Critical Care Exam 2: Pulmonary
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
On admission, a patient presents with a respiratory rate of 24
breaths/min, pursed-lip breathing, heart rate of 96 beats/min in
sinus tachycardia, and a blood pressure of 110/68 mm Hg. The
patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) values on room air are PaO2, 70
mm Hg; pH, 7.38; PaCO2, 52 mm Hg; and , 34 mEq/L. What
diagnoses would be most consistent with the above arterial blood
gas values?
A. Acute pulmonary embolism
B. Acute myocardial infarction
C. Congestive heart failure
D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -
correct answer ✅D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The fact that the level has increased enough to compensate for the
increased pCO2 level indicates that this is not an acute condition
because the kidneys can take several days to adjust. The other
choices would present with a lower level. The values indicate
respiratory acidosis, and one of the potential causes is chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Potential causes for respiratory
alkalosis are pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, and
congestive heart failure.
,Critical Care Exam 2: Pulmonary
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
On admission, a patient presents with a respiratory rate of 28
breaths/min, heart rate of 108 beats/min in sinus tachycardia, and
a blood pressure of 140/72 mm Hg. The patient's arterial blood gas
(ABG) values on room air are PaO2, 60 mm Hg; pH, 7.32; PaCO2, 45
mm Hg; and , 26 mEq/L. What action should the nurse anticipate
for this patient?
A. Initiate oxygen therapy.
B. Prepare for emergency intubation.
C. Administer 1 ampule of sodium bicarbonate.
D. Initiate capnography. -
correct answer ✅A. Initiate oxygen therapy.
The patient is hypoxemic and oxygen therapy should be initiated at
this time. The patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) values do not
warrant intubation at this time. Sodium bicarbonate is not indicated
because this patient has a normal bicarbonate level. Capnography
would not be indicated at this time as the patient's CO2 is normal.
A repeat ABG may be ordered to assess the patient's ongoing
respiratory status.
In a patient who is hemodynamically stable, which procedure can
be used to estimate the PaCO2 levels?
,Critical Care Exam 2: Pulmonary
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
A. PaO2/FiO2 ratio
B. A-a gradient
C. Residual volume (RV)
D. End-tidal CO2 -
correct answer ✅D. End-tidal CO2
Capnography is the measurement of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2)
gas; it is also known as end-tidal CO2 monitoring. Normally, alveolar
and arterial CO2 concentrations are equal in the presence of
normal ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) relationships. In a patient who is
hemodynamically stable, the end-tidal CO2 (PetCO2) can be used to
estimate the PaCO2. Normally, the PaO2/FiO2 ratio is greater than
286; the lower the value, the worse the lung function. The A-a
gradient is normally less than 20 mm Hg on room air for patients
younger than 61 years. This estimate of intrapulmonary shunting is
the least reliable clinically, but it is used often in clinical decision
making. Residual volume is the amount of air left in the lung after
maximal exhalation. A normal value is 1200 to 1300 mL.
A patient has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) values: pH,
7.20; PaO2, 106 mm Hg; pCO2, 35 mm Hg; and , 11 mEq/L. What
symptom would be most consistent with the
, Critical Care Exam 2: Pulmonary
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
ABG values?
A. Diarrhea
B. Shortness of breath
C. Central cyanosis
D. Peripheral cyanosis -
correct answer ✅A. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is one mechanism by which the body can lose large
amounts of . The other choices are indications of hypoxia, which is
not indicated with a PaO2 of 106 mm Hg.
A bronchoscopy is indicated for a patient with what condition?
a. Pulmonary edema
b. Ineffective clearance of secretions
c. Upper gastrointestinal bleed
d. Instillation of surfactant -
correct answer ✅b. Ineffective clearance of secretions
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
On admission, a patient presents with a respiratory rate of 24
breaths/min, pursed-lip breathing, heart rate of 96 beats/min in
sinus tachycardia, and a blood pressure of 110/68 mm Hg. The
patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) values on room air are PaO2, 70
mm Hg; pH, 7.38; PaCO2, 52 mm Hg; and , 34 mEq/L. What
diagnoses would be most consistent with the above arterial blood
gas values?
A. Acute pulmonary embolism
B. Acute myocardial infarction
C. Congestive heart failure
D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -
correct answer ✅D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The fact that the level has increased enough to compensate for the
increased pCO2 level indicates that this is not an acute condition
because the kidneys can take several days to adjust. The other
choices would present with a lower level. The values indicate
respiratory acidosis, and one of the potential causes is chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Potential causes for respiratory
alkalosis are pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, and
congestive heart failure.
,Critical Care Exam 2: Pulmonary
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
On admission, a patient presents with a respiratory rate of 28
breaths/min, heart rate of 108 beats/min in sinus tachycardia, and
a blood pressure of 140/72 mm Hg. The patient's arterial blood gas
(ABG) values on room air are PaO2, 60 mm Hg; pH, 7.32; PaCO2, 45
mm Hg; and , 26 mEq/L. What action should the nurse anticipate
for this patient?
A. Initiate oxygen therapy.
B. Prepare for emergency intubation.
C. Administer 1 ampule of sodium bicarbonate.
D. Initiate capnography. -
correct answer ✅A. Initiate oxygen therapy.
The patient is hypoxemic and oxygen therapy should be initiated at
this time. The patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) values do not
warrant intubation at this time. Sodium bicarbonate is not indicated
because this patient has a normal bicarbonate level. Capnography
would not be indicated at this time as the patient's CO2 is normal.
A repeat ABG may be ordered to assess the patient's ongoing
respiratory status.
In a patient who is hemodynamically stable, which procedure can
be used to estimate the PaCO2 levels?
,Critical Care Exam 2: Pulmonary
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
A. PaO2/FiO2 ratio
B. A-a gradient
C. Residual volume (RV)
D. End-tidal CO2 -
correct answer ✅D. End-tidal CO2
Capnography is the measurement of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2)
gas; it is also known as end-tidal CO2 monitoring. Normally, alveolar
and arterial CO2 concentrations are equal in the presence of
normal ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) relationships. In a patient who is
hemodynamically stable, the end-tidal CO2 (PetCO2) can be used to
estimate the PaCO2. Normally, the PaO2/FiO2 ratio is greater than
286; the lower the value, the worse the lung function. The A-a
gradient is normally less than 20 mm Hg on room air for patients
younger than 61 years. This estimate of intrapulmonary shunting is
the least reliable clinically, but it is used often in clinical decision
making. Residual volume is the amount of air left in the lung after
maximal exhalation. A normal value is 1200 to 1300 mL.
A patient has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) values: pH,
7.20; PaO2, 106 mm Hg; pCO2, 35 mm Hg; and , 11 mEq/L. What
symptom would be most consistent with the
, Critical Care Exam 2: Pulmonary
Actual Questions and Answers 2026
ABG values?
A. Diarrhea
B. Shortness of breath
C. Central cyanosis
D. Peripheral cyanosis -
correct answer ✅A. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is one mechanism by which the body can lose large
amounts of . The other choices are indications of hypoxia, which is
not indicated with a PaO2 of 106 mm Hg.
A bronchoscopy is indicated for a patient with what condition?
a. Pulmonary edema
b. Ineffective clearance of secretions
c. Upper gastrointestinal bleed
d. Instillation of surfactant -
correct answer ✅b. Ineffective clearance of secretions
