CHAPTER 24: PERFORMING CHEST PHYSIOTHERAPY.
SAMPLE EXAM REVISION PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS (2024 UPDATE)
A patient has retained secretions in the right and left lower lobe superior bronchi. A nurse is
demonstrating to family members how to perform percussion and vibration. Which action by the
nurse is appropriate?
a. Positioning the patient in a chair leaning forward on a table
b. Asking the patient to lie flat on the stomach with a pillow under the stomach
c. Assisting the patient to the right side with the arm overhead and the feet elevated
d. Asking the patient to lie on the left side with the head elevated - ANSWER- ANS: B
Have the patient lie flat on the stomach with a pillow under the stomach. Percuss and vibrate below
the scapula on either side of the spine. Sitting up and leaning forward is the position for drainage
of the left and right upper lobe posterior apical branch. Having the patient lying on the right side
in Trendelenburg's position with the arm overhead facilitates drainage of the left upper lobe
lingular bronchi. On the left side with the head elevated is not a correct position for any drainage
procedure.
The nurse is teaching the family of a patient with cystic fibrosis how to use a high-frequency chest
wall oscillation (HFCWO) vest. The nurse informs the family that this device will do which of the
following? (Select all that apply.)
a. Allow patient to perform other tasks while receiving therapy.
, b. Improve patient adherence to chest physiotherapy.
c. Assist in the removal of secretions from the lungs.
d. Decrease the viscosity of mucus so coughing it up will be easier. - ANSWER- ANS: A, B,
C, D
The use of high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) such as the Vest airway clearance
system often improves patient attitude toward chest physiotherapy because the patient is able to
perform other tasks while receiving therapy. The HFCWO therapy assists with the removal of
secretions from the lungs and decreases the viscosity of mucus, making it easier to cough
productively.
The nurse is planning to perform postural drainage on a patient who is receiving continuous tube
feedings. What should the nurse do before performing the treatment? (Select all that apply.)
a. Stop the tube feedings for 1 to 2 hours before and after postural drainage.
b. Check for residual feeding in the patient's stomach and hold treatment if greater than 100 mL.
c. Give the prescribed inhaled bronchodilator 20 minutes before the procedure.
d. Auscultate all lung fields, assess vital signs, and draw arterial blood gas levels (ABG). -
ANSWER- ANS: B, C
Stop all continuous gastric tube feedings for 30 to 45 minutes before postural drainage. Check for
residual feeding in the patient's stomach; if greater than 100 mL, hold treatment. If the patient is
receiving inhaled bronchodilator, nebulizer, or aerosol treatment, postural drainage is performed
20 minutes after such therapy is provided. Assessing lung sounds and vital signs, but not blood gas
levels, is routinely done. Instead, pulse oximetry readings can be assessed.
SAMPLE EXAM REVISION PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS (2024 UPDATE)
A patient has retained secretions in the right and left lower lobe superior bronchi. A nurse is
demonstrating to family members how to perform percussion and vibration. Which action by the
nurse is appropriate?
a. Positioning the patient in a chair leaning forward on a table
b. Asking the patient to lie flat on the stomach with a pillow under the stomach
c. Assisting the patient to the right side with the arm overhead and the feet elevated
d. Asking the patient to lie on the left side with the head elevated - ANSWER- ANS: B
Have the patient lie flat on the stomach with a pillow under the stomach. Percuss and vibrate below
the scapula on either side of the spine. Sitting up and leaning forward is the position for drainage
of the left and right upper lobe posterior apical branch. Having the patient lying on the right side
in Trendelenburg's position with the arm overhead facilitates drainage of the left upper lobe
lingular bronchi. On the left side with the head elevated is not a correct position for any drainage
procedure.
The nurse is teaching the family of a patient with cystic fibrosis how to use a high-frequency chest
wall oscillation (HFCWO) vest. The nurse informs the family that this device will do which of the
following? (Select all that apply.)
a. Allow patient to perform other tasks while receiving therapy.
, b. Improve patient adherence to chest physiotherapy.
c. Assist in the removal of secretions from the lungs.
d. Decrease the viscosity of mucus so coughing it up will be easier. - ANSWER- ANS: A, B,
C, D
The use of high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) such as the Vest airway clearance
system often improves patient attitude toward chest physiotherapy because the patient is able to
perform other tasks while receiving therapy. The HFCWO therapy assists with the removal of
secretions from the lungs and decreases the viscosity of mucus, making it easier to cough
productively.
The nurse is planning to perform postural drainage on a patient who is receiving continuous tube
feedings. What should the nurse do before performing the treatment? (Select all that apply.)
a. Stop the tube feedings for 1 to 2 hours before and after postural drainage.
b. Check for residual feeding in the patient's stomach and hold treatment if greater than 100 mL.
c. Give the prescribed inhaled bronchodilator 20 minutes before the procedure.
d. Auscultate all lung fields, assess vital signs, and draw arterial blood gas levels (ABG). -
ANSWER- ANS: B, C
Stop all continuous gastric tube feedings for 30 to 45 minutes before postural drainage. Check for
residual feeding in the patient's stomach; if greater than 100 mL, hold treatment. If the patient is
receiving inhaled bronchodilator, nebulizer, or aerosol treatment, postural drainage is performed
20 minutes after such therapy is provided. Assessing lung sounds and vital signs, but not blood gas
levels, is routinely done. Instead, pulse oximetry readings can be assessed.
