Pathophysiology Exam 2 Practice Questions with 100%
Verified Correct Answers
A child is brought to the emergency department struggling to breathe with a prolonged
bronchospasm and severe hypoxemia. Assessment revealed the use of accessory muscles, a weak
cough, audible wheezing sound, moist skin, and tachycardia. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
a) Pulmonary embolism
b) Severe asthma attack
c) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
d) Cystic fibrosis - Correct Answer b) Severe asthma attack
A client with a history of heart failure and COPD (caused by 60 pack/year smoking) presents to the
clinic with the following complaints: auscultation of breath sounds reveal absent/diminished breath
sounds in the right lower lobe. Which other manifestations lead the health care provider to suspect
the client may have developed atelectasis? Select all that apply.
a) "Having a hard time catching my breath."
b) Respiratory rate—32; pulse rate—122 beats/minute.
c) Using accessory muscles to help him breathe.
d) "Seems like I'm not making much water (decreased urine production)."
e) Copious amounts of thick, green sputum. - Correct Answer a) "Having a hard time catching my
breath."
b) Respiratory rate—32; pulse rate—122 beats/minute.
c) Using accessory muscles to help him breathe.
The nurse is caring for the following clients. Select the client at highest risk for the development of
atelectasis.
a) The client who is mobile within 24 hours after abdominal surgery
b) The client who is postop total knee replacement and receiving client-controlled analgesia
c) The client with a lower leg cast who changes position every 2 hours
, d) The client diagnosed with pneumonia who performs frequent coughing and deep breathing
exercises - Correct Answer b) The client who is postop total knee replacement and receiving client-
controlled analgesia
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder involving the secretion of fluids in specific
exocrine glands. The genetic defect in CF inclines a person to chronic respiratory infections from a
small group of organisms. Which organisms create chronic infection in a child with cystic fibrosis?
a) Staphylococcus aureus and hepatitis C
b) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli
c) Haemophilus influenzae and influenza A
d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus - Correct Answer d) Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus
The health care provider suspects a newly admitted client may have a hemothorax. The client most
likely experienced:
a) Renal failure
b) Pneumonia
c) Congestive heart failure
d) Fractured or dislocated ribs - Correct Answer d) Fractured or dislocated ribs
Unilateral chest pain associated with respiratory movements is usually described as which of the
following?
a) Bronchitic
b) Myocardial
c) Pleuritic
d) Musculoskeletal - Correct Answer c) Pleuritic
A car accident client is admitted with a chest tube following pneumothorax. He also has an elevated
blood alcohol level. When the nurse enters his room, she notes the client is dyspneic, short of
, breath, and holding his chest tube in his hand. When the nurse pulls the linens back, she finds a
"sucking" chest wound. After calling a "code blue," the next priority intervention would be to:
a) Try to calm the patient down by maintaining therapeutic communication
b) Apply a Vaseline gauze (airtight) dressing over the insertion site
c) Observe and wait for the code blue team to bring equipment
d) Place the client's meal napkin over the wound - Correct Answer b) Apply a Vaseline gauze
(airtight) dressing over the insertion site
An elderly client who has been restricted to bed by numerous comorbidities for several weeks has
been diagnosed with a large pleural effusion. Which of the following treatment modalities is most
likely to resolve the client's most recent health problem?
a) Thoracentesis
b) Supplementary oxygen therapy
c) Administration of bronchodilators
d) Administration of corticosteroids - Correct Answer a) Thoracentesis
Acute-onset bronchial asthma causes wheezing and breathlessness as a result of which of the
following?
a) Pulmonary hypertension
b) Alveolar collapse
c) Compression atelectasis
d) Airway inflammation - Correct Answer d) Airway inflammation
When CO2 levels in the blood rise, a state of hypercapnia occurs in the body. What factors contribute
to hypercapnia? (Select all that apply.)
a) Abnormalities in respiratory function
b) Decrease in carbon dioxide production
c) Changes in neural control of respiration
Verified Correct Answers
A child is brought to the emergency department struggling to breathe with a prolonged
bronchospasm and severe hypoxemia. Assessment revealed the use of accessory muscles, a weak
cough, audible wheezing sound, moist skin, and tachycardia. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
a) Pulmonary embolism
b) Severe asthma attack
c) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
d) Cystic fibrosis - Correct Answer b) Severe asthma attack
A client with a history of heart failure and COPD (caused by 60 pack/year smoking) presents to the
clinic with the following complaints: auscultation of breath sounds reveal absent/diminished breath
sounds in the right lower lobe. Which other manifestations lead the health care provider to suspect
the client may have developed atelectasis? Select all that apply.
a) "Having a hard time catching my breath."
b) Respiratory rate—32; pulse rate—122 beats/minute.
c) Using accessory muscles to help him breathe.
d) "Seems like I'm not making much water (decreased urine production)."
e) Copious amounts of thick, green sputum. - Correct Answer a) "Having a hard time catching my
breath."
b) Respiratory rate—32; pulse rate—122 beats/minute.
c) Using accessory muscles to help him breathe.
The nurse is caring for the following clients. Select the client at highest risk for the development of
atelectasis.
a) The client who is mobile within 24 hours after abdominal surgery
b) The client who is postop total knee replacement and receiving client-controlled analgesia
c) The client with a lower leg cast who changes position every 2 hours
, d) The client diagnosed with pneumonia who performs frequent coughing and deep breathing
exercises - Correct Answer b) The client who is postop total knee replacement and receiving client-
controlled analgesia
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder involving the secretion of fluids in specific
exocrine glands. The genetic defect in CF inclines a person to chronic respiratory infections from a
small group of organisms. Which organisms create chronic infection in a child with cystic fibrosis?
a) Staphylococcus aureus and hepatitis C
b) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli
c) Haemophilus influenzae and influenza A
d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus - Correct Answer d) Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus
The health care provider suspects a newly admitted client may have a hemothorax. The client most
likely experienced:
a) Renal failure
b) Pneumonia
c) Congestive heart failure
d) Fractured or dislocated ribs - Correct Answer d) Fractured or dislocated ribs
Unilateral chest pain associated with respiratory movements is usually described as which of the
following?
a) Bronchitic
b) Myocardial
c) Pleuritic
d) Musculoskeletal - Correct Answer c) Pleuritic
A car accident client is admitted with a chest tube following pneumothorax. He also has an elevated
blood alcohol level. When the nurse enters his room, she notes the client is dyspneic, short of
, breath, and holding his chest tube in his hand. When the nurse pulls the linens back, she finds a
"sucking" chest wound. After calling a "code blue," the next priority intervention would be to:
a) Try to calm the patient down by maintaining therapeutic communication
b) Apply a Vaseline gauze (airtight) dressing over the insertion site
c) Observe and wait for the code blue team to bring equipment
d) Place the client's meal napkin over the wound - Correct Answer b) Apply a Vaseline gauze
(airtight) dressing over the insertion site
An elderly client who has been restricted to bed by numerous comorbidities for several weeks has
been diagnosed with a large pleural effusion. Which of the following treatment modalities is most
likely to resolve the client's most recent health problem?
a) Thoracentesis
b) Supplementary oxygen therapy
c) Administration of bronchodilators
d) Administration of corticosteroids - Correct Answer a) Thoracentesis
Acute-onset bronchial asthma causes wheezing and breathlessness as a result of which of the
following?
a) Pulmonary hypertension
b) Alveolar collapse
c) Compression atelectasis
d) Airway inflammation - Correct Answer d) Airway inflammation
When CO2 levels in the blood rise, a state of hypercapnia occurs in the body. What factors contribute
to hypercapnia? (Select all that apply.)
a) Abnormalities in respiratory function
b) Decrease in carbon dioxide production
c) Changes in neural control of respiration
