NCLEX-RN Respiratory Disorders Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is assessing a client with asthma. Which assessment finding
indicates worsening bronchoconstriction?
A. Bradycardia
B. Wheezing during expiration
C. Increased appetite
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Answer: B. Wheezing during expiration
Rationale: Expiratory wheezing is a hallmark of airway narrowing caused by
bronchospasm. As bronchoconstriction worsens, wheezing becomes more
pronounced until airflow is severely limited.
2. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen therapy. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Maintain oxygen at 10 L/min continuously.
B. Encourage rapid, shallow breathing.
C. Monitor oxygen saturation and respiratory status.
D. Restrict fluid intake.
,Answer: C. Monitor oxygen saturation and respiratory status.
Rationale: Clients with COPD require close monitoring during oxygen therapy to
maintain adequate oxygenation while avoiding excessive oxygen administration
that may worsen carbon dioxide retention in susceptible patients.
3. Which finding is most characteristic of bacterial pneumonia?
A. Clear sputum
B. Productive cough with purulent sputum
C. Slow heart rate
D. Painless hematuria
Answer: B. Productive cough with purulent sputum
Rationale: Bacterial pneumonia commonly produces thick yellow, green, or rust-
colored sputum due to infection and inflammation within the alveoli.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with a spontaneous pneumothorax. Which
symptom requires immediate intervention?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Severe dyspnea with absent breath sounds on one side
C. Occasional cough
D. Low-grade fever
Answer: B. Severe dyspnea with absent breath sounds on one side
Rationale: Absent breath sounds and severe respiratory distress suggest
significant lung collapse requiring prompt treatment.
5. Which intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing an acute asthma
attack?
,A. Encourage strenuous exercise.
B. Administer cough suppressant.
C. Administer a prescribed short-acting bronchodilator.
D. Restrict fluids.
Answer: C. Administer a prescribed short-acting bronchodilator.
Rationale: Short-acting bronchodilators rapidly relax bronchial smooth muscle,
relieving bronchospasm during acute asthma exacerbations.
6. Which assessment finding is expected in emphysema?
A. Moist productive cough
B. Barrel-shaped chest
C. Bradycardia
D. Peripheral edema only
Answer: B. Barrel-shaped chest
Rationale: Chronic air trapping causes lung hyperinflation, resulting in the
characteristic barrel-shaped chest seen in emphysema.
7. Which arterial blood gas finding is consistent with respiratory acidosis?
A. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg
B. pH 7.45, PaCO₂ 40 mmHg
C. pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg
D. pH 7.50, HCO₃⁻ 35 mEq/L
Answer: C. pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg
Rationale: Respiratory acidosis occurs when elevated carbon dioxide lowers
blood pH due to inadequate ventilation.
, 8. A client with tuberculosis is admitted. Which isolation precaution is
appropriate?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Standard precautions only
D. Airborne precautions
Answer: D. Airborne precautions
Rationale: Tuberculosis spreads through airborne droplet nuclei and requires
airborne isolation in a negative-pressure room.
9. Which assessment finding suggests hypoxemia?
A. Warm flushed skin
B. Restlessness and confusion
C. Increased appetite
D. Polyuria
Answer: B. Restlessness and confusion
Rationale: Early signs of hypoxemia include restlessness, anxiety, and confusion
due to decreased oxygen delivery to the brain.
10.Which client is at greatest risk for pulmonary embolism?
A. Daily walker
B. Healthy teenager
C. Client recovering from hip replacement surgery
D. Client with seasonal allergies
Answer: C. Client recovering from hip replacement surgery
Rationale: Major orthopedic surgery significantly increases the risk for deep vein
thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is assessing a client with asthma. Which assessment finding
indicates worsening bronchoconstriction?
A. Bradycardia
B. Wheezing during expiration
C. Increased appetite
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Answer: B. Wheezing during expiration
Rationale: Expiratory wheezing is a hallmark of airway narrowing caused by
bronchospasm. As bronchoconstriction worsens, wheezing becomes more
pronounced until airflow is severely limited.
2. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen therapy. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Maintain oxygen at 10 L/min continuously.
B. Encourage rapid, shallow breathing.
C. Monitor oxygen saturation and respiratory status.
D. Restrict fluid intake.
,Answer: C. Monitor oxygen saturation and respiratory status.
Rationale: Clients with COPD require close monitoring during oxygen therapy to
maintain adequate oxygenation while avoiding excessive oxygen administration
that may worsen carbon dioxide retention in susceptible patients.
3. Which finding is most characteristic of bacterial pneumonia?
A. Clear sputum
B. Productive cough with purulent sputum
C. Slow heart rate
D. Painless hematuria
Answer: B. Productive cough with purulent sputum
Rationale: Bacterial pneumonia commonly produces thick yellow, green, or rust-
colored sputum due to infection and inflammation within the alveoli.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with a spontaneous pneumothorax. Which
symptom requires immediate intervention?
A. Mild fatigue
B. Severe dyspnea with absent breath sounds on one side
C. Occasional cough
D. Low-grade fever
Answer: B. Severe dyspnea with absent breath sounds on one side
Rationale: Absent breath sounds and severe respiratory distress suggest
significant lung collapse requiring prompt treatment.
5. Which intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing an acute asthma
attack?
,A. Encourage strenuous exercise.
B. Administer cough suppressant.
C. Administer a prescribed short-acting bronchodilator.
D. Restrict fluids.
Answer: C. Administer a prescribed short-acting bronchodilator.
Rationale: Short-acting bronchodilators rapidly relax bronchial smooth muscle,
relieving bronchospasm during acute asthma exacerbations.
6. Which assessment finding is expected in emphysema?
A. Moist productive cough
B. Barrel-shaped chest
C. Bradycardia
D. Peripheral edema only
Answer: B. Barrel-shaped chest
Rationale: Chronic air trapping causes lung hyperinflation, resulting in the
characteristic barrel-shaped chest seen in emphysema.
7. Which arterial blood gas finding is consistent with respiratory acidosis?
A. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg
B. pH 7.45, PaCO₂ 40 mmHg
C. pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg
D. pH 7.50, HCO₃⁻ 35 mEq/L
Answer: C. pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg
Rationale: Respiratory acidosis occurs when elevated carbon dioxide lowers
blood pH due to inadequate ventilation.
, 8. A client with tuberculosis is admitted. Which isolation precaution is
appropriate?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Standard precautions only
D. Airborne precautions
Answer: D. Airborne precautions
Rationale: Tuberculosis spreads through airborne droplet nuclei and requires
airborne isolation in a negative-pressure room.
9. Which assessment finding suggests hypoxemia?
A. Warm flushed skin
B. Restlessness and confusion
C. Increased appetite
D. Polyuria
Answer: B. Restlessness and confusion
Rationale: Early signs of hypoxemia include restlessness, anxiety, and confusion
due to decreased oxygen delivery to the brain.
10.Which client is at greatest risk for pulmonary embolism?
A. Daily walker
B. Healthy teenager
C. Client recovering from hip replacement surgery
D. Client with seasonal allergies
Answer: C. Client recovering from hip replacement surgery
Rationale: Major orthopedic surgery significantly increases the risk for deep vein
thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
