AHN 447 Exam 3 Practice Questions
and Answers 100% Pass
What are the clinical manifestations of a pulmonary contusion? -
ANSWER✔✔-MAY BE ASYMPTOMATIC AT FIRST
decreased breath sounds or crackles and wheezes over the affected area
bruising over the injury
dry cough
tachycardia
tachypnea
dullness to percussion
bloody sputum
initial CXR normal--CXR with opacities after several days
*can lead to respiratory failure
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,What is the pathophysiology of a pulmonary contusion? - ANSWER✔✔-
occurs most often by rapid deceleration during car crashes
Hemorrhage and edema occur in and between the alveoli, reducing both
lung movement and the area available for gas exchange.
Localized inflammation can cause further damage.
The pt becomes hypoxemia and dyspneic (SOB).
What position should you place the pt in who has a pulmonary contusion?
- ANSWER✔✔-Place the pt in moderate-Fowler's position.
When side-lying, the "good lung down" position may be helpful.
What are rib fractures most often caused by? - ANSWER✔✔-direct blunt
trauma to the chest wall
(The force applied to the ribs fractures them and drives the bone ends into
the chest)
What is the pt at risk for with a rib fracture? - ANSWER✔✔-DEEP CHEST
INJURY (pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax)
What is flail chest? - ANSWER✔✔-Flail chest is the result of fractures of at
least 2 neighboring ribs in 2 or more places causing PARADOXICAL
CHEST WALL MOVEMENT (inward movement of the thorax during
inspiration, outward movement during expiration)
It usually involves one side of the chest and results from blunt chest
trauma.
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,What clinical manifestations are most often seen with a flail chest? -
ANSWER✔✔-paradoxical chest movement
SOB
cyanosis
tachycardia
hypOtension
pain
*work of breathing is increased from the paradoxical movement of the
involved segment of the chest wall
What interventions should you implement as the RN of a pt with flail
chest? - ANSWER✔✔-Monitor the pt's VS and F&E balance (to intervene if
shock or hypovolemia occurs)
If he/she has a lung contusion, provide O2 prn and give IV fluids as
prescribed
Assess for and relieve pain with prescribed analgesics
Provide psychosocial support
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, What is a pneumothorax? - ANSWER✔✔-air in the pleural space causing a
loss of negative pressure in the chest cavity, which can lead to a
COLLAPSED LUNG
most often caused by blunt trauma
The pneumothorax can be open or close.
Open= [pleural cavity is exposed to outside air, as through an open wound
in the chest wall
Closed= when a pt with COPD has a spontaneous pneumothorax
What is hemothorax? - ANSWER✔✔-bleeding into the chest cavity
A simple hemothorax is a blood loss of less than 1,000 mL into the chest
cavity
A massive hemothorax is a blood loss of more than 1,000 mL
What is a tension pneumothorax? - ANSWER✔✔-a life-threatening
complication of pneumothorax in which air continues to ENTER the
pleural space during iNSPIRATION but does NOT EXIT during
EXPIRATION
This leads to air collecting under pressure, completely collapsing the lung
and compressing blood vessels, which limits blood return.
This process leads to decreased filling of the heart and reduced cardiac
output .
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and Answers 100% Pass
What are the clinical manifestations of a pulmonary contusion? -
ANSWER✔✔-MAY BE ASYMPTOMATIC AT FIRST
decreased breath sounds or crackles and wheezes over the affected area
bruising over the injury
dry cough
tachycardia
tachypnea
dullness to percussion
bloody sputum
initial CXR normal--CXR with opacities after several days
*can lead to respiratory failure
Copyright ©EMILLYCHARLOTE 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Page 1/63
,What is the pathophysiology of a pulmonary contusion? - ANSWER✔✔-
occurs most often by rapid deceleration during car crashes
Hemorrhage and edema occur in and between the alveoli, reducing both
lung movement and the area available for gas exchange.
Localized inflammation can cause further damage.
The pt becomes hypoxemia and dyspneic (SOB).
What position should you place the pt in who has a pulmonary contusion?
- ANSWER✔✔-Place the pt in moderate-Fowler's position.
When side-lying, the "good lung down" position may be helpful.
What are rib fractures most often caused by? - ANSWER✔✔-direct blunt
trauma to the chest wall
(The force applied to the ribs fractures them and drives the bone ends into
the chest)
What is the pt at risk for with a rib fracture? - ANSWER✔✔-DEEP CHEST
INJURY (pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax)
What is flail chest? - ANSWER✔✔-Flail chest is the result of fractures of at
least 2 neighboring ribs in 2 or more places causing PARADOXICAL
CHEST WALL MOVEMENT (inward movement of the thorax during
inspiration, outward movement during expiration)
It usually involves one side of the chest and results from blunt chest
trauma.
Copyright ©EMILLYCHARLOTE 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Page 2/63
,What clinical manifestations are most often seen with a flail chest? -
ANSWER✔✔-paradoxical chest movement
SOB
cyanosis
tachycardia
hypOtension
pain
*work of breathing is increased from the paradoxical movement of the
involved segment of the chest wall
What interventions should you implement as the RN of a pt with flail
chest? - ANSWER✔✔-Monitor the pt's VS and F&E balance (to intervene if
shock or hypovolemia occurs)
If he/she has a lung contusion, provide O2 prn and give IV fluids as
prescribed
Assess for and relieve pain with prescribed analgesics
Provide psychosocial support
Copyright ©EMILLYCHARLOTE 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Page 3/63
, What is a pneumothorax? - ANSWER✔✔-air in the pleural space causing a
loss of negative pressure in the chest cavity, which can lead to a
COLLAPSED LUNG
most often caused by blunt trauma
The pneumothorax can be open or close.
Open= [pleural cavity is exposed to outside air, as through an open wound
in the chest wall
Closed= when a pt with COPD has a spontaneous pneumothorax
What is hemothorax? - ANSWER✔✔-bleeding into the chest cavity
A simple hemothorax is a blood loss of less than 1,000 mL into the chest
cavity
A massive hemothorax is a blood loss of more than 1,000 mL
What is a tension pneumothorax? - ANSWER✔✔-a life-threatening
complication of pneumothorax in which air continues to ENTER the
pleural space during iNSPIRATION but does NOT EXIT during
EXPIRATION
This leads to air collecting under pressure, completely collapsing the lung
and compressing blood vessels, which limits blood return.
This process leads to decreased filling of the heart and reduced cardiac
output .
Copyright ©EMILLYCHARLOTE 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Page 4/63
