NUR504 EXAM 2 | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
What is pulmonary edema? - ANS ✔✔Fluid buildup in the alveoli in the lungs and causes edema
What is pleural effusion? - ANS ✔✔Accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity
What is included in the upper respiratory system? - ANS ✔✔Nares, sinuses, turbinates, pharynx and
larynx
What is included in the lower respiratory system? - ANS ✔✔Trachea, bronchi/bronchioles, and
alveoli/alveolar ducts
Describe the air pathway in the body - ANS ✔✔Air enters upper airway->alveoli->alveolar capillaries->
pulmonary vein-> L side of heart-> body tissues
Describe the oxygenation dissociation curve - ANS ✔✔Determines the amount of oxygen released from
Hgb
Left shift- Tissues need less O2
Right shift- Release of O2 quickly to tissues
Bronchial lung sounds - ANS ✔✔I<E
Bronchvesicular breath sounds - ANS ✔✔I=E
vesicular lung sounds - ANS ✔✔I>E
What are some s/s of pleural effusion? - ANS ✔✔Dyspnea, tachypnea, decreased O2, tachy, pain, CP,
cough, orthopnea
Also increased risk for infection
What is used to diagnose pleural effusion? - ANS ✔✔CXR, CT scan, US of chest
What is the treatment for pleural effusion? - ANS ✔✔Depends on underlying cause
-Thoracentesis, chest tubes
What are the 2 types of pleural effusions? - ANS ✔✔1. Transudative- fluid filters across intact capillaries
2. Exudative- extravasation (pus)--usually includes an empyema
What is an empyema? - ANS ✔✔Pus in the pleural space (pleural effusion)
-Caused by bacteria (pneumonia), tumor, drug use, surgery/trauma
True or False: Pulmonary edema is a life-threatening event. - ANS ✔✔True
What are some causes for pulm edema? - ANS ✔✔Heart failure, MI, mitral valve dz
, What are some s/s of pulmonary edema? - ANS ✔✔Crackles, dyspnea at rest, confusion, tachy,
decreased U/O, Cough with frothy pink sputum, Dysrhythmias
What are some nursing considerations for pulm edema? - ANS ✔✔High Fowler's if not hypotensive,
provide O2
What is the treatment for pulm edema? - ANS ✔✔Diuretics, morphine, bronchodilators
-Nitro if BP is >100mmHg
-If severe, ultrafiltration
What is a pneumothorax? - ANS ✔✔Accumulation of air in the pleural space
Decribe the 2 types of pneumothorax - ANS ✔✔1. Spontaneous- Sudden onset of air in pleural space
(results in deflation of the affected lung)
2. Tension- Gradual buildup of air under pressure (results in decreased filling of both the heart and lungs)
What are the S/S of a pneumothorax? - ANS ✔✔Moderate to sever dyspnea
Severe chest discomfort, CP
Diminished breath sounds on affected side
Asymmetric lung expansion
Tracheal deviation to unaffected side
Air hunger
Agitation, hypotension, cyanosis
How is a pneumothorax diagnosed? - ANS ✔✔CXR
What is the treatment for pneumothorax? - ANS ✔✔Needle aspiration (immediately for tensions
pneumo)
Chest tube placement
Pleurodesis/ thoracotomy
How is placement of a chest tube determined? - ANS ✔✔If from air-> placed high
If from fluid-> placed low
What should you do if a patient reports "burning" in chest with a chest tube? - ANS ✔✔Reposition them
Describe the 3 types of BiPAP - ANS ✔✔1. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)- delivers a set
pressure through inspiration and expiration
2. Volume-limited/flow-limited- Delivers a set tidal volume with inspiration
3. Pressure-limited- Provides pressure support and different pressures at inspiration and expiration
What is acute respiratory failure (ARF)? - ANS ✔✔Ventilatory failure, oxygenation failure, or both
What is the most common sign for ARF? - ANS ✔✔Abnormal ABGs
PaO2<60
or PaCO2> 45 with pH<7.35
and SaO2<90% in both cases
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
What is pulmonary edema? - ANS ✔✔Fluid buildup in the alveoli in the lungs and causes edema
What is pleural effusion? - ANS ✔✔Accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity
What is included in the upper respiratory system? - ANS ✔✔Nares, sinuses, turbinates, pharynx and
larynx
What is included in the lower respiratory system? - ANS ✔✔Trachea, bronchi/bronchioles, and
alveoli/alveolar ducts
Describe the air pathway in the body - ANS ✔✔Air enters upper airway->alveoli->alveolar capillaries->
pulmonary vein-> L side of heart-> body tissues
Describe the oxygenation dissociation curve - ANS ✔✔Determines the amount of oxygen released from
Hgb
Left shift- Tissues need less O2
Right shift- Release of O2 quickly to tissues
Bronchial lung sounds - ANS ✔✔I<E
Bronchvesicular breath sounds - ANS ✔✔I=E
vesicular lung sounds - ANS ✔✔I>E
What are some s/s of pleural effusion? - ANS ✔✔Dyspnea, tachypnea, decreased O2, tachy, pain, CP,
cough, orthopnea
Also increased risk for infection
What is used to diagnose pleural effusion? - ANS ✔✔CXR, CT scan, US of chest
What is the treatment for pleural effusion? - ANS ✔✔Depends on underlying cause
-Thoracentesis, chest tubes
What are the 2 types of pleural effusions? - ANS ✔✔1. Transudative- fluid filters across intact capillaries
2. Exudative- extravasation (pus)--usually includes an empyema
What is an empyema? - ANS ✔✔Pus in the pleural space (pleural effusion)
-Caused by bacteria (pneumonia), tumor, drug use, surgery/trauma
True or False: Pulmonary edema is a life-threatening event. - ANS ✔✔True
What are some causes for pulm edema? - ANS ✔✔Heart failure, MI, mitral valve dz
, What are some s/s of pulmonary edema? - ANS ✔✔Crackles, dyspnea at rest, confusion, tachy,
decreased U/O, Cough with frothy pink sputum, Dysrhythmias
What are some nursing considerations for pulm edema? - ANS ✔✔High Fowler's if not hypotensive,
provide O2
What is the treatment for pulm edema? - ANS ✔✔Diuretics, morphine, bronchodilators
-Nitro if BP is >100mmHg
-If severe, ultrafiltration
What is a pneumothorax? - ANS ✔✔Accumulation of air in the pleural space
Decribe the 2 types of pneumothorax - ANS ✔✔1. Spontaneous- Sudden onset of air in pleural space
(results in deflation of the affected lung)
2. Tension- Gradual buildup of air under pressure (results in decreased filling of both the heart and lungs)
What are the S/S of a pneumothorax? - ANS ✔✔Moderate to sever dyspnea
Severe chest discomfort, CP
Diminished breath sounds on affected side
Asymmetric lung expansion
Tracheal deviation to unaffected side
Air hunger
Agitation, hypotension, cyanosis
How is a pneumothorax diagnosed? - ANS ✔✔CXR
What is the treatment for pneumothorax? - ANS ✔✔Needle aspiration (immediately for tensions
pneumo)
Chest tube placement
Pleurodesis/ thoracotomy
How is placement of a chest tube determined? - ANS ✔✔If from air-> placed high
If from fluid-> placed low
What should you do if a patient reports "burning" in chest with a chest tube? - ANS ✔✔Reposition them
Describe the 3 types of BiPAP - ANS ✔✔1. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)- delivers a set
pressure through inspiration and expiration
2. Volume-limited/flow-limited- Delivers a set tidal volume with inspiration
3. Pressure-limited- Provides pressure support and different pressures at inspiration and expiration
What is acute respiratory failure (ARF)? - ANS ✔✔Ventilatory failure, oxygenation failure, or both
What is the most common sign for ARF? - ANS ✔✔Abnormal ABGs
PaO2<60
or PaCO2> 45 with pH<7.35
and SaO2<90% in both cases
