ATI Respiratory Learning System Med-Surg
Questions And Answers
A nurse is assessing a patient who has a chest tube in place following a thoracic surgery. Which of the
following findings indicates a need for intervention: - Correct Answer - 2. Continuous bubbling in the
water seal chamber.
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber suggests an air leak.
A nurse is caring for an elderly patient who suffers from COPD with pneumonia. The nurse should
monitor the patient for which of the following acid-base imbalances?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis - Correct Answer - 2. Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory acidosis is a common complication of COPD. This complication occurs because patients who
have COPD are unable to exhale carbon dioxide due to a loss of elastic recoil in the lungs.
Respiratory alkalosis - Correct Answer - hyperventilation
Occurs when pt exhales too much carbon dioxide
Metabolic alkalosis - Correct Answer - high pH, high HCO3
Pt has excessive amount of bicarbonate
Clients who use bicarbonate of soda as an antacid are at risk for the development of metabolic alkalosis.
Excessive vomiting also places a client at risk for development of metabolic alkalosis.
,A nurse is preparing to administer cisplatin IV to a patient with lung cancer. The nurse should identify
that which of the following findings is an adverse effect of this medication?
A. Hallucinations
B. Pruritus
C. Hand and foot syndrome
D. Tinnitus - Correct Answer - Tinnitis
An adverse effect of cisplatin is ototoxicity, which can cause tinnitis.
Hand and foot syndrome = adverse effect of capecitabine, an antineoplastic
- medication used to treat breast and colorectal cancer.
Pruritus is an adverse effect of methotrexate, which is used to treat cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
Hallucinations are an adverse effect of asparaginase, which is an antineoplastic medication used to treat
acute lymphocytic leukemi
A nurse is preparing to assist a provider to withdraw arterial blood from a patient's radial artery for
measurement of ABG. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
A. Hyperventilate the client with 100% oxygen prior to obtaining the specimen.
B. Apply ice to site after obtaining the specimen
C. Perform an Allen's test prior to obtaining the specimen
D. Release pressure applied to puncture site 1 min after needle is withdrawn - Correct Answer - 3.
Perform an Allen's test prior to obtaining the specimen.
The nurse should ensure that circulation to the hand is adequate from the ulnar artery in case the radial
artery is injured from the blood draw. The most common site for withdrawal of arterial blood gases is
the radial artery.
, The nurse should apply pressure to the puncture site for 5 to 10 min after the needle is withdrawn. High
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
pressure of the blood in the arteries places the client at risk for hemorrhage from the withdrawal site.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
The nurse should use ice to preserve the arterial blood gas specimen during transport to the laboratory. If
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the sample is not placed on ice, the pH and PO2 values can be inaccurate. It is not necessary to place ice
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
on the withdrawal site.
v v v v
The nurse should not administer oxygen prior to the blood draw, because the test measures the client's
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
arterial blood gases when breathing room air.
v v v v v v v
A nurse is providing instructions about pursed-lip breathing for a patient who has COPD with emphysema.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
The nurse should explain that this breathing technique accomplishes which of the following:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Increases oxygen intake
v v v v
B. Promotes carbon dioxide elimination
v v v v
C. Uses the intercostal muscles
v v v v v
D. Strengthens the diaphragm - Correct Answer - B. Promotes carbon dioxide elimination
v v v v v v v v v v v v
The client who has COPD with emphysema should use pursed-lip breathing when experiencing dyspnea.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
This is one of the simplest ways to control dyspnea. It slows the client's pace of breathing, making each
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
breath more effective. Pursed-lip breathing releases trapped air in the lungs and prolongs exhalation to
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
slow the breathing rate. This improved breathing pattern moves carbon dioxide out of the lungs more
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
efficiently.
v
Pursed lip breathing - Correct Answer - The client who uses pursed-lip breathing breathes in through the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
nares and out through pursed lips, rather than concentrating on using chest-wall muscles.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
- uses the intercostal muscles
v v v v v
- Strengthens the diaphragm
v v v v
- Prolongs exhalation
v v
A nurse is preparing a patient for a thoracentesis. In which of the following positions should the nurse
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
place the patient:
v v v
A. lying flat on affected side
v v v v v
B. Prone with arms raised over head
v v v v v v
C. Supine with HOB elevated
v v v v v
Questions And Answers
A nurse is assessing a patient who has a chest tube in place following a thoracic surgery. Which of the
following findings indicates a need for intervention: - Correct Answer - 2. Continuous bubbling in the
water seal chamber.
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber suggests an air leak.
A nurse is caring for an elderly patient who suffers from COPD with pneumonia. The nurse should
monitor the patient for which of the following acid-base imbalances?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis - Correct Answer - 2. Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory acidosis is a common complication of COPD. This complication occurs because patients who
have COPD are unable to exhale carbon dioxide due to a loss of elastic recoil in the lungs.
Respiratory alkalosis - Correct Answer - hyperventilation
Occurs when pt exhales too much carbon dioxide
Metabolic alkalosis - Correct Answer - high pH, high HCO3
Pt has excessive amount of bicarbonate
Clients who use bicarbonate of soda as an antacid are at risk for the development of metabolic alkalosis.
Excessive vomiting also places a client at risk for development of metabolic alkalosis.
,A nurse is preparing to administer cisplatin IV to a patient with lung cancer. The nurse should identify
that which of the following findings is an adverse effect of this medication?
A. Hallucinations
B. Pruritus
C. Hand and foot syndrome
D. Tinnitus - Correct Answer - Tinnitis
An adverse effect of cisplatin is ototoxicity, which can cause tinnitis.
Hand and foot syndrome = adverse effect of capecitabine, an antineoplastic
- medication used to treat breast and colorectal cancer.
Pruritus is an adverse effect of methotrexate, which is used to treat cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
Hallucinations are an adverse effect of asparaginase, which is an antineoplastic medication used to treat
acute lymphocytic leukemi
A nurse is preparing to assist a provider to withdraw arterial blood from a patient's radial artery for
measurement of ABG. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
A. Hyperventilate the client with 100% oxygen prior to obtaining the specimen.
B. Apply ice to site after obtaining the specimen
C. Perform an Allen's test prior to obtaining the specimen
D. Release pressure applied to puncture site 1 min after needle is withdrawn - Correct Answer - 3.
Perform an Allen's test prior to obtaining the specimen.
The nurse should ensure that circulation to the hand is adequate from the ulnar artery in case the radial
artery is injured from the blood draw. The most common site for withdrawal of arterial blood gases is
the radial artery.
, The nurse should apply pressure to the puncture site for 5 to 10 min after the needle is withdrawn. High
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
pressure of the blood in the arteries places the client at risk for hemorrhage from the withdrawal site.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
The nurse should use ice to preserve the arterial blood gas specimen during transport to the laboratory. If
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
the sample is not placed on ice, the pH and PO2 values can be inaccurate. It is not necessary to place ice
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
on the withdrawal site.
v v v v
The nurse should not administer oxygen prior to the blood draw, because the test measures the client's
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
arterial blood gases when breathing room air.
v v v v v v v
A nurse is providing instructions about pursed-lip breathing for a patient who has COPD with emphysema.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
The nurse should explain that this breathing technique accomplishes which of the following:
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
A. Increases oxygen intake
v v v v
B. Promotes carbon dioxide elimination
v v v v
C. Uses the intercostal muscles
v v v v v
D. Strengthens the diaphragm - Correct Answer - B. Promotes carbon dioxide elimination
v v v v v v v v v v v v
The client who has COPD with emphysema should use pursed-lip breathing when experiencing dyspnea.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
This is one of the simplest ways to control dyspnea. It slows the client's pace of breathing, making each
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
breath more effective. Pursed-lip breathing releases trapped air in the lungs and prolongs exhalation to
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
slow the breathing rate. This improved breathing pattern moves carbon dioxide out of the lungs more
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
efficiently.
v
Pursed lip breathing - Correct Answer - The client who uses pursed-lip breathing breathes in through the
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
nares and out through pursed lips, rather than concentrating on using chest-wall muscles.
v v v v v v v v v v v v v
- uses the intercostal muscles
v v v v v
- Strengthens the diaphragm
v v v v
- Prolongs exhalation
v v
A nurse is preparing a patient for a thoracentesis. In which of the following positions should the nurse
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
place the patient:
v v v
A. lying flat on affected side
v v v v v
B. Prone with arms raised over head
v v v v v v
C. Supine with HOB elevated
v v v v v
