NUR 144 Module E Respiratory Medications Study Guide 2026 – Nursing Review

NUR./144./Module./E./Respiratory./Medications

1. Medulla./Oblongata:./The./medulla./oblongata./helps./regulate./breathing,./heart./and./blood./vessel./functio
n,./digestion,./sneezing,./and./swallowing../This./part./of./the./brain./is./a./center./for./respiration./and./circulation../Sensor
y./and./motor./neurons./(nerve./cells)./from./the./forebrain./and./midbrain./travel./through./the./medulla.
2. Parts./of./the./Respiratory./System:./Upper./vs../Lower./Respiratory./Tracts
Upper:./outside./the./chest./cavity
• nose,./pharynx,./larynx.
/Lower:


• Trachea,./bronchus,./lungs,./alveoli.

/ Rib./cage./and./intercostal./muscle

s

Diaphragm
3. Functions./of./Respiratory./System:./Deliver./oxygen./

Remove./carbon./dioxide

Warm./&./Humidify./Air

Trap./Particles
4. The./Common./Cold:./Most./caused./by./viral./infection(Rhinovirus./or./Influenza
)./Virus./invades./mucosa./of./upper./respiratory./tract
ØLeads./to./mucus./production,./nasal./congestion./ØF
luid./drips./down./pharynx./à./esophagus
• Sore./throat,./cough,./upset./stomac
h./ØIrritation./of./nasal./mucosa./à./sne
eze
• Release./of./several./inflammatory./and./vasoactive./substances
• Dilation./of./small./blood./vessels./in./the./nasal./sinuses
• Causing./nasal./congestion
End./result:./upper./respiratory./infection./(URI)
5. Nasal./Congestion:./Excessive./nasal./secretions

, NUR./144./Module./E./Respiratory./Medications
Inflamed./and./swollen./nasal./mucosa
./


Nasal./irritation./causes./sneezing

, NUR./144./Module./E./Respiratory./Medications

Primary./causes./ØAllergi
es
ØURIs./(common./cold)
6. Coughing:./Respiratory./secretions./and./foreign./objects./are./naturally./removed./by./the./cough./reflex
../ØInduces./coughing./and./expectoration
• Removes./excessive./secretions./or./potentially./harmful./foreign./substance
s./ØInitiated./by./irritation./of./sensory./receptors./in./the./respiratory./tract
ØPersistent./coughs./of./2./weeks./or./more./should./be./evaluated./by./a./medical./provider.

Productive./vs../non-productive./cough
7. Treatment. / of. / the. / Common. / Cold:. / Combined./use./of./antihistamines,./nasal./decongestants,./anti
tus-sives,./and./expectorants
ØOTC./drugs
Treatment./is./symptomatic./only,./not./curative
Treatment./is./"empiric./therapy,"./treating./the./most./likely./cause./Difl
cult./to./identify./whether./cause./is./viral./or./bacterial./ØAntivirals./
and./antibiotics./may./be./used./if./definitive./source
• Ie:./strep./throat,./flu./swab
8. Pediatric./Concerns./for./Cough./and./Cold./Products:./2008:./FDA./recommends./no./OTC./coug
h./and./cold./products./be./administered./if./<2yr./old
ØSide./ettects:./Over./sedation,./seizures,./tachycardia
ØOther./evidence./shows./that./cough/cold./medicine./is./not./ettective./in./small./childr
en./ØParents./are./advised./to./consult./their./Pediatricians./about./managing./these./iss
ues../A./2010./study./showed./a./dramatic./drop./in./ER./visits./due./to./these./recommend
ations.
9. The./common./cold./is./treated./with./empiric./therapy,./which./means

A. the./medications./cure./the./cold.
B. the./medications./only./treat./the./symptoms.
C. herbal./medications./are./useful./to./eliminate./symptoms.
D. it./is./prevented./with./careful./use./of./medications.:./B.the./medications./only./treat./the./symptoms.
10. Histamine:. / Mast./cells./(immune./system)./release./histamine./resulting./in./allergic./reactions/disorders

, NUR./144./Module./E./Respiratory./Medications

ØAllergic./rhinitis./(hay./fever,./mold./&./dust./allergies)