ATI MEDSURG RESPIRATORY EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS PROVIDED GRADED A+
1- A charge nurse receives notification of the admission of a client who is coughing
frequently and whose sputum is pink, frothy, and copious. The client has history of
night sweats, anorexia, and weight loss. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take? (SATA)
-Assign the client to a private room with negative-pressure airflow
-Wear an N95 respirator when entering the client’s room.
2- A nurse is assisting a provider with a comprehensive physical examination of a client.
When the provider uses transillumination, the nurse should explain to the client that this
technique help evaluate which of the following structures?
-Maxillary sinuses
3- A nurse is caring for a client who smokes cigarettes and has a new diagnosis of
emphysema. How should the nurse assist the client with smoking cessation?
-Discuss ways the client can reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
4- A nurse is planning care for a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and is malnourished. Which of the following recommendations to promote
nutritional intake should the nurse include in the plan?
-Eat high-calorie food first.
Rational: client who has COPD experience early satiety. Client should eat calorie-dense food
first.
5- A nurse is preparing to administer cisplatin IV to a client who has lung cancer. The
nurse should identify that which of the following findings is an adverse effect of this
medication?
-Tinnitus.
Rational: An adverse effect of cisplatin is ototoxicity, which can cause tinnitus.
6- A nurse in a medical-surgical unit is assessing a client. The nurse should identify that
which of the following findings is a manifestation of a pulmonary embolism?
-Stabbing chest pain
,Rational: sudden chest pain that is sharp and stabbing is a manifestation of pulmonary
embolism. Other manifestations include dyspnea, coughing, hemoptysis (coughing up
blood), tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and feeling of impending doom.
,7- A nurse in the PACU is assessing a newly admitted client and observes intercostal
retractions and a high-pitched inspiratory sound (stridor). The nurse should identify
theses findings as manifestations of which of the following complications?
-Respiratory obstruction
8- A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has metabolic alkalosis.
Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse expect?
-ph 7.49,HCO3-32mEq/L, PaCO2 40mmHg
Rational: Metabolic alkalosis: pH and bicarbonate values are greater than the expected
references range, and the PaCO2 is within the expected reference range.
9- A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a chronic cough and is scheduled
for a bronchoscopy. Which of the following client statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
-“A tissue sample might be obtained during the procedure”
10- A nurse is preparing a client for a bronchoscopy. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take? (SATA)
-Explain that the client will receive sedation and will not remember the procedure.
-Verify that the client understands the purpose and nature of the procedure.
11- A nurse is preparing a client for discharge following a bronchoscopy. Which of the
following assessment is the nurse’s monitoring priority?
-Confirming the gag reflex
Rational: The greater risk to the client’s safety is aspiration resulting from a depressed
gag reflex. 12- A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a thoracic
lobectomy. The client has 2
chest tubes in place: 1 in the lower portion of the thorax and the other higher on the chest
wall. When a family member asks why the client has 2 chest tubes, which of the following
responses should the nurse make?
-“The lower tube will drain blood, and the higher tube will remove air.”
13- A nurse is providing teaching to a client who will undergo a total laryngectomy.
Which of the following statements indicate that the client understands the impact of
, the surgery?
WITH ANSWERS PROVIDED GRADED A+
1- A charge nurse receives notification of the admission of a client who is coughing
frequently and whose sputum is pink, frothy, and copious. The client has history of
night sweats, anorexia, and weight loss. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take? (SATA)
-Assign the client to a private room with negative-pressure airflow
-Wear an N95 respirator when entering the client’s room.
2- A nurse is assisting a provider with a comprehensive physical examination of a client.
When the provider uses transillumination, the nurse should explain to the client that this
technique help evaluate which of the following structures?
-Maxillary sinuses
3- A nurse is caring for a client who smokes cigarettes and has a new diagnosis of
emphysema. How should the nurse assist the client with smoking cessation?
-Discuss ways the client can reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
4- A nurse is planning care for a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and is malnourished. Which of the following recommendations to promote
nutritional intake should the nurse include in the plan?
-Eat high-calorie food first.
Rational: client who has COPD experience early satiety. Client should eat calorie-dense food
first.
5- A nurse is preparing to administer cisplatin IV to a client who has lung cancer. The
nurse should identify that which of the following findings is an adverse effect of this
medication?
-Tinnitus.
Rational: An adverse effect of cisplatin is ototoxicity, which can cause tinnitus.
6- A nurse in a medical-surgical unit is assessing a client. The nurse should identify that
which of the following findings is a manifestation of a pulmonary embolism?
-Stabbing chest pain
,Rational: sudden chest pain that is sharp and stabbing is a manifestation of pulmonary
embolism. Other manifestations include dyspnea, coughing, hemoptysis (coughing up
blood), tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and feeling of impending doom.
,7- A nurse in the PACU is assessing a newly admitted client and observes intercostal
retractions and a high-pitched inspiratory sound (stridor). The nurse should identify
theses findings as manifestations of which of the following complications?
-Respiratory obstruction
8- A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has metabolic alkalosis.
Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse expect?
-ph 7.49,HCO3-32mEq/L, PaCO2 40mmHg
Rational: Metabolic alkalosis: pH and bicarbonate values are greater than the expected
references range, and the PaCO2 is within the expected reference range.
9- A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a chronic cough and is scheduled
for a bronchoscopy. Which of the following client statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
-“A tissue sample might be obtained during the procedure”
10- A nurse is preparing a client for a bronchoscopy. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take? (SATA)
-Explain that the client will receive sedation and will not remember the procedure.
-Verify that the client understands the purpose and nature of the procedure.
11- A nurse is preparing a client for discharge following a bronchoscopy. Which of the
following assessment is the nurse’s monitoring priority?
-Confirming the gag reflex
Rational: The greater risk to the client’s safety is aspiration resulting from a depressed
gag reflex. 12- A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a thoracic
lobectomy. The client has 2
chest tubes in place: 1 in the lower portion of the thorax and the other higher on the chest
wall. When a family member asks why the client has 2 chest tubes, which of the following
responses should the nurse make?
-“The lower tube will drain blood, and the higher tube will remove air.”
13- A nurse is providing teaching to a client who will undergo a total laryngectomy.
Which of the following statements indicate that the client understands the impact of
, the surgery?
