PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
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1. To promote airway clearance in a patient with pneumonia, what should the nurse
instruct the patient to do (select all that apply)?
A. Maintain adequate fluid intake.
B. Splint the chest when coughing.
C. Maintain a 30-degree elevation.
D. Maintain a semi-Fowler's position.
E. Instruct patient to cough at end of exhalation. - ANSWER A. Maintain
adequate fluid intake.
B. 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.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Upon
assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4° F, a productive cough with yellow
sputum, and a respiratory rate of 20. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate
based upon this assessment?
, A. Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions - ANSWER A.
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness
Because the patient has spiked a temperature and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the
logical nursing diagnosis is hyperthermia related to infectious illness. There is no
evidence of a chill, and her breathing pattern is within normal limits at 20
breaths/minute. There is no evidence of ineffective airway clearance from the
information given because the patient is expectorating sputum.
3. Which physical assessment finding in a patient with a lower respiratory problem best
supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance?
A. Basilar crackles
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Oxygen saturation of 85%
D. Presence of greenish sputum - ANSWER A. Basilar crackles
The presence of adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is accumulation of
secretions in the lower airways. This would be consistent with a nursing diagnosis of
ineffective airway clearance because the patient is retaining secretions. The rapid
respiratory rate, low oxygen saturation, and presence of greenish sputum may occur
with a lower respiratory problem, but do not definitely support the nursing diagnosis
of ineffective airway clearance.
4. Which clinical manifestation should the nurse expect to find during assessment of a
patient admitted with pneumonia?
A. Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Vesicular breath sounds in all lobes
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation
D. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation - ANSWER C. Increased vocal
fremitus on palpation
A typical physical examination finding for a patient with pneumonia is increased
vocal fremitus on palpation. Other signs of pulmonary consolidation include bronchial
, breath sounds, egophony, and crackles in the affected area. With pleural effusion,
there may be dullness to percussion over the affected area.
5. What is the priority nursing intervention in helping a patient expectorate thick lung
secretions?
A. Humidify the oxygen as able.
B. Administer cough suppressant q4hr.
C. Teach patient to splint the affected area.
D. Increase fluid intake to 3 L/day if tolerated. - ANSWER D. Increase fluid
intake to 3 L/day if tolerated.
Although several interventions may help the patient expectorate mucus, the highest
priority should be on increasing fluid intake, which will liquefy the secretions so that
the patient can expectorate them more easily. Humidifying the oxygen is also helpful
but is not the primary intervention. Teaching the patient to splint the affected area may
also be helpful in decreasing discomfort but does not assist in expectoration of thick
secretions.
6. During discharge teaching for a 65-year-old 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-Guerin (BCG) - 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 or over, 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 (TB) is prevalent.
7. 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." - 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 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.
8. After admitting a patient from home to the medical unit with a diagnosis of
pneumonia, which physician orders will the nurse verify have been completed before
administering a dose of cefuroxime (Ceftin) to the patient?
A. Orthostatic blood pressures
B. Sputum culture and sensitivity
C. Pulmonary function evaluation
D. Serum laboratory studies ordered for AM - ANSWER B. Sputum culture
and sensitivity
The nurse should ensure that the sputum for culture and sensitivity was sent to the
laboratory before administering the cefuroxime as this is community-acquired
pneumonia. It is important that the organisms are correctly identified (by the culture)
before the antibiotic takes effect. The test will also determine whether the proper
antibiotic has been ordered (sensitivity testing). Although antibiotic administration
should not be unduly delayed while waiting for the patient to expectorate sputum,
orthostatic BP, pulmonary function evaluation, and serum laboratory tests will not be
affected by the administration of antibiotics.
9. During admission of a patient diagnosed with non-small cell lung carcinoma, the
nurse questions the patient related to a history of which risk factors for this type of
cancer (select all that apply)?