IGNATAVICIUS ASSESSMENT OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
CHAPTER 27 STUDY GUIDE // A+ GRADED PRESENTATION //
RESPIRATORY ANATOMY PHYSIOLOGY DIAGNOSTIC
ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES AND CLINICAL CARE
PRINCIPLES FOR STUDENT MASTERY // ACADEMIC YEAR
2025/2026
A nurse obtains the health history of a client who is recently diagnosed with
lung cancer and identifies that the client has a 60-pack-year smoking
history. Which action is most important for the nurse to take when
interviewing this client?
a. Tell the client that he needs to quit smoking to stop further cancer
development.
b. Encourage the client to be completely honest about both tobacco and
marijuana use.
c. Maintain a nonjudgmental attitude to avoid causing the client to feel
guilty.
d. Avoid giving the client false hope regarding cancer treatment and
prognosis. - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: C
Smoking history includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco,
marijuana, and other controlled substances. Because the client may have
guilt or denial about this habit, assume a nonjudgmental attitude during the
interview. This will encourage the client to be honest about the exposure.
Ask the client whether any of these substances are used now or were used
in the past. Assess whether the client has passive exposure to smoke in
the home or workplace. If the client smokes, ask for how long, how many
packs per day, and whether he or she has quit smoking (and how long
ago). Document the smoking history in pack-years (number of packs
smoked daily multiplied by the number of years the client has smoked).
Quitting smoking may not stop further cancer development. This statement
, would be giving the client false hope, which should be avoided, but is not
as important as maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude.
A nurse assesses a client after an open lung biopsy. Which assessment
finding is matched with the correct intervention?
a. Client states he is dizzy. - Nurse applies oxygen and pulse oximetry.
b. Client's heart rate is 55 beats/min. - Nurse withholds pain medication.
c. Client has reduced breath sounds. - Nurse calls physician immediately.
d. Client's respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min. - Nurse decreases oxygen
flow rate. - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: C
A potentially serious complication after biopsy is pneumothorax, which is
indicated by decreased or absent breath sounds. The physician needs to
be notified immediately. Dizziness after the procedure is not an expected
finding. If the client's heart rate is 55 beats/min, no reason is known to
withhold pain medication. A respiratory rate of 18 breaths/min is a normal
finding and would not warrant changing the oxygen flow rate.
The normal chest has a lateral diameter that is twice as large as the AP
diameter. When the AP diameter approaches or exceeds the lateral
diameter, the client is said to have a barrel chest. Most commonly, barrel
chest occurs as a result of a long-term chronic airflow limitation problem,
such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or severe chronic asthma. It
can also be seen in people who have lived at a high altitude for many
years. Therefore, an AP chest diameter that is the same as the lateral chest
diameter should be rechecked but is not as indicative of underlying disease
processes as an AP diameter that exceeds the lateral diameter.
Medications, herbal supplements, and aerobic exercise are not associated
with a barrel chest. Although occupation and hobbies may expose a client
to irritants that can cause chronic lung disorders and barrel chest, asking
about chronic breathing problems is more direct and should be asked first.
CHAPTER 27 STUDY GUIDE // A+ GRADED PRESENTATION //
RESPIRATORY ANATOMY PHYSIOLOGY DIAGNOSTIC
ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES AND CLINICAL CARE
PRINCIPLES FOR STUDENT MASTERY // ACADEMIC YEAR
2025/2026
A nurse obtains the health history of a client who is recently diagnosed with
lung cancer and identifies that the client has a 60-pack-year smoking
history. Which action is most important for the nurse to take when
interviewing this client?
a. Tell the client that he needs to quit smoking to stop further cancer
development.
b. Encourage the client to be completely honest about both tobacco and
marijuana use.
c. Maintain a nonjudgmental attitude to avoid causing the client to feel
guilty.
d. Avoid giving the client false hope regarding cancer treatment and
prognosis. - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: C
Smoking history includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco,
marijuana, and other controlled substances. Because the client may have
guilt or denial about this habit, assume a nonjudgmental attitude during the
interview. This will encourage the client to be honest about the exposure.
Ask the client whether any of these substances are used now or were used
in the past. Assess whether the client has passive exposure to smoke in
the home or workplace. If the client smokes, ask for how long, how many
packs per day, and whether he or she has quit smoking (and how long
ago). Document the smoking history in pack-years (number of packs
smoked daily multiplied by the number of years the client has smoked).
Quitting smoking may not stop further cancer development. This statement
, would be giving the client false hope, which should be avoided, but is not
as important as maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude.
A nurse assesses a client after an open lung biopsy. Which assessment
finding is matched with the correct intervention?
a. Client states he is dizzy. - Nurse applies oxygen and pulse oximetry.
b. Client's heart rate is 55 beats/min. - Nurse withholds pain medication.
c. Client has reduced breath sounds. - Nurse calls physician immediately.
d. Client's respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min. - Nurse decreases oxygen
flow rate. - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: C
A potentially serious complication after biopsy is pneumothorax, which is
indicated by decreased or absent breath sounds. The physician needs to
be notified immediately. Dizziness after the procedure is not an expected
finding. If the client's heart rate is 55 beats/min, no reason is known to
withhold pain medication. A respiratory rate of 18 breaths/min is a normal
finding and would not warrant changing the oxygen flow rate.
The normal chest has a lateral diameter that is twice as large as the AP
diameter. When the AP diameter approaches or exceeds the lateral
diameter, the client is said to have a barrel chest. Most commonly, barrel
chest occurs as a result of a long-term chronic airflow limitation problem,
such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or severe chronic asthma. It
can also be seen in people who have lived at a high altitude for many
years. Therefore, an AP chest diameter that is the same as the lateral chest
diameter should be rechecked but is not as indicative of underlying disease
processes as an AP diameter that exceeds the lateral diameter.
Medications, herbal supplements, and aerobic exercise are not associated
with a barrel chest. Although occupation and hobbies may expose a client
to irritants that can cause chronic lung disorders and barrel chest, asking
about chronic breathing problems is more direct and should be asked first.
