CLINICAL 1 FINAL EXAM REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Which of the following techniques is not useful in measuring the respiratory rate in
patients who are spontaneously breathing and alert? - ANSWER-Ask the patient to
breathe normally.
The diastolic blood pressure is a reflection of: - ANSWER-the pressure exerted during
left ventricular relaxation.
Which of the following is not true about pulse pressure? - ANSWER-It is calculated from
the 12-lead electrocardiographic printout.
Which of the following organs is not at risk for disease in the presence of systemic
hypertension? - ANSWER-Pancreas
Which of the following is not a cause of hypotension? - ANSWER-Right heart failure
When the blood pressure is measured, the sounds that are heard through the
stethoscope between the systolic and diastolic pressures are known as _____ sounds. -
ANSWER-Korotkoff
What is the most probable cause for the significant decrease in blood pressure that
occurs during inhalation in some patients? - ANSWER-Negative intrathoracic pressure
that diminishes blood flow out of the left ventricle
Which of the following conditions is not associated with the presence of pulsus
paradoxus? - ANSWER-Hypervolemia
A 42-year-old male patient with a history of poorly controlled asthma is seen in the
emergency department by the respiratory therapist (RT). The patient is seated in a chair
and clearly is in extreme respiratory distress, with inspiratory and expiratory wheezing
throughout. He reports that he has had a fever for the past 2 days and has eaten and
drunk very little. He also reports some chest pain, and his blood pressure is 95/55 mm
Hg. At one point, the patient stands to move from the chair to the stretcher and has an
episode of syncope. The differential diagnosis for this patient should include all of the
following except: - ANSWER-Cerebrovascular accident (CVA; stroke).
An RT attempts to take the blood pressure of the patient in question 42. The RT notes
that the pulse intensity determined from palpation of the radial artery decreases during
inspiration. The most likely explanation for this would be: - ANSWER-an acute asthma
exacerbation
,An RT is called to the emergency department on New Year's Eve to assist in the
treatment of a 5-year-old child pulled from under the ice of a local pond. When the child
arrives, he has been intubated and has a weak, irregularly irregular pulse of 55
beats/min, no spontaneous respiratory effort, and a body temperature of 30o C. The
normal practice in this hospital is to use heat-moisture exchangers (HMEs) for all
mechanically ventilated patients. Which of the following should the therapist suggest for
the ventilator setup? - ANSWER-Heated humidity in place of the HME
An RT has just finished administering an aerosol treatment by a small-volume nebulizer
to a patient who has a serious case of pneumonia. For the past 24 hours, the patient
has had a fever of 39 to 40o C. Just as the therapist is finishing, a nursing aide comes
in to record the vital signs. She uses an electronic thermometer to record an oral
temperature of 36.5o C and comments to the patient, "Well, Mr. Jones, you must be
getting better because your fever is completely gone." The therapist should: -
ANSWER-go to the nursing aide after she leaves the room and tell her that the
temperature she recorded is probably not accurate and should be repeated.
An RT is taking the blood pressure in the arm of a 12-year-old girl. The only
sphygmomanometer available has a cuff in which the ends overlap slightly when it is
inflated. The pressure that the RT records: - ANSWER-should be accurate if the
measurement is otherwise done properly.
What structure in the body is responsible for regulating the body temperature? -
ANSWER-hypothalamus
What is the most common cause of hypothermia? - ANSWER-exposure to cold
temperatures
Which of the following sites is closest to core body temperature? - ANSWER-rectal
Which of the following is least likely to cause tachycardia? - ANSWER-hypothermia
What two factors determine cardiac output? - ANSWER-stroke volume and heart rate
Which of the following is a common cause of pulsus paradoxus? - ANSWER-acute
asthma attack
Which of the following is NOT a common cause of tachypnea? - ANSWER-narcotic
overdose
What is the normal range for systolic blood pressure in the adult patient? - ANSWER-
90-140 mmHg
What is the normal range for diastolic blood pressure in the adult patient? - ANSWER-
60-90 mm Hg
, What is the normal range for pulse pressure? - ANSWER-30- 40 mm Hg
Which of the following is a TRUE statement about the cause of systemic hypertension in
adult patients? - ANSWER-cause is often unknown
Which of the following is NOT a cause of hypotension? - ANSWER-mild tachycardia
What artery is most often used to assess arterial blood pressure? - ANSWER-brachial
Why should the respiratory therapist perform a blood pressure assessment fairly
quickly? - ANSWER-The procedure cuts off blood flow to the forearm temporarily.
Which of the following is/are advantages of the digital blood pressure measurement
devices? - ANSWER-reduce the risk of human error
What is indicated by the presence of central cyanosis? - ANSWER-respiratory failure
What is the advantage of COPD patients breathing through pursed-lips during
exhalation? - ANSWER-promotes more complete emptying of the lungs
Which of the following may cause the trachea to shift to the right? - ANSWER-right
upper lobe atelectasis
What is the most common cause of jugular venous distention (JVD)? - ANSWER-right-
sided heart failure
Which of the following is the least likely cause of lymphadenopathy in the neck? -
ANSWER-congestive heart failure
Physiologic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy include all of the following
except: - ANSWER-systemic vasodilation
Which of the following conditions can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy?
I. Carbon monoxide poisoning
II. Septic shock
III. Air embolism
IV. Clostridial gangrene - ANSWER-I, III, and IV
What is the most common complication of hyperbaric oxygen therapy? - ANSWER-Ear
or sinus barotrauma
Which of the following is not classified as a classic vital sign? - ANSWER-Sensorium
How often should vital signs be recorded in a patient who is hospitalized but is not in
intensive care? - ANSWER-Every 4 to 6 hours
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Which of the following techniques is not useful in measuring the respiratory rate in
patients who are spontaneously breathing and alert? - ANSWER-Ask the patient to
breathe normally.
The diastolic blood pressure is a reflection of: - ANSWER-the pressure exerted during
left ventricular relaxation.
Which of the following is not true about pulse pressure? - ANSWER-It is calculated from
the 12-lead electrocardiographic printout.
Which of the following organs is not at risk for disease in the presence of systemic
hypertension? - ANSWER-Pancreas
Which of the following is not a cause of hypotension? - ANSWER-Right heart failure
When the blood pressure is measured, the sounds that are heard through the
stethoscope between the systolic and diastolic pressures are known as _____ sounds. -
ANSWER-Korotkoff
What is the most probable cause for the significant decrease in blood pressure that
occurs during inhalation in some patients? - ANSWER-Negative intrathoracic pressure
that diminishes blood flow out of the left ventricle
Which of the following conditions is not associated with the presence of pulsus
paradoxus? - ANSWER-Hypervolemia
A 42-year-old male patient with a history of poorly controlled asthma is seen in the
emergency department by the respiratory therapist (RT). The patient is seated in a chair
and clearly is in extreme respiratory distress, with inspiratory and expiratory wheezing
throughout. He reports that he has had a fever for the past 2 days and has eaten and
drunk very little. He also reports some chest pain, and his blood pressure is 95/55 mm
Hg. At one point, the patient stands to move from the chair to the stretcher and has an
episode of syncope. The differential diagnosis for this patient should include all of the
following except: - ANSWER-Cerebrovascular accident (CVA; stroke).
An RT attempts to take the blood pressure of the patient in question 42. The RT notes
that the pulse intensity determined from palpation of the radial artery decreases during
inspiration. The most likely explanation for this would be: - ANSWER-an acute asthma
exacerbation
,An RT is called to the emergency department on New Year's Eve to assist in the
treatment of a 5-year-old child pulled from under the ice of a local pond. When the child
arrives, he has been intubated and has a weak, irregularly irregular pulse of 55
beats/min, no spontaneous respiratory effort, and a body temperature of 30o C. The
normal practice in this hospital is to use heat-moisture exchangers (HMEs) for all
mechanically ventilated patients. Which of the following should the therapist suggest for
the ventilator setup? - ANSWER-Heated humidity in place of the HME
An RT has just finished administering an aerosol treatment by a small-volume nebulizer
to a patient who has a serious case of pneumonia. For the past 24 hours, the patient
has had a fever of 39 to 40o C. Just as the therapist is finishing, a nursing aide comes
in to record the vital signs. She uses an electronic thermometer to record an oral
temperature of 36.5o C and comments to the patient, "Well, Mr. Jones, you must be
getting better because your fever is completely gone." The therapist should: -
ANSWER-go to the nursing aide after she leaves the room and tell her that the
temperature she recorded is probably not accurate and should be repeated.
An RT is taking the blood pressure in the arm of a 12-year-old girl. The only
sphygmomanometer available has a cuff in which the ends overlap slightly when it is
inflated. The pressure that the RT records: - ANSWER-should be accurate if the
measurement is otherwise done properly.
What structure in the body is responsible for regulating the body temperature? -
ANSWER-hypothalamus
What is the most common cause of hypothermia? - ANSWER-exposure to cold
temperatures
Which of the following sites is closest to core body temperature? - ANSWER-rectal
Which of the following is least likely to cause tachycardia? - ANSWER-hypothermia
What two factors determine cardiac output? - ANSWER-stroke volume and heart rate
Which of the following is a common cause of pulsus paradoxus? - ANSWER-acute
asthma attack
Which of the following is NOT a common cause of tachypnea? - ANSWER-narcotic
overdose
What is the normal range for systolic blood pressure in the adult patient? - ANSWER-
90-140 mmHg
What is the normal range for diastolic blood pressure in the adult patient? - ANSWER-
60-90 mm Hg
, What is the normal range for pulse pressure? - ANSWER-30- 40 mm Hg
Which of the following is a TRUE statement about the cause of systemic hypertension in
adult patients? - ANSWER-cause is often unknown
Which of the following is NOT a cause of hypotension? - ANSWER-mild tachycardia
What artery is most often used to assess arterial blood pressure? - ANSWER-brachial
Why should the respiratory therapist perform a blood pressure assessment fairly
quickly? - ANSWER-The procedure cuts off blood flow to the forearm temporarily.
Which of the following is/are advantages of the digital blood pressure measurement
devices? - ANSWER-reduce the risk of human error
What is indicated by the presence of central cyanosis? - ANSWER-respiratory failure
What is the advantage of COPD patients breathing through pursed-lips during
exhalation? - ANSWER-promotes more complete emptying of the lungs
Which of the following may cause the trachea to shift to the right? - ANSWER-right
upper lobe atelectasis
What is the most common cause of jugular venous distention (JVD)? - ANSWER-right-
sided heart failure
Which of the following is the least likely cause of lymphadenopathy in the neck? -
ANSWER-congestive heart failure
Physiologic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy include all of the following
except: - ANSWER-systemic vasodilation
Which of the following conditions can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy?
I. Carbon monoxide poisoning
II. Septic shock
III. Air embolism
IV. Clostridial gangrene - ANSWER-I, III, and IV
What is the most common complication of hyperbaric oxygen therapy? - ANSWER-Ear
or sinus barotrauma
Which of the following is not classified as a classic vital sign? - ANSWER-Sensorium
How often should vital signs be recorded in a patient who is hospitalized but is not in
intensive care? - ANSWER-Every 4 to 6 hours
