AACN ECCO Pulmonary Part 1
Questions and Answers 2026
What are the nursing priorities for patient care before, during, or after thoracentesis?
- AnswerPosition patient sitting on or lying...
Continually monitor...
Help attach tubes to chest drainage...
A nurse caring for a patient with ARDS on BiPAP observes rapid progression and
tachypnea with RR between 37 and 41. What intervention should the nurse
anticipate? - AnswerCall emergency team for rapid intubation
For which purposes is EtCO2 monitoring indicated? - AnswerWRONG
Determining accurate...
Monitoring patients recovering from general...
Measuring effectiveness of CPR
A patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.25, PaCO2 43, PaO2 80, SaO2 91%,
and HCO3- 18. What is the most likely underlying cause? - AnswerAcute kidney
injury
Which patient has an indication for oxygen therapy with a low-flow device? -
AnswerWho is postoperative...
A patient with respiratory failure following cardiac surgery has crackles in bilateral
posterior lower lobes and is on 4 L/min NC. Which interventions will promote normal
respiratory function? - AnswerReduce anxiety...
Ensure early progressive mobility...
Administer bronchodilators...
A nurse monitoring a patient undergoing bedside bronchoscopy notes a decline in a
patient's oxygen saturation. Which should the nurse anticipate? - AnswerAuscultate
lung sounds...
Provide supplemental O2...
Monitor EtCO2
The ABG test results for a patient with a spinal cord injury are pH 7.29, PaCO2 54,
and HCO3- 25. Which acid-base disorder is reflected? - AnswerRespiratory acidosis
A patient with COPD on PEEP reports sudden chest pain. The nurse observes
tachycardia and shortness of breath. Which other conditions should the nurse
expected? - AnswerDecreased PaCO2 levels...
Decreased chest excursion on one side...
Decreased SaO2 level
, Which are correct statements about a closed-chest drainage system or component?
- AnswerTo drain, system pressure must be lower...
Gravity, and sometimes suction...
Wet suction chambers create suction...
A nurse caring for a patient with worsening hypoxia should anticipate which signs of
ARDS? - AnswerPaO2/FiO2 below 300...
PEEP requirements of at least 5...
Respiratory failure unexplained...
Which may affect pulse oximetry accuracy? - AnswerCardiac arrest
By what signs or symptoms should the nurse recognize tension pneumothorax in a
patient with worsening respiratory distress? - AnswerWRONG
Progressive tachy...
Decreased PaCO2
Absence of breath sounds...
A patient with hemopytsis reports pleuritic chest pain. the nurse auscultates a pleural
friction rub. What additional symptoms/signs should the nurse expect? -
AnswerWRONG
Metabolic acidosis
Sinus tachy...
Hypoxemia...
A patient with a hip fracture fro a fall has a sudden decrease in SpO2, from 99% to
92%, and reports dyspnea. Which other signs or symptoms should the nurse
anticipate? - AnswerPleural friction rub and pleuritic chest pain
A patient is admitted with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Which assessments
confirm the diagnosis? - AnswerWRONG
Tachypnea
Tachycardia
PaO2 55 mmHg
Which patient in the immediate postoperative period should be given a a NC or
simple face mask? A patient requiring: - AnswerFiO2 of 0.4 or less
A patient in respiratory failure has a low expiratory airflow unresponsive to
medication. The nruse observes tachycardia and hypoxemia. What additional
signs/symptoms should the nurse anticipate? - AnswerWRONG
Respiratory acidosis on ABG
A-fib
Declining PaO2
A patient with a hemothorax and a chest tube draining system is admitted. Which
intervention should the nurse anticipate? - AnswerAttach chest tube to wall suction
Following a chest x-ray, for which report should the nurse notify the provider? -
AnswerETT is positioned in the right mainstem bronchus
Questions and Answers 2026
What are the nursing priorities for patient care before, during, or after thoracentesis?
- AnswerPosition patient sitting on or lying...
Continually monitor...
Help attach tubes to chest drainage...
A nurse caring for a patient with ARDS on BiPAP observes rapid progression and
tachypnea with RR between 37 and 41. What intervention should the nurse
anticipate? - AnswerCall emergency team for rapid intubation
For which purposes is EtCO2 monitoring indicated? - AnswerWRONG
Determining accurate...
Monitoring patients recovering from general...
Measuring effectiveness of CPR
A patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.25, PaCO2 43, PaO2 80, SaO2 91%,
and HCO3- 18. What is the most likely underlying cause? - AnswerAcute kidney
injury
Which patient has an indication for oxygen therapy with a low-flow device? -
AnswerWho is postoperative...
A patient with respiratory failure following cardiac surgery has crackles in bilateral
posterior lower lobes and is on 4 L/min NC. Which interventions will promote normal
respiratory function? - AnswerReduce anxiety...
Ensure early progressive mobility...
Administer bronchodilators...
A nurse monitoring a patient undergoing bedside bronchoscopy notes a decline in a
patient's oxygen saturation. Which should the nurse anticipate? - AnswerAuscultate
lung sounds...
Provide supplemental O2...
Monitor EtCO2
The ABG test results for a patient with a spinal cord injury are pH 7.29, PaCO2 54,
and HCO3- 25. Which acid-base disorder is reflected? - AnswerRespiratory acidosis
A patient with COPD on PEEP reports sudden chest pain. The nurse observes
tachycardia and shortness of breath. Which other conditions should the nurse
expected? - AnswerDecreased PaCO2 levels...
Decreased chest excursion on one side...
Decreased SaO2 level
, Which are correct statements about a closed-chest drainage system or component?
- AnswerTo drain, system pressure must be lower...
Gravity, and sometimes suction...
Wet suction chambers create suction...
A nurse caring for a patient with worsening hypoxia should anticipate which signs of
ARDS? - AnswerPaO2/FiO2 below 300...
PEEP requirements of at least 5...
Respiratory failure unexplained...
Which may affect pulse oximetry accuracy? - AnswerCardiac arrest
By what signs or symptoms should the nurse recognize tension pneumothorax in a
patient with worsening respiratory distress? - AnswerWRONG
Progressive tachy...
Decreased PaCO2
Absence of breath sounds...
A patient with hemopytsis reports pleuritic chest pain. the nurse auscultates a pleural
friction rub. What additional symptoms/signs should the nurse expect? -
AnswerWRONG
Metabolic acidosis
Sinus tachy...
Hypoxemia...
A patient with a hip fracture fro a fall has a sudden decrease in SpO2, from 99% to
92%, and reports dyspnea. Which other signs or symptoms should the nurse
anticipate? - AnswerPleural friction rub and pleuritic chest pain
A patient is admitted with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Which assessments
confirm the diagnosis? - AnswerWRONG
Tachypnea
Tachycardia
PaO2 55 mmHg
Which patient in the immediate postoperative period should be given a a NC or
simple face mask? A patient requiring: - AnswerFiO2 of 0.4 or less
A patient in respiratory failure has a low expiratory airflow unresponsive to
medication. The nruse observes tachycardia and hypoxemia. What additional
signs/symptoms should the nurse anticipate? - AnswerWRONG
Respiratory acidosis on ABG
A-fib
Declining PaO2
A patient with a hemothorax and a chest tube draining system is admitted. Which
intervention should the nurse anticipate? - AnswerAttach chest tube to wall suction
Following a chest x-ray, for which report should the nurse notify the provider? -
AnswerETT is positioned in the right mainstem bronchus
