Caring for the Acutely Ill
Caring for the Acutely Ill Exam 2 Study
Guide Questions and Answers Graded
A+ 2025
What is ventilation?
air flow into and out of the lungs
What is perfusion?
pulmonary circulation to body circulation
What is respiratory failure?
failure of gas exchange - hypoxaemia and/or hypercapnia
What is hypoxemic respiratory failure?
occurs when PaO2 is <60 and PaCO2 is normal or low
What type of diseases are associated with hypoxemic respiratory failure?
lung diseases in which fluid filling or collapse of alveoli
What is hyercapnic respiratory failure?
occurs when PaCO2 is >50
What mechanisms are responsible for hypoxemia?
V/Q mismatch & shunt
What is V/Q mismatch?
An imbalance in the amount of O2 received in the alveoli and the amount of blood
flowing through the alveolar capillaries
What is shunt?
Blood exits the heart without having participated in gas exchange
What is a low V/Q a result of?
decreased ventilation because of airway/interstitial lung disease or overperfusion
What does a high V/Q indicate?
Caring for the Acutely Ill
,Caring for the Acutely Ill
decreased perfusion to the lungs
When does shunt occur?
occurs when hypoxemia is present even when 100% oxygen is inhaled
What is lung failure associated with?
pulmonary edema
pulmonary emboli
heart failure
atelectasis
pneumonia
emphysema
What does lung failure result in?
hypoxemia
What is ventilatory failure associated with?
sedatives
COPD
neuromuscular defects
CNS dysfunction
chest trauma
What does ventilatory failure result in?
hypercapnia
What are the s/s of hypoxemia?
dyspnea
irritability
confusion
somnolence
tachycardia
arrhythmia
tachypnea
cyanosis
What are the s/s of hypercapnia?
Caring for the Acutely Ill
, Caring for the Acutely Ill
headache
change of behavior
coma
warm extremities
What are some diagnostic tests to help determine respiratory failure?
ABGs
chest x-ray
What are some lab tests to help determine the cause of respiratory failure?
CBC
electrolytes
sputum culture
blood culture
urine culture
thyroid function tests
pulmonary function tests
ECG
What should a nurse assess the recognize cues of respiratory failure?
clinical manifestations
altered ventilation
vital signs
neurological function
breath sounds
What are some expected (bad) findings of respiratory failure?
dyspnea
impaired cognition
cough
chest pain
abnormal ABGs
What are some unexpected (worse) findings of respiratory failure?
RR >30 bpm
O2 <90% with no response to oxygen
signs of shock
Caring for the Acutely Ill
Caring for the Acutely Ill Exam 2 Study
Guide Questions and Answers Graded
A+ 2025
What is ventilation?
air flow into and out of the lungs
What is perfusion?
pulmonary circulation to body circulation
What is respiratory failure?
failure of gas exchange - hypoxaemia and/or hypercapnia
What is hypoxemic respiratory failure?
occurs when PaO2 is <60 and PaCO2 is normal or low
What type of diseases are associated with hypoxemic respiratory failure?
lung diseases in which fluid filling or collapse of alveoli
What is hyercapnic respiratory failure?
occurs when PaCO2 is >50
What mechanisms are responsible for hypoxemia?
V/Q mismatch & shunt
What is V/Q mismatch?
An imbalance in the amount of O2 received in the alveoli and the amount of blood
flowing through the alveolar capillaries
What is shunt?
Blood exits the heart without having participated in gas exchange
What is a low V/Q a result of?
decreased ventilation because of airway/interstitial lung disease or overperfusion
What does a high V/Q indicate?
Caring for the Acutely Ill
,Caring for the Acutely Ill
decreased perfusion to the lungs
When does shunt occur?
occurs when hypoxemia is present even when 100% oxygen is inhaled
What is lung failure associated with?
pulmonary edema
pulmonary emboli
heart failure
atelectasis
pneumonia
emphysema
What does lung failure result in?
hypoxemia
What is ventilatory failure associated with?
sedatives
COPD
neuromuscular defects
CNS dysfunction
chest trauma
What does ventilatory failure result in?
hypercapnia
What are the s/s of hypoxemia?
dyspnea
irritability
confusion
somnolence
tachycardia
arrhythmia
tachypnea
cyanosis
What are the s/s of hypercapnia?
Caring for the Acutely Ill
, Caring for the Acutely Ill
headache
change of behavior
coma
warm extremities
What are some diagnostic tests to help determine respiratory failure?
ABGs
chest x-ray
What are some lab tests to help determine the cause of respiratory failure?
CBC
electrolytes
sputum culture
blood culture
urine culture
thyroid function tests
pulmonary function tests
ECG
What should a nurse assess the recognize cues of respiratory failure?
clinical manifestations
altered ventilation
vital signs
neurological function
breath sounds
What are some expected (bad) findings of respiratory failure?
dyspnea
impaired cognition
cough
chest pain
abnormal ABGs
What are some unexpected (worse) findings of respiratory failure?
RR >30 bpm
O2 <90% with no response to oxygen
signs of shock
Caring for the Acutely Ill
