NR571/NR 571 MIDTERM EXAM: (LATEST
2026/2027 UPDATE), COMPLEX DIAGNOSIS
AND MANAGEMENT IN ACUTE CARE
PRACTICUM | COMPLETE REVIEW WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE ANSWERS
AT CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING
COMPLEX DIAGNOSIS AND
MANAGEMENT IN ACUTE CARE
PRACTICUM
Pulmonary Diagnosis & Management
Questions 1–100
1. Pulmonary diagnostic testing such as pulmonary function tests
(PFTs), arterial blood gases (ABGs), and chest radiography are
primarily used to:
A. Diagnose cardiac arrhythmias
B. Assess renal perfusion
C. Evaluate respiratory structure and function
D. Measure neurological deficits
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Pulmonary diagnostic tests evaluate lung mechanics, gas exchange, and anatomical abnormalities. PFTs
assess airflow, lung volumes, and diffusion capacity. ABGs provide insight into oxygenation, ventilation,
and acid-base balance. Radiography helps visualize structural lung pathology such as infiltrates, masses, or
effusions.
,2. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are most useful for evaluating
patients at risk for which complication?
A. Acute kidney injury
B. Postoperative respiratory complications
C. Stroke
D. Deep vein thrombosis
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
PFTs are commonly used preoperatively to assess respiratory reserve and predict postoperative pulmonary
complications. Patients undergoing thoracic or upper abdominal surgery are at increased risk due to reduced
lung expansion. Identifying airflow limitation or reduced lung volumes helps guide perioperative
management. This reduces morbidity and improves surgical outcomes.
3. Which clinical situation most strongly supports the use of PFTs
for risk evaluation?
A. Patient scheduled for cataract surgery
B. Patient with chronic kidney disease
C. Patient scheduled for upper abdominal surgery
D. Patient with migraine headaches
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Upper abdominal and thoracic surgeries significantly affect diaphragmatic movement and lung expansion.
PFTs help determine whether a patient can tolerate the physiologic stress of surgery. Reduced FEV1 or TLC
may predict postoperative respiratory failure. Early identification allows for optimization or alternative
strategies.
4. Pulmonary function tests primarily evaluate which physiological
components?
A. Cardiac output and preload
B. Lung volumes, airflow, and diffusion
C. Renal filtration and clearance
D. Neuromuscular conduction
,✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
PFTs are designed to assess how well air moves into and out of the lungs, the total amount of air the lungs
can hold, and how efficiently oxygen crosses into the bloodstream. These measurements identify obstructive,
restrictive, and diffusion impairments. Together, they guide diagnosis and management of pulmonary
disease.
5. Which PFT parameter best evaluates airflow through the major
airways?
A. Total lung capacity (TLC)
B. Residual volume (RV)
C. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)
D. Functional residual capacity (FRC)
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
FEV1 measures the amount of air expelled in the first second of forced exhalation and reflects airway
caliber. It is particularly useful in identifying obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. Reduced
FEV1 indicates increased airway resistance. It is also used to monitor response to bronchodilator therapy.
6. Which component of PFTs evaluates the lung’s ability to fully
expand?
A. Flow rates
B. Lung volumes
C. Diffusion capacity
D. Peak expiratory flow
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Lung volumes measure the total amount of air the lungs can hold, including TLC and RV. These values are
especially important in identifying restrictive lung disease. A reduction in lung volumes suggests impaired
expansion due to parenchymal, pleural, or chest wall pathology. This distinguishes restrictive from
obstructive disorders.
, 7. Maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) assesses which pulmonary
function?
A. Gas diffusion
B. Oxygen saturation
C. Endurance of respiratory muscles
D. Lung compliance
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
MVV measures the maximum amount of air that can be inhaled and exhaled over a short period. It reflects
respiratory muscle strength, airway resistance, and lung compliance. Reduced MVV can indicate
neuromuscular weakness or severe airflow obstruction. This test is useful in functional assessment.
8. Diffusing capacity (DLCO) primarily evaluates which process?
A. Airway resistance
B. Alveolar ventilation
C. Gas exchange at the alveolar-capillary membrane
D. Lung compliance
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
DLCO measures the ability of gases such as oxygen to move from the alveoli into the bloodstream. It is
particularly reduced in diseases affecting the alveolar-capillary interface, such as pulmonary fibrosis or
emphysema. DLCO is often measured alongside pulse oximetry. It provides insight into gas exchange
efficiency.
9. Spirometry primarily measures which parameters?
A. Lung perfusion
B. Airflow and forced lung volumes
C. Diffusion capacity
D. Oxygen saturation
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Spirometry evaluates the volume of air inhaled and exhaled during forced breathing maneuvers. Key values
2026/2027 UPDATE), COMPLEX DIAGNOSIS
AND MANAGEMENT IN ACUTE CARE
PRACTICUM | COMPLETE REVIEW WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE ANSWERS
AT CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING
COMPLEX DIAGNOSIS AND
MANAGEMENT IN ACUTE CARE
PRACTICUM
Pulmonary Diagnosis & Management
Questions 1–100
1. Pulmonary diagnostic testing such as pulmonary function tests
(PFTs), arterial blood gases (ABGs), and chest radiography are
primarily used to:
A. Diagnose cardiac arrhythmias
B. Assess renal perfusion
C. Evaluate respiratory structure and function
D. Measure neurological deficits
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Pulmonary diagnostic tests evaluate lung mechanics, gas exchange, and anatomical abnormalities. PFTs
assess airflow, lung volumes, and diffusion capacity. ABGs provide insight into oxygenation, ventilation,
and acid-base balance. Radiography helps visualize structural lung pathology such as infiltrates, masses, or
effusions.
,2. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are most useful for evaluating
patients at risk for which complication?
A. Acute kidney injury
B. Postoperative respiratory complications
C. Stroke
D. Deep vein thrombosis
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
PFTs are commonly used preoperatively to assess respiratory reserve and predict postoperative pulmonary
complications. Patients undergoing thoracic or upper abdominal surgery are at increased risk due to reduced
lung expansion. Identifying airflow limitation or reduced lung volumes helps guide perioperative
management. This reduces morbidity and improves surgical outcomes.
3. Which clinical situation most strongly supports the use of PFTs
for risk evaluation?
A. Patient scheduled for cataract surgery
B. Patient with chronic kidney disease
C. Patient scheduled for upper abdominal surgery
D. Patient with migraine headaches
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Upper abdominal and thoracic surgeries significantly affect diaphragmatic movement and lung expansion.
PFTs help determine whether a patient can tolerate the physiologic stress of surgery. Reduced FEV1 or TLC
may predict postoperative respiratory failure. Early identification allows for optimization or alternative
strategies.
4. Pulmonary function tests primarily evaluate which physiological
components?
A. Cardiac output and preload
B. Lung volumes, airflow, and diffusion
C. Renal filtration and clearance
D. Neuromuscular conduction
,✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
PFTs are designed to assess how well air moves into and out of the lungs, the total amount of air the lungs
can hold, and how efficiently oxygen crosses into the bloodstream. These measurements identify obstructive,
restrictive, and diffusion impairments. Together, they guide diagnosis and management of pulmonary
disease.
5. Which PFT parameter best evaluates airflow through the major
airways?
A. Total lung capacity (TLC)
B. Residual volume (RV)
C. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)
D. Functional residual capacity (FRC)
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
FEV1 measures the amount of air expelled in the first second of forced exhalation and reflects airway
caliber. It is particularly useful in identifying obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. Reduced
FEV1 indicates increased airway resistance. It is also used to monitor response to bronchodilator therapy.
6. Which component of PFTs evaluates the lung’s ability to fully
expand?
A. Flow rates
B. Lung volumes
C. Diffusion capacity
D. Peak expiratory flow
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Lung volumes measure the total amount of air the lungs can hold, including TLC and RV. These values are
especially important in identifying restrictive lung disease. A reduction in lung volumes suggests impaired
expansion due to parenchymal, pleural, or chest wall pathology. This distinguishes restrictive from
obstructive disorders.
, 7. Maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) assesses which pulmonary
function?
A. Gas diffusion
B. Oxygen saturation
C. Endurance of respiratory muscles
D. Lung compliance
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
MVV measures the maximum amount of air that can be inhaled and exhaled over a short period. It reflects
respiratory muscle strength, airway resistance, and lung compliance. Reduced MVV can indicate
neuromuscular weakness or severe airflow obstruction. This test is useful in functional assessment.
8. Diffusing capacity (DLCO) primarily evaluates which process?
A. Airway resistance
B. Alveolar ventilation
C. Gas exchange at the alveolar-capillary membrane
D. Lung compliance
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
DLCO measures the ability of gases such as oxygen to move from the alveoli into the bloodstream. It is
particularly reduced in diseases affecting the alveolar-capillary interface, such as pulmonary fibrosis or
emphysema. DLCO is often measured alongside pulse oximetry. It provides insight into gas exchange
efficiency.
9. Spirometry primarily measures which parameters?
A. Lung perfusion
B. Airflow and forced lung volumes
C. Diffusion capacity
D. Oxygen saturation
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Spirometry evaluates the volume of air inhaled and exhaled during forced breathing maneuvers. Key values
