ACE YOUR NUR 242 MED SURG EXAM: COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
WITH COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2026/2027
◉ What is diffuse interstitial lung disease? Answer: a diverse group
of lung disorders that produce similar inflammatory and fibrotic
changes in the interstitium or inter alveolar septa of the lung
◉ What are the types of diffuse interstitial lung disease? Answer:
sarcoidosis;
the occupational lung diseases (asbestosis, pneumoconiosis,
silicosis, pneumonitis, etc); hypersensitivity pneumonitis;
lung disease caused by exposure to toxic drugs
◉ What is sarcoidosis? Answer: a disease of unknown origin
characterized by the formation of granulomatous lesions that
appear especially in the lungs, liver, skin, and lymph nodes
◉ What is the cause of sarcoidosis? Answer: probably immune or
autoimmune
◉ What are the S&S of sarcoidosis? Answer: may have no S&S;
malaise;
,fever;
dyspnea;
dry cough
◉ What is pneumoconiosis? Answer: occupational or "dust"
diseases; black lung (coal); silicosis (silicon); asbestosis
and mesothelioma;
inert particles are walled off by immune cells that lay down
fibrin; fibrosis- stiff lung; barrier to diffusion
◉ What are the causes of disorders of lung inflation? Answer:
conditions that produce lung compression or lung collapse;
collapse of a segment of the lung as in atelectasis;
compression of the lung by an accumulation of fluid in the
intrapleural space;
complete collapse of an entire lung as in pneumothorax
◉ What is atelectasis? Answer: the incomplete expansion of a lung
or portion of a lung; most common post-operative complication
What are the causes of atelectasis? Answer: airway obstruction; lung
compression such as occurs in pneumothorax or pleural effusion;
increased recoil of the lung due to loss of pulmonary surfactant
,◉
◉ What is pleural effusion? Answer: an abnormal collection of fluid
in the pleural cavity
◉ What are the S&S of pleural effusion? Answer:
dyspnea; pleuritic pain; dry cough; decreased breath
sounds
◉ What are the characteristics of pleural pain? Answer:
unilateral, localized to lower and lateral part of the chest; may be
referred to the shoulder; usually made worse by chest
movements; tidal volumes are kept small; breathing becomes
more rapid; reflex splinting of the chest may occur
◉ How do you diagnose pleural effusion? Answer: chest
radiographs;
chest ultrasound; computed
tomography (CT)
◉ How do you treat pleural effusion? Answer:
thoracentesis; injection of a sclerosing agent into the pleural
cavity; open surgical drainage
, ◉ What is pneumothorax? Answer: a collection of air or gas in the
pleural space of the lung, causing the lung to collapse
◉ What are the S&S of pneumothorax? Answer:
dyspnea; chest pain on affected side; tachycardia;
decreased or absent breath sounds; tracheal
shift if severe
◉ What is spontaneous pneumothorax? Answer: occurs when an
air-filled blister on the lung surface ruptures (emphysema)
◉ What is traumatic pneumothorax? Answer: caused by penetrating
or non-penetrating injuries
What is tension pneumothorax? Answer: occurs when the
intrapleural pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure
◉ What is pulmonary hypertension? Answer: pulmonary arterial
pressure > 30 mmHg (normal = 25/8)
◉ What are the types of pulmonary hypertension? Answer: primary
(idiopathic)-rare; secondary
WITH COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2026/2027
◉ What is diffuse interstitial lung disease? Answer: a diverse group
of lung disorders that produce similar inflammatory and fibrotic
changes in the interstitium or inter alveolar septa of the lung
◉ What are the types of diffuse interstitial lung disease? Answer:
sarcoidosis;
the occupational lung diseases (asbestosis, pneumoconiosis,
silicosis, pneumonitis, etc); hypersensitivity pneumonitis;
lung disease caused by exposure to toxic drugs
◉ What is sarcoidosis? Answer: a disease of unknown origin
characterized by the formation of granulomatous lesions that
appear especially in the lungs, liver, skin, and lymph nodes
◉ What is the cause of sarcoidosis? Answer: probably immune or
autoimmune
◉ What are the S&S of sarcoidosis? Answer: may have no S&S;
malaise;
,fever;
dyspnea;
dry cough
◉ What is pneumoconiosis? Answer: occupational or "dust"
diseases; black lung (coal); silicosis (silicon); asbestosis
and mesothelioma;
inert particles are walled off by immune cells that lay down
fibrin; fibrosis- stiff lung; barrier to diffusion
◉ What are the causes of disorders of lung inflation? Answer:
conditions that produce lung compression or lung collapse;
collapse of a segment of the lung as in atelectasis;
compression of the lung by an accumulation of fluid in the
intrapleural space;
complete collapse of an entire lung as in pneumothorax
◉ What is atelectasis? Answer: the incomplete expansion of a lung
or portion of a lung; most common post-operative complication
What are the causes of atelectasis? Answer: airway obstruction; lung
compression such as occurs in pneumothorax or pleural effusion;
increased recoil of the lung due to loss of pulmonary surfactant
,◉
◉ What is pleural effusion? Answer: an abnormal collection of fluid
in the pleural cavity
◉ What are the S&S of pleural effusion? Answer:
dyspnea; pleuritic pain; dry cough; decreased breath
sounds
◉ What are the characteristics of pleural pain? Answer:
unilateral, localized to lower and lateral part of the chest; may be
referred to the shoulder; usually made worse by chest
movements; tidal volumes are kept small; breathing becomes
more rapid; reflex splinting of the chest may occur
◉ How do you diagnose pleural effusion? Answer: chest
radiographs;
chest ultrasound; computed
tomography (CT)
◉ How do you treat pleural effusion? Answer:
thoracentesis; injection of a sclerosing agent into the pleural
cavity; open surgical drainage
, ◉ What is pneumothorax? Answer: a collection of air or gas in the
pleural space of the lung, causing the lung to collapse
◉ What are the S&S of pneumothorax? Answer:
dyspnea; chest pain on affected side; tachycardia;
decreased or absent breath sounds; tracheal
shift if severe
◉ What is spontaneous pneumothorax? Answer: occurs when an
air-filled blister on the lung surface ruptures (emphysema)
◉ What is traumatic pneumothorax? Answer: caused by penetrating
or non-penetrating injuries
What is tension pneumothorax? Answer: occurs when the
intrapleural pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure
◉ What is pulmonary hypertension? Answer: pulmonary arterial
pressure > 30 mmHg (normal = 25/8)
◉ What are the types of pulmonary hypertension? Answer: primary
(idiopathic)-rare; secondary
