NR569 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026
EDITION
How is sensitivity calculated? - ANS Sensitivity = TP (true positives) / (TP + FN) false negatives
How is specificity calculated? - ANS Specificity = TN (true negatives) / (TN + FP) false positives
What does sensitivity refer to in testing? - ANS The ability to correctly identify patients who
HAVE a disease.
What does specificity refer to in testing? - ANS The ability to recognize patients who DO NOT
have a disease.
What does 'SPIN and SNOUT' mean? - ANS SPIN = Specific test rule IN disease; SNOUT =
Sensitive test rule OUT.
What does the SNAPPS method stand for? - ANS S: Summarize, N: Narrow, A: Analyze, P:
Probe, P: Plan, S: Select.
What is the role of differential diagnosis? - ANS To distinguish between conditions that share
similar signs and symptoms.
1
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,What types of data are gathered for differential diagnosis? - ANS Subjective data (PMH) and
objective data (physical examination).
What are the components of the ventilatory pump? - ANS Peripheral nerves, muscles of
ventilation, supporting skeleton, pleura, and airways.
What do central chemoreceptors respond to? - ANS Alterations in PCO2 and pH.
Where are peripheral chemoreceptors located? - ANS In the aortic arch and carotid bodies.
What do mechanoreceptors detect? - ANS Alterations in pressure, flow, and volume of the
respiratory system.
What do irritant receptors do? - ANS Detect irritants in the lungs and stimulate breathing.
What is the purpose of the ventilatory pump? - ANS To move air from outside the body to the
alveoli.
What is the recommended resource for interviewing skills? - ANS Bates' guide to physical
examination and history taking.
What chapter covers diagnostic reasoning in the recommended resource? - ANS Chapter 8:
Diagnostic Reasoning and Decision Making.
What activates J receptors? - ANS Interstitial edema
What activates C-fibers? - ANS Inflammation and acute changes in pulmonary artery pressure
Where are metaboreceptors located? - ANS In skeletal muscle, activated by changes in
metabolic rate during exercise
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@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, What do chemoreceptors respond to? - ANS Hypoxemia, acute hypercapnia, and acidemia
What is a common cause of recurrent dyspnea in children? - ANS Asthma
What are associated symptoms of asthma? - ANS Cough, especially indicating asthmatic
bronchitis
What aggravates asthma symptoms? - ANS Allergens, exercise, noxious fumes, respiratory
tract infections, recumbency, exposure to cold, beta blockers
What are the physical findings in asthma? - ANS Bilateral wheezing, sibilant whistling sounds,
prolonged expiration
What diagnostic study results indicate asthma? - ANS Decreased PFR, decreased MVV,
increased TV, pre/post-bronchodilator evidence of reversible airway obstruction (>10%)
Who is at risk for pulmonary embolism? - ANS Women using birth control, post-operative
patients, those with long-term recumbency, phlebitis, and postpartum patients
What are the associated symptoms of pulmonary embolism? - ANS Pleuritic chest pain,
faintness, loss of consciousness, cough, hemoptysis, swollen painful legs
What physical findings are associated with pulmonary embolism? - ANS Tachypnea,
peripheral cyanosis, low blood pressure, rales, wheezing (usually on the side of emboli), pleural
friction with pulmonary infarction
What diagnostic studies are used for pulmonary embolism? - ANS CT angio, elevated d-dimer,
ventilation and perfusion studies, echo showing acute right ventricular strain
3
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026
EDITION
How is sensitivity calculated? - ANS Sensitivity = TP (true positives) / (TP + FN) false negatives
How is specificity calculated? - ANS Specificity = TN (true negatives) / (TN + FP) false positives
What does sensitivity refer to in testing? - ANS The ability to correctly identify patients who
HAVE a disease.
What does specificity refer to in testing? - ANS The ability to recognize patients who DO NOT
have a disease.
What does 'SPIN and SNOUT' mean? - ANS SPIN = Specific test rule IN disease; SNOUT =
Sensitive test rule OUT.
What does the SNAPPS method stand for? - ANS S: Summarize, N: Narrow, A: Analyze, P:
Probe, P: Plan, S: Select.
What is the role of differential diagnosis? - ANS To distinguish between conditions that share
similar signs and symptoms.
1
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,What types of data are gathered for differential diagnosis? - ANS Subjective data (PMH) and
objective data (physical examination).
What are the components of the ventilatory pump? - ANS Peripheral nerves, muscles of
ventilation, supporting skeleton, pleura, and airways.
What do central chemoreceptors respond to? - ANS Alterations in PCO2 and pH.
Where are peripheral chemoreceptors located? - ANS In the aortic arch and carotid bodies.
What do mechanoreceptors detect? - ANS Alterations in pressure, flow, and volume of the
respiratory system.
What do irritant receptors do? - ANS Detect irritants in the lungs and stimulate breathing.
What is the purpose of the ventilatory pump? - ANS To move air from outside the body to the
alveoli.
What is the recommended resource for interviewing skills? - ANS Bates' guide to physical
examination and history taking.
What chapter covers diagnostic reasoning in the recommended resource? - ANS Chapter 8:
Diagnostic Reasoning and Decision Making.
What activates J receptors? - ANS Interstitial edema
What activates C-fibers? - ANS Inflammation and acute changes in pulmonary artery pressure
Where are metaboreceptors located? - ANS In skeletal muscle, activated by changes in
metabolic rate during exercise
2
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, What do chemoreceptors respond to? - ANS Hypoxemia, acute hypercapnia, and acidemia
What is a common cause of recurrent dyspnea in children? - ANS Asthma
What are associated symptoms of asthma? - ANS Cough, especially indicating asthmatic
bronchitis
What aggravates asthma symptoms? - ANS Allergens, exercise, noxious fumes, respiratory
tract infections, recumbency, exposure to cold, beta blockers
What are the physical findings in asthma? - ANS Bilateral wheezing, sibilant whistling sounds,
prolonged expiration
What diagnostic study results indicate asthma? - ANS Decreased PFR, decreased MVV,
increased TV, pre/post-bronchodilator evidence of reversible airway obstruction (>10%)
Who is at risk for pulmonary embolism? - ANS Women using birth control, post-operative
patients, those with long-term recumbency, phlebitis, and postpartum patients
What are the associated symptoms of pulmonary embolism? - ANS Pleuritic chest pain,
faintness, loss of consciousness, cough, hemoptysis, swollen painful legs
What physical findings are associated with pulmonary embolism? - ANS Tachypnea,
peripheral cyanosis, low blood pressure, rales, wheezing (usually on the side of emboli), pleural
friction with pulmonary infarction
What diagnostic studies are used for pulmonary embolism? - ANS CT angio, elevated d-dimer,
ventilation and perfusion studies, echo showing acute right ventricular strain
3
@2026 EDITION ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
