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NURS 221 Exam 1 Questions with Detailed
Verified Answers
What is the main function of surfactant?
⼀Answer:⼀ Maintains the surface tension of alveoli; prevents
collapsing of the alveoli
What can decreased surfactant cause?
⼀Answer:⼀ Atelectasis
What is atelectasis?
⼀Answer:⼀ Collapse of the alveoli
Why is atelectasis a problem?
⼀Answer:⼀ Prevents the normal exchange of O2 and CO2
What are the two main causes of atelectasis?
⼀Answer:⼀ Airway obstruction with mucus or solid object; lack of
surfactant
What are the three main effects of atelectasis?
⼀Answer:⼀ Lung collapse leads to compression of veins; increased
blood flow resistance; additional vasoconstriction due to hypoxia in
collapsed alveoli
Which is a passive process - inspiration or expiration?
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⼀Answer:⼀ Expiration
What is cardiac output?
⼀Answer:⼀ The volume of blood ejected from the left ventricle each
minute
What is stroke volume?
⼀Answer:⼀ Amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle with
each contraction
How does hyperventilation affect respiratory functioning?
⼀Answer:⼀ Excess CO2 elimination
How does hypoventilation affect respiratory functioning?
⼀Answer:⼀ Does not meet O2 demand and does not eliminate
adequate CO2
Which part of the body detects hypoxia?
⼀Answer:⼀ Carotid body
What are the four effects of hypoxia on the body?
⼀Answer:⼀ Increased RR, constricted blood vessels in the lungs,
increased HR, dilated peripheral blood vessels
When is oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal suctioning necessary?
⼀Answer:⼀ When the patient can cough, but cannot clear secretions
When is orotracheal/nasotracheal suctioning necessary?
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⼀Answer:⼀ When the patient cannot manage secretions
When is tracheal suctioning necessary?
⼀Answer:⼀ When the patient has an artificial airway
When would an oral airway be used?
⼀Answer:⼀ To prevent obstruction of the trachea by displacement
of the tongue into the oropharynx
When would an endotracheal airway be used?
⼀Answer:⼀ Short-term use to ventilate, relieve upper airway
obstruction, protect against aspiration, clear secretions
When would a tracheostomy airway be used?
⼀Answer:⼀ When long-term assistance is needed
What are the four main methods of promoting/maintaining lung
expansion?
⼀Answer:⼀ Ambulation, positioning, incentive spirometry,
noninvasive ventilation
What is the best position for maintaining lung expansion?
⼀Answer:⼀ 45-degree semi-Fowler's
What is the purpose of incentive spirometry?
⼀Answer:⼀ Encourages voluntary deep breathing
What is a chest tube and what is its purpose?
NURS 221 Exam 1 Questions with Detailed
Verified Answers
What is the main function of surfactant?
⼀Answer:⼀ Maintains the surface tension of alveoli; prevents
collapsing of the alveoli
What can decreased surfactant cause?
⼀Answer:⼀ Atelectasis
What is atelectasis?
⼀Answer:⼀ Collapse of the alveoli
Why is atelectasis a problem?
⼀Answer:⼀ Prevents the normal exchange of O2 and CO2
What are the two main causes of atelectasis?
⼀Answer:⼀ Airway obstruction with mucus or solid object; lack of
surfactant
What are the three main effects of atelectasis?
⼀Answer:⼀ Lung collapse leads to compression of veins; increased
blood flow resistance; additional vasoconstriction due to hypoxia in
collapsed alveoli
Which is a passive process - inspiration or expiration?
, Page | 2
⼀Answer:⼀ Expiration
What is cardiac output?
⼀Answer:⼀ The volume of blood ejected from the left ventricle each
minute
What is stroke volume?
⼀Answer:⼀ Amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle with
each contraction
How does hyperventilation affect respiratory functioning?
⼀Answer:⼀ Excess CO2 elimination
How does hypoventilation affect respiratory functioning?
⼀Answer:⼀ Does not meet O2 demand and does not eliminate
adequate CO2
Which part of the body detects hypoxia?
⼀Answer:⼀ Carotid body
What are the four effects of hypoxia on the body?
⼀Answer:⼀ Increased RR, constricted blood vessels in the lungs,
increased HR, dilated peripheral blood vessels
When is oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal suctioning necessary?
⼀Answer:⼀ When the patient can cough, but cannot clear secretions
When is orotracheal/nasotracheal suctioning necessary?
, Page | 3
⼀Answer:⼀ When the patient cannot manage secretions
When is tracheal suctioning necessary?
⼀Answer:⼀ When the patient has an artificial airway
When would an oral airway be used?
⼀Answer:⼀ To prevent obstruction of the trachea by displacement
of the tongue into the oropharynx
When would an endotracheal airway be used?
⼀Answer:⼀ Short-term use to ventilate, relieve upper airway
obstruction, protect against aspiration, clear secretions
When would a tracheostomy airway be used?
⼀Answer:⼀ When long-term assistance is needed
What are the four main methods of promoting/maintaining lung
expansion?
⼀Answer:⼀ Ambulation, positioning, incentive spirometry,
noninvasive ventilation
What is the best position for maintaining lung expansion?
⼀Answer:⼀ 45-degree semi-Fowler's
What is the purpose of incentive spirometry?
⼀Answer:⼀ Encourages voluntary deep breathing
What is a chest tube and what is its purpose?
