NSG 1600 | Exam #4 | Week 9 | Gas
Exchange/Respiratory Test Questions
100% Well Answered 2025-2026
Updated.
Types of asthma? - Answer 1.) IGE -> allergies that caused asthma
2.) Exercise induced asthma
3.) Irritants -> Like smoking, pollen, pet hair/fur
Types of COPD? - Answer Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis -> "Umbrella of COPD"
Is COPD reversible or irreversible/nonreversible? - Answer Irreversible/Nonreversible
Vulnerable populations: Respiratory - Answer - Old -> decrease muscle tone, naturally have
that decline. Though it is normal to have decline
it shouldn't be impacting your lungs significantly. (Though this population may be
more vulnerable because things have slowed down and they don't have same muscle function,
they should still be able to breathe within a normal range. They should still have a normal
respiratory status.)
- Very young -> premature infants because don't have enough surfactant in their lungs. Lungs
are not
fully developed.
COPD isn't a natural occurrence due to age.
Risk Factors: Respiratory - Answer - Immunosuppression
- Asthmatic -> especially uncontrolled, will put a person at greater risk for developing
COPD. This is typically reversible when its controlled, but not when its uncontrolled and
irreversible damage starts to occur then it starts to roll into COPD.
- Chronic disease
- Prolonged immobility -> bed rest (not coughing, no deep breathing not using lungs) ("lungs are
resting too much")
Ex. Patient has a bilateral hip replacement and they are noncompliant with getting up, moving
and doing exercises—this person can end up with respiratory illness because they aren't
,- Smoking
Is COPD irreversible or reversible? - Answer COPD is really considered irreversible damage—
When we have patients that are diagnosed with COPD, our goals are to prevent them from
declining further. Damage in COPD can't be reversed, we can only help them maintain their
current optimal function.
What is the number one and most preventable cause of COPD? - Answer Smoking!!!
Info about COPD to take into consideration. - Answer Many patients don't even realize that
they have COPD. You can be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis if you have a cough that occurs
throughout most of the year. If you have chronic bronchitis, this IS COPD—it falls under that
COPD umbrella. Patients may think they only have chronic bronchitis, but actually that IS COPD.
Health Disparities: Leading to Respiratory Problems - Answer - Socioeconomic status -> this is
also linked to increased smoking; low socioeconomic
status is often linked to increased rates of smoking—may be an attempt to reduce the
high stress by "medicating" with cigarettes.
- Environmental hazard/Where might people live that would put them at greater risk for
respiratory problems? ->
o Inner city due to lots of smog, factories, smoke pollution (stress reducer), and air pollutants
o Condensed populations
- Mental Health
- Occupation Hazards -> (working in a factory having exposure leading to respiratory issues)
- Smoking -> race and ethnicity. Smoking is highest among Native Americans and
Canadian First Nations people.
- People living below the poverty level have greater prevalence of smoking. (Smoking = stress
reliever)
Community Health Nurse (working for a county or health department) - Answer Trying to find
ways to cure respiratory issues in an area with a high COPD rate of respiratory issues.
Respiratory Assessment "Going into a patient's room who has COPD what are we assessing
first?" or "You enter a patient's room who has come in for COPD, what will our respiratory
assessment look like?" - Answer - Airway
, - Mucus membranes
- How they are breathing -> pursed lips and in tripod position = likely a COPD patient with.
chronic issues
- Vitals
- Goal O2 stat for COPD patients are 90% and above
- Inspect chest/thorax -> barrel chest (asthmatic or COPD) "1-1.5 or even 2-2.5"
- Fingernails -> clubbing
- Inspect posture -> tripod position
What would our goal O2 sat be for our patient with COPD? - Answer 90% and above is the
goal. We don't want them at 88 or 89. The golden number we want is 90 and above at Sinclair
Memorial.
If a patient has come in with a COPD exacerbation and they are at 90 and breathing at their
normal baseline are they a priority patient? but what if they're at 89? - Answer they aren't a
priority for me to get into their room first
If a patient has come in with a COPD exacerbation and is at 89 are they a priority patient? What
happens to COPD patients when they are not getting enough oxygen? - Answer YES! The
patient will begin to get anxious so the 02 will keep decreasing then they will become a priority
because the anxiety will affect their respiratory drive. So at 89 or 90 with anxiety -> they
become a priority!!
You have a COPD patient who is at 88 or 89% O2, tripod, pursed lips—What is our first
intervention at bedside? - Answer Put on oxygen. How much oxygen do we use? We take a
conservative approach with our COPD patients because if you go too high on the O2 it will
deplete their respiratory drive. So, we only want 1-2 liters of oxygen. Too high will eliminate
their respiratory drive. Using low flow oxygen is the best thing we can do while we contact
provider to explain what's going on. This is that first thing we can do that's least invasive
because this is already close to their baseline (considering their baseline is around 90 anyway).
It's too difficult to maintain that 90 plus level for someone with COPD compared to someone
without any respiratory issues.
New COPDer vs COPDer in hopsital - Answer The newly diagnosed COPDer they may be able
to maintain a higher O2 sat. With COPDer in the hospital--they are having an exacerbation, so
we just want to maintain 90 and above—we just set things a little lower for them because we
know they're compromised.
Exchange/Respiratory Test Questions
100% Well Answered 2025-2026
Updated.
Types of asthma? - Answer 1.) IGE -> allergies that caused asthma
2.) Exercise induced asthma
3.) Irritants -> Like smoking, pollen, pet hair/fur
Types of COPD? - Answer Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis -> "Umbrella of COPD"
Is COPD reversible or irreversible/nonreversible? - Answer Irreversible/Nonreversible
Vulnerable populations: Respiratory - Answer - Old -> decrease muscle tone, naturally have
that decline. Though it is normal to have decline
it shouldn't be impacting your lungs significantly. (Though this population may be
more vulnerable because things have slowed down and they don't have same muscle function,
they should still be able to breathe within a normal range. They should still have a normal
respiratory status.)
- Very young -> premature infants because don't have enough surfactant in their lungs. Lungs
are not
fully developed.
COPD isn't a natural occurrence due to age.
Risk Factors: Respiratory - Answer - Immunosuppression
- Asthmatic -> especially uncontrolled, will put a person at greater risk for developing
COPD. This is typically reversible when its controlled, but not when its uncontrolled and
irreversible damage starts to occur then it starts to roll into COPD.
- Chronic disease
- Prolonged immobility -> bed rest (not coughing, no deep breathing not using lungs) ("lungs are
resting too much")
Ex. Patient has a bilateral hip replacement and they are noncompliant with getting up, moving
and doing exercises—this person can end up with respiratory illness because they aren't
,- Smoking
Is COPD irreversible or reversible? - Answer COPD is really considered irreversible damage—
When we have patients that are diagnosed with COPD, our goals are to prevent them from
declining further. Damage in COPD can't be reversed, we can only help them maintain their
current optimal function.
What is the number one and most preventable cause of COPD? - Answer Smoking!!!
Info about COPD to take into consideration. - Answer Many patients don't even realize that
they have COPD. You can be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis if you have a cough that occurs
throughout most of the year. If you have chronic bronchitis, this IS COPD—it falls under that
COPD umbrella. Patients may think they only have chronic bronchitis, but actually that IS COPD.
Health Disparities: Leading to Respiratory Problems - Answer - Socioeconomic status -> this is
also linked to increased smoking; low socioeconomic
status is often linked to increased rates of smoking—may be an attempt to reduce the
high stress by "medicating" with cigarettes.
- Environmental hazard/Where might people live that would put them at greater risk for
respiratory problems? ->
o Inner city due to lots of smog, factories, smoke pollution (stress reducer), and air pollutants
o Condensed populations
- Mental Health
- Occupation Hazards -> (working in a factory having exposure leading to respiratory issues)
- Smoking -> race and ethnicity. Smoking is highest among Native Americans and
Canadian First Nations people.
- People living below the poverty level have greater prevalence of smoking. (Smoking = stress
reliever)
Community Health Nurse (working for a county or health department) - Answer Trying to find
ways to cure respiratory issues in an area with a high COPD rate of respiratory issues.
Respiratory Assessment "Going into a patient's room who has COPD what are we assessing
first?" or "You enter a patient's room who has come in for COPD, what will our respiratory
assessment look like?" - Answer - Airway
, - Mucus membranes
- How they are breathing -> pursed lips and in tripod position = likely a COPD patient with.
chronic issues
- Vitals
- Goal O2 stat for COPD patients are 90% and above
- Inspect chest/thorax -> barrel chest (asthmatic or COPD) "1-1.5 or even 2-2.5"
- Fingernails -> clubbing
- Inspect posture -> tripod position
What would our goal O2 sat be for our patient with COPD? - Answer 90% and above is the
goal. We don't want them at 88 or 89. The golden number we want is 90 and above at Sinclair
Memorial.
If a patient has come in with a COPD exacerbation and they are at 90 and breathing at their
normal baseline are they a priority patient? but what if they're at 89? - Answer they aren't a
priority for me to get into their room first
If a patient has come in with a COPD exacerbation and is at 89 are they a priority patient? What
happens to COPD patients when they are not getting enough oxygen? - Answer YES! The
patient will begin to get anxious so the 02 will keep decreasing then they will become a priority
because the anxiety will affect their respiratory drive. So at 89 or 90 with anxiety -> they
become a priority!!
You have a COPD patient who is at 88 or 89% O2, tripod, pursed lips—What is our first
intervention at bedside? - Answer Put on oxygen. How much oxygen do we use? We take a
conservative approach with our COPD patients because if you go too high on the O2 it will
deplete their respiratory drive. So, we only want 1-2 liters of oxygen. Too high will eliminate
their respiratory drive. Using low flow oxygen is the best thing we can do while we contact
provider to explain what's going on. This is that first thing we can do that's least invasive
because this is already close to their baseline (considering their baseline is around 90 anyway).
It's too difficult to maintain that 90 plus level for someone with COPD compared to someone
without any respiratory issues.
New COPDer vs COPDer in hopsital - Answer The newly diagnosed COPDer they may be able
to maintain a higher O2 sat. With COPDer in the hospital--they are having an exacerbation, so
we just want to maintain 90 and above—we just set things a little lower for them because we
know they're compromised.
