NSG 3250: Adult Health I
Exam 2 – Q&A, latest 2026-27: Galen.
1. Which statement best describes ventilation?
A. It is the portion of the tracheobronchial tree that does not participate in gas exchange.
B. It reflects the mechanics of breathing as measured by lung volumes and capacities.
C. It is the blood flow through the pulmonary vasculature.
D. It is the exchange of O2 and CO2 across the alveolar-capillary interface.
Correct Answer: B. It reflects the mechanics of breathing as measured by lung volumes and capacities.
Rationale: The Exam 2 overview defines ventilation as the mechanics of breathing, viewed in terms of lung volumes
and capacities.
2. The nurse is reviewing respiratory physiology. Which process describes movement of O2 and CO2
from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration at the air-blood interface?
A. Pulmonary diffusion
B. Ventilation
C. Pulmonary perfusion
D. Physiologic dead space
Correct Answer: A. Pulmonary diffusion
Rationale: Pulmonary diffusion is the exchange of gas molecules across the alveolar-capillary membrane from higher
to lower concentration.
3. Which term refers to blood flow through the pulmonary vasculature?
A. Hyperventilation
B. Pulmonary diffusion
C. Pulmonary perfusion
D. Ventilation
Correct Answer: C. Pulmonary perfusion
Rationale: The source defines pulmonary perfusion as blood flow through the pulmonary vasculature.
4. A client has pneumonia causing distal airway obstruction. Which ventilation-perfusion finding is most
consistent with the uploaded Exam 2 overview?
A. A high-flow oxygen system delivering a fixed concentration
B. A low V/Q ratio in which perfusion exceeds ventilation
C. Physiologic dead space caused by equal ventilation and perfusion
D. A normal 1:1 V/Q ratio
Correct Answer: B. A low V/Q ratio in which perfusion exceeds ventilation
Rationale: The overview identifies pneumonia, atelectasis, tumor, and mucus plugging as examples of low V/Q states
in which perfusion exceeds ventilation and blood passes poorly ventilated alveoli.
5. Which respiratory assessment finding is described as a very late indicator of hypoxia?
A. Dyspnea
B. Wheezing
C. Cyanosis
D. Cough
Correct Answer: C. Cyanosis
Rationale: Cyanosis is specifically identified in the overview as a very late indicator of hypoxia.
NSG 3250 Exam 2 | Fall 2026 | Page 1
, NSG 3250 | Adult Health I | Exam 2
6. During auscultation, the nurse hears a continuous high-pitched musical sound over the neck. What is
the priority interpretation?
A. Egophony caused by normal voice transmission
B. Stridor indicating narrowing of the upper respiratory tract and requiring immediate intervention
C. Rhonchi caused by partial lower-airway obstruction
D. Crackles caused by loss of lubricating pleural fluid
Correct Answer: B. Stridor indicating narrowing of the upper respiratory tract and requiring immediate
intervention
Rationale: Stridor is a high-pitched sound heard over the neck that signals upper-airway narrowing; the source states
it warrants immediate intervention.
7. Which breath sound is described as a deep, low-pitched snoring sound associated with partial airway
obstruction?
A. Stridor
B. Bronchophony
C. Crackles
D. Rhonchi
Correct Answer: D. Rhonchi
Rationale: The respiratory assessment section describes rhonchi as a deep, low-pitched snoring sound related to
partial airway obstruction.
8. While assessing transmitted voice sounds, the nurse asks a client to say “E” and hears a sound
resembling “A.” Which finding is this?
A. Bronchophony
B. Stridor
C. Egophony
D. Fremitus
Correct Answer: C. Egophony
Rationale: Egophony is distorted voice transmission in which an “E” sound is heard as “A,” commonly associated in
the source with consolidation.
9. A client has rounded, bulbous distal phalanges and a nail angle of 180 degrees or more. The nurse
associates this finding with which condition in the study guide?
A. Venous insufficiency
B. Chronic hypoxia
C. Contact dermatitis
D. Acute viral rhinitis
Correct Answer: B. Chronic hypoxia
Rationale: Clubbing is described as rounding of the distal phalanx with a nail angle of 180 degrees or more and is
associated with chronic hypoxia and lung cancer.
10. Which diagnostic method noninvasively monitors the percentage of hemoglobin bound to oxygen?
A. Pulse oximetry
B. Pulmonary function testing
C. Arterial blood gas study
D. End-tidal CO2 monitoring
Correct Answer: A. Pulse oximetry
Rationale: Pulse oximetry is described as noninvasive monitoring of the percentage of hemoglobin bound to oxygen.
NSG 3250 Exam 2 | Fall 2026 | Page 2