Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care
Exam with complete solutions 2024/2025
1. Which of the following is not a typical component to physical examination?
A) Inspection
B)Palpation
C)Auscultation
D)Interviewing - ANSWER- Interviewing
2. Pursed lip breathing is most often seen in patients with which of the following
diseases?
A)Pulmonary fibrosis
B)COPD
C)Pneumonia
D)Congestive Heart Failure - ANSWER- COPD
3. Which of the following is an unlikely cause of diaphoresis?
A)Myocardial infarction
B)Fever
C)Pulmonary Fibrosis
D)Exercise - ANSWER- Pulmonary Fibrosis
4. In which of the following conditions is lymphadenopathy of the neck seen?
A) Infection of the upper airway
B) Asthma
C) Cystic Fibrosis
D) Atelectasis - ANSWER- Infection of the upper airway
, What type of breathing pattern is characterized by irregular periods of apnea
alternating with periods in which 4 or 5 breaths of identical depth are taken??
hint: irregularly interspersed periods of apnea in a disorganized sequence -
ANSWER- Biot respiratory pattern
Ataxia breathing that is a sign of brain stem dysfunction
What type of breathing pattern is characterized by increased difficulty of getting
air out? - ANSWER- Air Trapping - common in COPD patients
What type of breathing pattern is characterized by slower than 12 breaths
perminute? - ANSWER- Bradypnea
What type of breathing pattern is characterized by varying periods of increasing
depths interspersed with apnea? - ANSWER- Cheyne-Stokes breathing -
alternates between fast and slow breathing and breathing stops for periods
often caused by an intercranial lesion
Sign of end of life
What breathing pattern is characterized by more than 20 breaths per minute? -
ANSWER- Tachypnea
What is the difference between Kussmaul and Tachypnea when looking at the
rhythm patterns? - ANSWER- Kussmaul is rapid, deeper and more labored.
They are experiencing acidosis, may have sweet smell to breath.
Tachypneic breathing is a shallower pattern.
Why would a patient demonstrate nasal flaring? - ANSWER- Common in infants
and children, Sign of increased WOB, sign of RDS
What does PERRLA stand for? - ANSWER- P - pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to
Light and Accomodation
What are some causes a trachea shift? - ANSWER- Tumor in the lung
pneumothorax
atelectasis
What is indicated by Jugular vein distention? - ANSWER- Right sided heart
failure. The heart failure increases blood pressure especially in the veins.
Why should carotid pulse only be felt on one side at a time? - ANSWER- because
it can obstruct blood flow to the brain,
Exam with complete solutions 2024/2025
1. Which of the following is not a typical component to physical examination?
A) Inspection
B)Palpation
C)Auscultation
D)Interviewing - ANSWER- Interviewing
2. Pursed lip breathing is most often seen in patients with which of the following
diseases?
A)Pulmonary fibrosis
B)COPD
C)Pneumonia
D)Congestive Heart Failure - ANSWER- COPD
3. Which of the following is an unlikely cause of diaphoresis?
A)Myocardial infarction
B)Fever
C)Pulmonary Fibrosis
D)Exercise - ANSWER- Pulmonary Fibrosis
4. In which of the following conditions is lymphadenopathy of the neck seen?
A) Infection of the upper airway
B) Asthma
C) Cystic Fibrosis
D) Atelectasis - ANSWER- Infection of the upper airway
, What type of breathing pattern is characterized by irregular periods of apnea
alternating with periods in which 4 or 5 breaths of identical depth are taken??
hint: irregularly interspersed periods of apnea in a disorganized sequence -
ANSWER- Biot respiratory pattern
Ataxia breathing that is a sign of brain stem dysfunction
What type of breathing pattern is characterized by increased difficulty of getting
air out? - ANSWER- Air Trapping - common in COPD patients
What type of breathing pattern is characterized by slower than 12 breaths
perminute? - ANSWER- Bradypnea
What type of breathing pattern is characterized by varying periods of increasing
depths interspersed with apnea? - ANSWER- Cheyne-Stokes breathing -
alternates between fast and slow breathing and breathing stops for periods
often caused by an intercranial lesion
Sign of end of life
What breathing pattern is characterized by more than 20 breaths per minute? -
ANSWER- Tachypnea
What is the difference between Kussmaul and Tachypnea when looking at the
rhythm patterns? - ANSWER- Kussmaul is rapid, deeper and more labored.
They are experiencing acidosis, may have sweet smell to breath.
Tachypneic breathing is a shallower pattern.
Why would a patient demonstrate nasal flaring? - ANSWER- Common in infants
and children, Sign of increased WOB, sign of RDS
What does PERRLA stand for? - ANSWER- P - pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to
Light and Accomodation
What are some causes a trachea shift? - ANSWER- Tumor in the lung
pneumothorax
atelectasis
What is indicated by Jugular vein distention? - ANSWER- Right sided heart
failure. The heart failure increases blood pressure especially in the veins.
Why should carotid pulse only be felt on one side at a time? - ANSWER- because
it can obstruct blood flow to the brain,
