ATI MED SURG RESPIRATORY EXAM
WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (100%
VERIFIED ANSWERS) | ALREADY GRADED
A+ | PROFESSOR VERIFIED |
BRANDNEW!!!
Description: Comprehensive 200-question MCQ revision set covering respiratory
assessment, diagnostics, oxygenation, ventilation, obstructive/restrictive disorders,
infections, emergencies, surgeries, medications, and priority nursing interventions. Each
question includes the correct answer with a ✅ and a detailed rationale. Answer choices
are intentionally mixed so the correct option is not always A, B, C, or D.
Keywords: ATI Med Surg, Respiratory Exam, 2025, MCQ, Nursing Revision, Oxygenation,
Ventilation, COPD, Asthma, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, ARDS, Pulmonary Embolism, Chest
Tube, ABG, Mechanical Ventilation, Rationales, Graded A+
SECTION 1: RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT & ANATOMY (Q1–
Q25)
1. Which structure is the primary site of gas exchange in the lungs?
A. Bronchi
B. Trachea
C. Alveoli ✅
D. Bronchioles
,Rationale: Alveoli are tiny air sacs surrounded by capillaries where oxygen and carbon
dioxide exchange occurs via diffusion. Bronchi, trachea, and bronchioles are conducting
airways, not primary gas exchange sites.
2. A nurse is assessing a client with respiratory distress. Which finding indicates
increased work of breathing?
A. Respiratory rate 16/min
B. Use of accessory muscles ✅
C. Oxygen saturation 97%
D. Clear breath sounds
Rationale: Accessory muscle use (sternocleidomastoid, intercostals) indicates increased
work of breathing and possible impending respiratory failure.
3. Which lung sound is described as continuous, musical, and high-pitched?
A. Crackles
B. Wheeze ✅
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Rhonchi
Rationale: Wheezes are continuous, musical, high-pitched sounds caused by narrowed
airways, commonly heard in asthma and COPD.
4. A nurse is percussing the chest. Which sound is expected over normal lung
tissue?
A. Dull
B. Tympanic
C. Resonance ✅
D. Flat
Rationale: Resonance is the normal percussion tone over healthy lung tissue. Dullness
suggests fluid or solid mass; tympany is heard over air-filled stomach; flatness over
muscle or bone.
,5. Which assessment finding is most concerning for a client with a respiratory
disorder?
A. Productive cough
B. Oxygen saturation 88% on room air ✅
C. Respiratory rate 18/min
D. Mild dyspnea on exertion
Rationale: SpO2 <90% indicates significant hypoxemia and requires immediate
intervention.
6. The nurse is assessing tactile fremitus. Which condition would decrease
fremitus?
A. Pneumonia
B. Pleural effusion ✅
C. Lung tumor
D. Consolidation
Rationale: Pleural effusion separates the lung from the chest wall, decreasing tactile
fremitus. Pneumonia, tumor, and consolidation increase fremitus.
7. Which term describes a bluish discoloration of the skin due to inadequate
oxygenation?
A. Pallor
B. Cyanosis ✅
C. Jaundice
D. Erythema
Rationale: Cyanosis is a late sign of hypoxemia, presenting as blue-tinged skin, lips, or
nail beds.
8. A nurse is reviewing a client's ABG: pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24. Which acid-
base imbalance is present?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis ✅
, D. Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Low pH with elevated PaCO2 and normal HCO3 indicates uncompensated
respiratory acidosis.
9. Which lobe of the lung is most commonly affected by aspiration in a supine
client?
A. Left upper lobe
B. Right upper lobe
C. Right middle lobe
D. Right lower lobe ✅
Rationale: In supine position, aspirated material tends to enter the right lower lobe due
to the vertical orientation of the right mainstem bronchus.
10. The nurse is assessing for paradoxical breathing. Which finding is expected?
A. Chest expands on inspiration
B. Abdomen rises on inspiration
C. Chest and abdomen move in opposite directions ✅
D. Respiratory rate 12/min
Rationale: Paradoxical breathing occurs when the chest and abdomen move in opposite
directions, indicating diaphragm fatigue or paralysis.
11. Which diagnostic test is the gold standard for evaluating lung function?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Spirometry ✅
C. Pulse oximetry
D. ABG
Rationale: Spirometry measures lung volumes and airflow and is the gold standard for
diagnosing obstructive and restrictive lung diseases.
12. A nurse is preparing a client for a bronchoscopy. Which instruction is most
important?
A. "You may eat a full meal before the procedure."
WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (100%
VERIFIED ANSWERS) | ALREADY GRADED
A+ | PROFESSOR VERIFIED |
BRANDNEW!!!
Description: Comprehensive 200-question MCQ revision set covering respiratory
assessment, diagnostics, oxygenation, ventilation, obstructive/restrictive disorders,
infections, emergencies, surgeries, medications, and priority nursing interventions. Each
question includes the correct answer with a ✅ and a detailed rationale. Answer choices
are intentionally mixed so the correct option is not always A, B, C, or D.
Keywords: ATI Med Surg, Respiratory Exam, 2025, MCQ, Nursing Revision, Oxygenation,
Ventilation, COPD, Asthma, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, ARDS, Pulmonary Embolism, Chest
Tube, ABG, Mechanical Ventilation, Rationales, Graded A+
SECTION 1: RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT & ANATOMY (Q1–
Q25)
1. Which structure is the primary site of gas exchange in the lungs?
A. Bronchi
B. Trachea
C. Alveoli ✅
D. Bronchioles
,Rationale: Alveoli are tiny air sacs surrounded by capillaries where oxygen and carbon
dioxide exchange occurs via diffusion. Bronchi, trachea, and bronchioles are conducting
airways, not primary gas exchange sites.
2. A nurse is assessing a client with respiratory distress. Which finding indicates
increased work of breathing?
A. Respiratory rate 16/min
B. Use of accessory muscles ✅
C. Oxygen saturation 97%
D. Clear breath sounds
Rationale: Accessory muscle use (sternocleidomastoid, intercostals) indicates increased
work of breathing and possible impending respiratory failure.
3. Which lung sound is described as continuous, musical, and high-pitched?
A. Crackles
B. Wheeze ✅
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Rhonchi
Rationale: Wheezes are continuous, musical, high-pitched sounds caused by narrowed
airways, commonly heard in asthma and COPD.
4. A nurse is percussing the chest. Which sound is expected over normal lung
tissue?
A. Dull
B. Tympanic
C. Resonance ✅
D. Flat
Rationale: Resonance is the normal percussion tone over healthy lung tissue. Dullness
suggests fluid or solid mass; tympany is heard over air-filled stomach; flatness over
muscle or bone.
,5. Which assessment finding is most concerning for a client with a respiratory
disorder?
A. Productive cough
B. Oxygen saturation 88% on room air ✅
C. Respiratory rate 18/min
D. Mild dyspnea on exertion
Rationale: SpO2 <90% indicates significant hypoxemia and requires immediate
intervention.
6. The nurse is assessing tactile fremitus. Which condition would decrease
fremitus?
A. Pneumonia
B. Pleural effusion ✅
C. Lung tumor
D. Consolidation
Rationale: Pleural effusion separates the lung from the chest wall, decreasing tactile
fremitus. Pneumonia, tumor, and consolidation increase fremitus.
7. Which term describes a bluish discoloration of the skin due to inadequate
oxygenation?
A. Pallor
B. Cyanosis ✅
C. Jaundice
D. Erythema
Rationale: Cyanosis is a late sign of hypoxemia, presenting as blue-tinged skin, lips, or
nail beds.
8. A nurse is reviewing a client's ABG: pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24. Which acid-
base imbalance is present?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis ✅
, D. Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Low pH with elevated PaCO2 and normal HCO3 indicates uncompensated
respiratory acidosis.
9. Which lobe of the lung is most commonly affected by aspiration in a supine
client?
A. Left upper lobe
B. Right upper lobe
C. Right middle lobe
D. Right lower lobe ✅
Rationale: In supine position, aspirated material tends to enter the right lower lobe due
to the vertical orientation of the right mainstem bronchus.
10. The nurse is assessing for paradoxical breathing. Which finding is expected?
A. Chest expands on inspiration
B. Abdomen rises on inspiration
C. Chest and abdomen move in opposite directions ✅
D. Respiratory rate 12/min
Rationale: Paradoxical breathing occurs when the chest and abdomen move in opposite
directions, indicating diaphragm fatigue or paralysis.
11. Which diagnostic test is the gold standard for evaluating lung function?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Spirometry ✅
C. Pulse oximetry
D. ABG
Rationale: Spirometry measures lung volumes and airflow and is the gold standard for
diagnosing obstructive and restrictive lung diseases.
12. A nurse is preparing a client for a bronchoscopy. Which instruction is most
important?
A. "You may eat a full meal before the procedure."
