NUR 146 Oxygenation Exam Questions And
100% Correct Answers
A client is to have a tonsillectomy. The client asks the nurse the purpose of the tonsils.
Which of the following would be the best response?
A. "The tonsils separate your windpipe from your throat when you swallow."
B. "The tonsils help to guard the body from invasion of organisms."
C. "The tonsils produce enzymes that you swallow and which help in digestion." D. "The
tonsils are useful in controlling the amount of air flowing down into your lungs." -
ANSWER B. "The tonsils protect the body against the invasion of organisms."
The nurse is caring for a client who has just returned to the unit after a colon resection.
The client is exhibiting signs of hypoxia. The nurse knows this is probably caused by:
A. nitrogen narcosis.
B. infection.
C. impaired diffusion.
D. shunting. - ANSWER D. shunting.
3. The nurse is examining a client who frequently coughs after eating or drinking. What
is the best follow-up action by the nurse related to this assessment finding?
A. Collect a sputum sample.
B. Conduct a swallowing examination. C. Look at the client's tongue and mouth.
D. Evaluate the client's nutritional status. - ANSWER B. Conduct a swallowing
examination.
The ED nurse is assessing a client that presents to the emergency department
complaining of dyspnea. Upon auscultation of the client's chest, the nurse auscultates
wheezing to the lung fields. This could be indicative of which of the following?
,A. Bronchoconstriction
B. Pneumonia
C. Hemoptysis
D. Hemothorax - ANSWER A. Bronchoconstriction
The nurse is caring for a client who was admitted with an acute exacerbation of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. While assessing this client, the nurse determines that
the client is exhibiting increased dyspnea. Which is the most accurate measure of the
client's blood oxygen concentration?
A. A capillary blood sample
B. Pulse oximetry
C. An arterial blood gas (ABG) study D. A complete blood count (CBC) - ANSWER C. An
arterial blood gas (ABG) study
The nurse is caring for a client who has returned to the unit following a bronchoscopy.
The client is requesting something to drink. For which of the following criteria must the
nurse wait before allowing the client to have fluids?
A. Presence of a cough and gag reflex
B. Absence of nausea
C. Ability to demonstrate deep inspiration
D. Oxygen saturation of greater than or equal to92% - ANSWER A. Presence of a cough
and gag reflex
In addition to heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature, a nurse
must also monitor arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) of a client. Which of the following
will give the most suitable actions to conduct for obtaining this?
A. Incentive spirometry
B. Arterial blood gas (ABG) measurement
C. Peak flow measurement
D. Pulse oximetry
,A client asks the nurse why an infection in the upper respiratory system is affecting the
clarity of the client's speech. The nurse should describe the role of what structure? A.
Trachea
B. Pharynx
C. Paranasal sinuses
D. Larynx - ANSWER C. Paranasal sinuses
A recumbent client who has a diminished level of consciousness, the nurse would best
assess this client's lung fields by:
A. Refer to the client's portable chest x-ray films.
B. Repositioning the client to be able to auscultate all lung fields.
C. Auscultating the breath sounds accessible from the anterior chest wall.
D. Evaluate oxygen saturation and, if decreased, reposition the client and auscultate
breath sounds. - ANSWER B. The client should be turned to allow assessment of all lung
fields.
A client is receiving an examination to evaluate for a pleural effusion. Which of the
following respiratory assessment findings by the nurse would most likely be associated
with this condition?
A. Decreased tactile fremitus, egophony, and the chest wall resonates on percussion
B. Decreased tactile fremitus, wheezing, and the chest wall hyperresonant on
percussion
C. Lung fields dull to percussion, absent breath sounds, and a pleural friction rub
D. Normal tactile fremitus, decreased breath sounds, and the chest wall resonant on
percussion - ANSWER C. Lung fields dull to percussion, absent breath sounds, and a
pleural friction rub
Rounds by the nurse at the beginning of a shift reveal a sputum specimen in a container
sitting on the bedside table in a client's room. The nurse asks when the client produced
the sputum specimen and the client states that the specimen is about 4 hours old. What
does the nurse do?
A. The nurse should take the sputum specimen to the laboratory immediately.
, B. Discard the specimen and assist the client in obtaining another specimen. C.
Refrigerate the sputum specimen and submit it once it is chilled.
D. Add a small amount of normal saline to moisten the specimen - ANSWER B. Discard
the specimen and assist the client in obtaining another specimen.
A patient diagnosed with chronic lung disease is undergoing tests of lung function.
Which of the following test results represents the volume of air breathed in and out with
a normal breath?
A. Total lung capacity
B. Forced vital capacity
C. Tidal volume
D. Residual volume - ANSWER C. Tidal volume
The nurse is assessing a newly admitted medical client and notices that there is a
concave area in the lower part of the client's sternum. This client's medical record
should indicate the presence of what type of chest deformity?
A. A barrel chest
B. A funnel chest
C. A pigeon chest
D. Kyphoscoliosis - ANSWER B. A funnel chest
The medical nurse working on a pulmonology unit knows that many respiratory
conditions can reduce lung tissue compliance. The presence of which condition would
result in increased lung compliance?
A. Emphysema
B. Pulmonary fibrosis
C. Pleural effusion
D. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) ANSWER A. Emphysema
The medical nurse has received a client into the unit with a diagnosis of failure to thrive.
The client subsequently develops a fever and cough, and as a consequence a sputum
100% Correct Answers
A client is to have a tonsillectomy. The client asks the nurse the purpose of the tonsils.
Which of the following would be the best response?
A. "The tonsils separate your windpipe from your throat when you swallow."
B. "The tonsils help to guard the body from invasion of organisms."
C. "The tonsils produce enzymes that you swallow and which help in digestion." D. "The
tonsils are useful in controlling the amount of air flowing down into your lungs." -
ANSWER B. "The tonsils protect the body against the invasion of organisms."
The nurse is caring for a client who has just returned to the unit after a colon resection.
The client is exhibiting signs of hypoxia. The nurse knows this is probably caused by:
A. nitrogen narcosis.
B. infection.
C. impaired diffusion.
D. shunting. - ANSWER D. shunting.
3. The nurse is examining a client who frequently coughs after eating or drinking. What
is the best follow-up action by the nurse related to this assessment finding?
A. Collect a sputum sample.
B. Conduct a swallowing examination. C. Look at the client's tongue and mouth.
D. Evaluate the client's nutritional status. - ANSWER B. Conduct a swallowing
examination.
The ED nurse is assessing a client that presents to the emergency department
complaining of dyspnea. Upon auscultation of the client's chest, the nurse auscultates
wheezing to the lung fields. This could be indicative of which of the following?
,A. Bronchoconstriction
B. Pneumonia
C. Hemoptysis
D. Hemothorax - ANSWER A. Bronchoconstriction
The nurse is caring for a client who was admitted with an acute exacerbation of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. While assessing this client, the nurse determines that
the client is exhibiting increased dyspnea. Which is the most accurate measure of the
client's blood oxygen concentration?
A. A capillary blood sample
B. Pulse oximetry
C. An arterial blood gas (ABG) study D. A complete blood count (CBC) - ANSWER C. An
arterial blood gas (ABG) study
The nurse is caring for a client who has returned to the unit following a bronchoscopy.
The client is requesting something to drink. For which of the following criteria must the
nurse wait before allowing the client to have fluids?
A. Presence of a cough and gag reflex
B. Absence of nausea
C. Ability to demonstrate deep inspiration
D. Oxygen saturation of greater than or equal to92% - ANSWER A. Presence of a cough
and gag reflex
In addition to heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature, a nurse
must also monitor arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) of a client. Which of the following
will give the most suitable actions to conduct for obtaining this?
A. Incentive spirometry
B. Arterial blood gas (ABG) measurement
C. Peak flow measurement
D. Pulse oximetry
,A client asks the nurse why an infection in the upper respiratory system is affecting the
clarity of the client's speech. The nurse should describe the role of what structure? A.
Trachea
B. Pharynx
C. Paranasal sinuses
D. Larynx - ANSWER C. Paranasal sinuses
A recumbent client who has a diminished level of consciousness, the nurse would best
assess this client's lung fields by:
A. Refer to the client's portable chest x-ray films.
B. Repositioning the client to be able to auscultate all lung fields.
C. Auscultating the breath sounds accessible from the anterior chest wall.
D. Evaluate oxygen saturation and, if decreased, reposition the client and auscultate
breath sounds. - ANSWER B. The client should be turned to allow assessment of all lung
fields.
A client is receiving an examination to evaluate for a pleural effusion. Which of the
following respiratory assessment findings by the nurse would most likely be associated
with this condition?
A. Decreased tactile fremitus, egophony, and the chest wall resonates on percussion
B. Decreased tactile fremitus, wheezing, and the chest wall hyperresonant on
percussion
C. Lung fields dull to percussion, absent breath sounds, and a pleural friction rub
D. Normal tactile fremitus, decreased breath sounds, and the chest wall resonant on
percussion - ANSWER C. Lung fields dull to percussion, absent breath sounds, and a
pleural friction rub
Rounds by the nurse at the beginning of a shift reveal a sputum specimen in a container
sitting on the bedside table in a client's room. The nurse asks when the client produced
the sputum specimen and the client states that the specimen is about 4 hours old. What
does the nurse do?
A. The nurse should take the sputum specimen to the laboratory immediately.
, B. Discard the specimen and assist the client in obtaining another specimen. C.
Refrigerate the sputum specimen and submit it once it is chilled.
D. Add a small amount of normal saline to moisten the specimen - ANSWER B. Discard
the specimen and assist the client in obtaining another specimen.
A patient diagnosed with chronic lung disease is undergoing tests of lung function.
Which of the following test results represents the volume of air breathed in and out with
a normal breath?
A. Total lung capacity
B. Forced vital capacity
C. Tidal volume
D. Residual volume - ANSWER C. Tidal volume
The nurse is assessing a newly admitted medical client and notices that there is a
concave area in the lower part of the client's sternum. This client's medical record
should indicate the presence of what type of chest deformity?
A. A barrel chest
B. A funnel chest
C. A pigeon chest
D. Kyphoscoliosis - ANSWER B. A funnel chest
The medical nurse working on a pulmonology unit knows that many respiratory
conditions can reduce lung tissue compliance. The presence of which condition would
result in increased lung compliance?
A. Emphysema
B. Pulmonary fibrosis
C. Pleural effusion
D. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) ANSWER A. Emphysema
The medical nurse has received a client into the unit with a diagnosis of failure to thrive.
The client subsequently develops a fever and cough, and as a consequence a sputum
