaifenesin
Treatment for Asthma
,The nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with asthma. Which drug should the nurse educate the
client to use as a rescue inhaler?
Fluticasone
Albuterol
Diphenhydramine
Salmeterol - ANS ✔✔Albuterol
Beta-Adrenergic Agonists
The medication actions and side effects of beta-adrenergic agonists will mimic the (parasympathetic OR
sympathetic) nervous system. - ANS ✔✔sympathetic
Mast Cell Stabilizer Use
Mast cell stabilizers are an alternative medication mostly prescribed for (emphysema OR allergies OR
exercise-induced asthma.) - ANS ✔✔exercise-induced asthma
Adverse Effects
What is one of the most common side effects that occurs with diphenhydramine?
Abdominal pain
Decreased libido
Diarrhea
Drowsiness - ANS ✔✔Drowsiness
Nursing Assessment With Respiratory Drugs
Match the assessment to the correct drug group.
Drug group:
- Antitussives
- Expectorants
- Decongestants
- Antihistamines
Assessment:
- Assess for other medications that may interact with these opioid-based medications
- Assess for thick secretions within the airway
- Monitor blood pressure closely; many drugs in this group can raise blood pressure
- If the client is scheduled for an allergy test, remind them to stop taking this medication four days prior
to the exam - ANS ✔✔Antitussives - Assess for other medications that may interact with these opioid-
based medications
Expectorants - Assess for thick secretions within the airway
Decongestants - Monitor blood pressure closely; many drugs in this group can raise blood pressure
Antihistamines - If the client is scheduled for an allergy test, remind them to stop taking this medication
four days prior to the exam
Mechanisms of Action
Match the drug group to its mechanism of action.
, MOA:
These drugs relax smooth muscles and decrease itching and bodily secretions.
These drugs function by preventing inflammatory chemicals from attaching to receptors on circulating
immune cells throughout the respiratory system, which results in a reduction in inflammation and relief
of asthma symptoms.
These drugs act by soothing the cell membranes of specific types of cells to prevent the release of
histamine, an inflammatory mediator.
These drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, to prevent bronchial constriction and
narrowing of the airways, which indirectly facilitates bronchodilation.
Drug group:
Antihistamines
Anticholinergics
Mast cell stabilizers
Leukotriene receptor antagonists - ANS ✔✔Antihistamines
- These drugs relax smooth muscles and decrease itching and bodily secretions.
Anticholinergics
- These drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, to prevent bronchial constriction and
narrowing of the airways, which indirectly facilitates bronchodilation
Mast cell stabilizers
- These drugs act by soothing the cell membranes of specific types of cells to prevent the release of
histamine, an inflammatory mediator.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists
- These drugs function by preventing inflammatory chemicals from attaching to receptors on circulating
immune cells throughout the respiratory system, which results in a reduction in inflammation and relief
of asthma symptoms.
Contraindications and Administration
Match the drug group to its contraindications and administration considerations.
Drug group:
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Antitussives
Expectorants
Contra and adm consideration:
Contraindicated in narrow-angle glaucoma, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes,
and prostatitis.
