Complex Care Final Exam Practice
Questions and answers 2024\2025 A+
Grade
The nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia unresponsive to two different antibiotics. Which action
is most important for the nurse to complete before administering a newly prescribed antibiotic?
a. Teach the patient to cough and deep breathe.
b. Take the temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate.
c. Obtain a sputum specimen for culture and Gram stain.
d. Check the patient's oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry.
- correct answer c. Obtain a sputum specimen for culture and Gram stain.
A sputum specimen for culture and Gram stain to identify the organism should be obtained before
beginning antibiotic therapy. However, antibiotic administration should not be delayed if a specimen
cannot be readily obtained because delays in antibiotic therapy can increase morbidity and mortality
risks.
The nurse is teaching the patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) about the diagnosis of
Candida albicans. What statement made by the patient indicates to the nurse that further teaching is
required?
a. "I will be given amphotericin B to treat the fungus."
b. "I got this fungus because I am immunocompromised."
c. "I need to be isolated from my family and friends so they won't get it."
d. "The effectiveness of my therapy can be monitored with fungal serology titers."
- correct answer c. "I need to be isolated from my family and friends so they won't get it."
The patient with an opportunistic fungal infection does not need to be isolated because it is not
transmitted from person to person. This immunocompromised patient will be likely to have a serious
,infection so it will be treated with IV amphotericin B. The effectiveness of the therapy can be monitored
with fungal serology titers.
A patient is diagnosed with a lung abscess. What should the nurse include when teaching the patient
about this diagnosis?
a. Lobectomy surgery is usually needed to drain the abscess.
b. IV antibiotic therapy will be used for a 6-month period of time.
c. Oral antibiotics will be used until there is evidence of improvement.
d. Culture and sensitivity tests are needed for 1 year after resolving the abscess
- correct answer c. Oral antibiotics will be used until there is evidence of improvement.
IV antibiotics are used until the patient and radiographs show evidence of improvement. Then oral
antibiotics are used for a prolonged period of time. Culture and sensitivity testing is done during the
course of antibiotic therapy to ensure that the infecting organism is not becoming resistant to the
antibiotic as well as at the completion of the antibiotic therapy. Lobectomy surgery is only needed when
reinfection of a large cavitary lesion occurs or to establish a diagnosis when there is evidence of a
neoplasm or other underlying problem.
The nurse is caring for a patient with an alteration in airway clearance. What nursing actions would be a
priority to promote airway clearance (select all that apply.)?
a. Maintain adequate fluid intake.
b. Maintain a 30-degree elevation.
c. Splint the chest when coughing.
d. Maintain a semi-Fowler's position.
e. Instruct patient to cough at end of exhalation.
- correct answer a. Maintain adequate fluid intake.
c. Splint the chest when coughing.
e. Instruct patient to cough at end of exhalation.
Maintaining adequate fluid intake liquefies secretions, allowing easier expectoration. The nurse should
instruct the patient to splint the chest while coughing. This will reduce discomfort and allow for a more
effective cough. Coughing at the end of exhalation promotes a more effective cough. The patient should
be positioned in an upright sitting position (high Fowler's) with head slightly flexed.
,The nurse evaluates that discharge teaching for a patient hospitalized with pneumonia has been
effective when the patient makes which statement about measures to prevent a relapse?
a. "I will seek immediate medical treatment for any upper respiratory infections."
b. "I should continue to do deep breathing and coughing exercises for at least 12 weeks."
c. "I will increase my food intake to 2400 calories a day to keep my immune system well."
d. "I must have a follow-up chest x-ray in 6 to 8 weeks to evaluate the pneumonia's resolution."
- correct answer d. "I must have a follow-up chest x-ray in 6 to 8 weeks to evaluate the pneumonia's
resolution."
The follow-up chest x-ray examination will be done in 6 to 8 weeks to evaluate pneumonia resolution. A
patient should seek medical treatment for upper respiratory infections that persist for more than 7 days.
It may be important for the patient to continue with coughing and deep breathing exercises for 6 to 8
weeks, not 12 weeks, until all of the infection has cleared from the lungs. Increased fluid intake, not
caloric intake, is required to liquefy secretions.
The nurse is caring for a patient with unilateral malignant lung disease. What is the priority nursing
action to enhance oxygenation in this patient?
a. Positioning patient on right side
b. Maintaining adequate fluid intake
c. Positioning patient with "good lung" down
d. Performing postural drainage every 4 hours
- correct answer c. Positioning patient with "good lung" down
Therapeutic positioning identifies the best position for the patient, thus assuring stable oxygenation
status. Research indicates that positioning the patient with the unaffected lung (good lung) dependent
best promotes oxygenation in patients with unilateral lung disease. For bilateral lung disease, the right
lung down has best ventilation and perfusion. Increasing fluid intake and performing postural drainage
will facilitate airway clearance, but positioning is most appropriate to enhance oxygenation.
One week after a thoracotomy, a patient with chest tubes (CTs) to water-seal drainage has an air leak
into the closed chest drainage system (CDS). Which patient assessment warrants follow-up nursing
actions?
a. Water-seal chamber has 5 cm of water.
, b. No new drainage in collection chamber
c. Chest tube with a loose-fitting dressing
d. Small pneumothorax at CT insertion site
- correct answer c. Chest tube with a loose-fitting dressing
If the dressing at the CT insertion site is loose, an air leak will occur and will need to be sealed. The
water-seal chamber usually has 2 cm of water, but having more water will not contribute to an air leak,
and it should not be drained from the CDS. No new drainage does not indicate an air leak but may
indicate the CT is no longer needed. If there is a pneumothorax, the chest tube should remove the air.
During discharge teaching for an older adult patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
and pneumonia, which vaccine should the nurse recommend that this patient receive?
a. Pneumococcal
b. Staphylococcus aureus
c. Haemophilus influenzae
d. Bacille-Calmette-Guérin (BCG)
- correct answer a. Pneumococcal
The pneumococcal vaccine is important for patients with a history of heart or lung disease, recovering
from a severe illness, age 65 years or older, or living in a long-term care facility. A Staphylococcus aureus
vaccine has been researched but not yet been effective. The Haemophilus influenzae vaccine would not
be recommended as adults do not need it unless they are immunocompromised. The BCG vaccine is for
infants in parts of the world where tuberculosis is prevalent.
While ambulating a patient with metastatic lung cancer, the nurse observes a drop in oxygen saturation
from 93% to 86%. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
a. Continue with ambulation.
b. Obtain a physician's order for arterial blood gas.
c. Obtain a physician's order for supplemental oxygen.
d. Move the oximetry probe from the finger to the earlobe
- correct answer c. Obtain a physician's order for supplemental oxygen.
Questions and answers 2024\2025 A+
Grade
The nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia unresponsive to two different antibiotics. Which action
is most important for the nurse to complete before administering a newly prescribed antibiotic?
a. Teach the patient to cough and deep breathe.
b. Take the temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate.
c. Obtain a sputum specimen for culture and Gram stain.
d. Check the patient's oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry.
- correct answer c. Obtain a sputum specimen for culture and Gram stain.
A sputum specimen for culture and Gram stain to identify the organism should be obtained before
beginning antibiotic therapy. However, antibiotic administration should not be delayed if a specimen
cannot be readily obtained because delays in antibiotic therapy can increase morbidity and mortality
risks.
The nurse is teaching the patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) about the diagnosis of
Candida albicans. What statement made by the patient indicates to the nurse that further teaching is
required?
a. "I will be given amphotericin B to treat the fungus."
b. "I got this fungus because I am immunocompromised."
c. "I need to be isolated from my family and friends so they won't get it."
d. "The effectiveness of my therapy can be monitored with fungal serology titers."
- correct answer c. "I need to be isolated from my family and friends so they won't get it."
The patient with an opportunistic fungal infection does not need to be isolated because it is not
transmitted from person to person. This immunocompromised patient will be likely to have a serious
,infection so it will be treated with IV amphotericin B. The effectiveness of the therapy can be monitored
with fungal serology titers.
A patient is diagnosed with a lung abscess. What should the nurse include when teaching the patient
about this diagnosis?
a. Lobectomy surgery is usually needed to drain the abscess.
b. IV antibiotic therapy will be used for a 6-month period of time.
c. Oral antibiotics will be used until there is evidence of improvement.
d. Culture and sensitivity tests are needed for 1 year after resolving the abscess
- correct answer c. Oral antibiotics will be used until there is evidence of improvement.
IV antibiotics are used until the patient and radiographs show evidence of improvement. Then oral
antibiotics are used for a prolonged period of time. Culture and sensitivity testing is done during the
course of antibiotic therapy to ensure that the infecting organism is not becoming resistant to the
antibiotic as well as at the completion of the antibiotic therapy. Lobectomy surgery is only needed when
reinfection of a large cavitary lesion occurs or to establish a diagnosis when there is evidence of a
neoplasm or other underlying problem.
The nurse is caring for a patient with an alteration in airway clearance. What nursing actions would be a
priority to promote airway clearance (select all that apply.)?
a. Maintain adequate fluid intake.
b. Maintain a 30-degree elevation.
c. Splint the chest when coughing.
d. Maintain a semi-Fowler's position.
e. Instruct patient to cough at end of exhalation.
- correct answer a. Maintain adequate fluid intake.
c. Splint the chest when coughing.
e. Instruct patient to cough at end of exhalation.
Maintaining adequate fluid intake liquefies secretions, allowing easier expectoration. The nurse should
instruct the patient to splint the chest while coughing. This will reduce discomfort and allow for a more
effective cough. Coughing at the end of exhalation promotes a more effective cough. The patient should
be positioned in an upright sitting position (high Fowler's) with head slightly flexed.
,The nurse evaluates that discharge teaching for a patient hospitalized with pneumonia has been
effective when the patient makes which statement about measures to prevent a relapse?
a. "I will seek immediate medical treatment for any upper respiratory infections."
b. "I should continue to do deep breathing and coughing exercises for at least 12 weeks."
c. "I will increase my food intake to 2400 calories a day to keep my immune system well."
d. "I must have a follow-up chest x-ray in 6 to 8 weeks to evaluate the pneumonia's resolution."
- correct answer d. "I must have a follow-up chest x-ray in 6 to 8 weeks to evaluate the pneumonia's
resolution."
The follow-up chest x-ray examination will be done in 6 to 8 weeks to evaluate pneumonia resolution. A
patient should seek medical treatment for upper respiratory infections that persist for more than 7 days.
It may be important for the patient to continue with coughing and deep breathing exercises for 6 to 8
weeks, not 12 weeks, until all of the infection has cleared from the lungs. Increased fluid intake, not
caloric intake, is required to liquefy secretions.
The nurse is caring for a patient with unilateral malignant lung disease. What is the priority nursing
action to enhance oxygenation in this patient?
a. Positioning patient on right side
b. Maintaining adequate fluid intake
c. Positioning patient with "good lung" down
d. Performing postural drainage every 4 hours
- correct answer c. Positioning patient with "good lung" down
Therapeutic positioning identifies the best position for the patient, thus assuring stable oxygenation
status. Research indicates that positioning the patient with the unaffected lung (good lung) dependent
best promotes oxygenation in patients with unilateral lung disease. For bilateral lung disease, the right
lung down has best ventilation and perfusion. Increasing fluid intake and performing postural drainage
will facilitate airway clearance, but positioning is most appropriate to enhance oxygenation.
One week after a thoracotomy, a patient with chest tubes (CTs) to water-seal drainage has an air leak
into the closed chest drainage system (CDS). Which patient assessment warrants follow-up nursing
actions?
a. Water-seal chamber has 5 cm of water.
, b. No new drainage in collection chamber
c. Chest tube with a loose-fitting dressing
d. Small pneumothorax at CT insertion site
- correct answer c. Chest tube with a loose-fitting dressing
If the dressing at the CT insertion site is loose, an air leak will occur and will need to be sealed. The
water-seal chamber usually has 2 cm of water, but having more water will not contribute to an air leak,
and it should not be drained from the CDS. No new drainage does not indicate an air leak but may
indicate the CT is no longer needed. If there is a pneumothorax, the chest tube should remove the air.
During discharge teaching for an older adult patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
and pneumonia, which vaccine should the nurse recommend that this patient receive?
a. Pneumococcal
b. Staphylococcus aureus
c. Haemophilus influenzae
d. Bacille-Calmette-Guérin (BCG)
- correct answer a. Pneumococcal
The pneumococcal vaccine is important for patients with a history of heart or lung disease, recovering
from a severe illness, age 65 years or older, or living in a long-term care facility. A Staphylococcus aureus
vaccine has been researched but not yet been effective. The Haemophilus influenzae vaccine would not
be recommended as adults do not need it unless they are immunocompromised. The BCG vaccine is for
infants in parts of the world where tuberculosis is prevalent.
While ambulating a patient with metastatic lung cancer, the nurse observes a drop in oxygen saturation
from 93% to 86%. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
a. Continue with ambulation.
b. Obtain a physician's order for arterial blood gas.
c. Obtain a physician's order for supplemental oxygen.
d. Move the oximetry probe from the finger to the earlobe
- correct answer c. Obtain a physician's order for supplemental oxygen.
