Nursing 354 Mechanical Ventilation
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of mechanical ventilation?
A. To eliminate all carbon dioxide from the blood
B. To provide nutritional support
C. To support or replace spontaneous breathing when the patient cannot
adequately ventilate
D. To prevent all pulmonary infections
Answer: To support or replace spontaneous breathing when the patient cannot
adequately ventilate
Rationale: Mechanical ventilation supports oxygenation and/or ventilation
when a patient's spontaneous respiratory effort is inadequate.
2. Which assessment finding most strongly indicates that a patient may require
mechanical ventilation?
A. Mild nasal congestion
B. Severe respiratory distress with inadequate oxygenation despite supplemental
oxygen
,C. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/minute
D. Occasional nonproductive cough
Answer: Severe respiratory distress with inadequate oxygenation despite
supplemental oxygen
Rationale: Persistent severe respiratory failure despite appropriate oxygen
therapy may indicate the need for ventilatory support.
3. Which ventilator mode provides a preset minimum respiratory rate while
allowing the patient to initiate additional breaths?
A. Assist-control ventilation
B. Continuous positive airway pressure
C. Pressure support ventilation
D. High-flow oxygen therapy
Answer: Assist-control ventilation
Rationale: Assist-control ventilation provides a set minimum number of breaths
while delivering the preset support when the patient initiates additional
breaths.
4. What does FiO₂ represent?
A. Fraction of inspiratory oxygen
B. Forced inspiratory volume
C. Functional inspiratory output
D. Fractional inhalation obstruction
Answer: Fraction of inspiratory oxygen
Rationale: FiO₂ is the fraction or concentration of oxygen delivered to the
patient during inspiration.
,5. A ventilated patient has an oxygen saturation of 86%. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Silence the ventilator alarm and leave the room
B. Assess the patient and airway immediately
C. Disconnect the ventilator permanently
D. Administer oral fluids
Answer: Assess the patient and airway immediately
Rationale: A low oxygen saturation in a mechanically ventilated patient requires
immediate assessment of the patient, airway, tubing, and ventilator.
6. Which ventilator setting primarily influences the amount of air delivered with
each mandatory breath?
A. Tidal volume
B. FiO₂
C. Respiratory rate
D. PEEP
Answer: Tidal volume
Rationale: Tidal volume is the amount of gas delivered during each ventilator
breath.
7. What is the purpose of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)?
A. To prevent airway collapse at the end of expiration
B. To decrease oxygenation
C. To eliminate the need for suctioning
D. To lower body temperature
Answer: To prevent airway collapse at the end of expiration
, Rationale: PEEP maintains positive pressure at the end of expiration, helping
keep alveoli open and improving oxygenation.
8. A patient on mechanical ventilation suddenly develops a high-pressure alarm.
Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Circuit disconnection
B. Cuff leak
C. Airway obstruction from secretions
D. Low oxygen supply only
Answer: Airway obstruction from secretions
Rationale: High-pressure alarms commonly occur when resistance to airflow
increases, such as with secretions, bronchospasm, biting the tube, or decreased
lung compliance.
9. Which situation is most likely to cause a low-pressure ventilator alarm?
A. Excessive secretions
B. Bronchospasm
C. Disconnection of the ventilator tubing
D. Decreased lung compliance
Answer: Disconnection of the ventilator tubing
Rationale: Low-pressure alarms commonly indicate a leak or disconnection
somewhere in the ventilator circuit or airway system.
10. What is the most important nursing intervention when a ventilator alarm
sounds?
A. Immediately turn off the ventilator
B. Assess the patient before troubleshooting the equipment
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of mechanical ventilation?
A. To eliminate all carbon dioxide from the blood
B. To provide nutritional support
C. To support or replace spontaneous breathing when the patient cannot
adequately ventilate
D. To prevent all pulmonary infections
Answer: To support or replace spontaneous breathing when the patient cannot
adequately ventilate
Rationale: Mechanical ventilation supports oxygenation and/or ventilation
when a patient's spontaneous respiratory effort is inadequate.
2. Which assessment finding most strongly indicates that a patient may require
mechanical ventilation?
A. Mild nasal congestion
B. Severe respiratory distress with inadequate oxygenation despite supplemental
oxygen
,C. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/minute
D. Occasional nonproductive cough
Answer: Severe respiratory distress with inadequate oxygenation despite
supplemental oxygen
Rationale: Persistent severe respiratory failure despite appropriate oxygen
therapy may indicate the need for ventilatory support.
3. Which ventilator mode provides a preset minimum respiratory rate while
allowing the patient to initiate additional breaths?
A. Assist-control ventilation
B. Continuous positive airway pressure
C. Pressure support ventilation
D. High-flow oxygen therapy
Answer: Assist-control ventilation
Rationale: Assist-control ventilation provides a set minimum number of breaths
while delivering the preset support when the patient initiates additional
breaths.
4. What does FiO₂ represent?
A. Fraction of inspiratory oxygen
B. Forced inspiratory volume
C. Functional inspiratory output
D. Fractional inhalation obstruction
Answer: Fraction of inspiratory oxygen
Rationale: FiO₂ is the fraction or concentration of oxygen delivered to the
patient during inspiration.
,5. A ventilated patient has an oxygen saturation of 86%. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Silence the ventilator alarm and leave the room
B. Assess the patient and airway immediately
C. Disconnect the ventilator permanently
D. Administer oral fluids
Answer: Assess the patient and airway immediately
Rationale: A low oxygen saturation in a mechanically ventilated patient requires
immediate assessment of the patient, airway, tubing, and ventilator.
6. Which ventilator setting primarily influences the amount of air delivered with
each mandatory breath?
A. Tidal volume
B. FiO₂
C. Respiratory rate
D. PEEP
Answer: Tidal volume
Rationale: Tidal volume is the amount of gas delivered during each ventilator
breath.
7. What is the purpose of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)?
A. To prevent airway collapse at the end of expiration
B. To decrease oxygenation
C. To eliminate the need for suctioning
D. To lower body temperature
Answer: To prevent airway collapse at the end of expiration
, Rationale: PEEP maintains positive pressure at the end of expiration, helping
keep alveoli open and improving oxygenation.
8. A patient on mechanical ventilation suddenly develops a high-pressure alarm.
Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Circuit disconnection
B. Cuff leak
C. Airway obstruction from secretions
D. Low oxygen supply only
Answer: Airway obstruction from secretions
Rationale: High-pressure alarms commonly occur when resistance to airflow
increases, such as with secretions, bronchospasm, biting the tube, or decreased
lung compliance.
9. Which situation is most likely to cause a low-pressure ventilator alarm?
A. Excessive secretions
B. Bronchospasm
C. Disconnection of the ventilator tubing
D. Decreased lung compliance
Answer: Disconnection of the ventilator tubing
Rationale: Low-pressure alarms commonly indicate a leak or disconnection
somewhere in the ventilator circuit or airway system.
10. What is the most important nursing intervention when a ventilator alarm
sounds?
A. Immediately turn off the ventilator
B. Assess the patient before troubleshooting the equipment
