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RN exams respiratory practice questions, set 4

RN exams · respiratory

RN exams respiratory practice questions set 4

You pick airway, oxygen, and breathing actions in the order a nurse actually moves. Five of the 15 questions include the correct answer and rationale. The other ten keep answers in the study hub. Continue with the RN exams exam guide or more RN exams practice questions.

Five respiratory questions with answers

Cover the key. Write the first action. Then open the rationale and name why the other choices fail.

Question 1

For a male client with an endotracheal (ET) tube, which nursing action is most essential?

  1. A. Auscultating the lungs for bilateral breath sounds.
  2. B. Turning the client from side to side every 2 hours.
  3. C. Monitoring serial blood gas values every 4 hours.
  4. D. Providing frequent oral hygiene.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — Auscultating the lungs for bilateral breath sounds.

The correct answer is A: Auscultating the lungs for bilateral breath sounds. This is the most essential nursing action for a male client with an endotracheal tube because it ensures proper placement of the tube and adequate ventilation. By auscultating the lungs, the nurse can assess for any potential complications such as tube displacement, pneumothorax, or mucus plugging. This action helps in early detection of respiratory issues and prompt intervention if needed. Summary: - Choice B (Turning the client from side to side every 2 hours) is important for preventing pressure ulcers but not as critical as assessing breath sounds. - Choice C (Monitoring serial blood gas values every 4 hours) is important for evaluating respiratory status but does not provide immediate information on tube placement. - Choice D (Providing frequent oral hygiene) is important for preventing infections but does not directly assess the client's respiratory status with an ET tube.

Question 2

Which of these statements is false regarding Pulmonary Resistance?

  1. A. Increase in pulmonary arterial pressure generally cause a fall in pulmonary resistance
  2. B. Pulmonary resistance is only 1/10 of systemic circulation resistance
  3. C. Increase of lung volume results in increase of resistance in extra alveolar vessels
  4. D. Acetylcholine has a good bronchiole smooth muscle relaxation effect
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: C — Increase of lung volume results in increase of resistance in extra alveolar vessels

Choice C is false. Pulmonary resistance decreases as lung volume increases because extra-alveolar vessels (arteries and veins) are pulled open by radial traction, reducing resistance, not increasing it. Choice A is true; increased pulmonary arterial pressure recruits and distends vessels, lowering resistance. ' pulmonary resistance is about 1/10 of systemic due to shorter, wider vessels. Choice D is true; acetylcholine, via parasympathetic stimulation, relaxes bronchiolar smooth muscle, though its effect is less pronounced than adrenaline's. Choice E is also true; at large lung volumes, pulmonary capillaries are compressed, increasing resistance. The error in C stems from misunderstanding lung volume effects: as lungs expand, airway resistance drops (bronchioles widen), and extra-alveolar vessel resistance decreases due to mechanical stretching, not increases. This aligns with physiological principles of pulmonary circulation, making C the false statement.

Question 3

The caregiver of an older client with flu reports to a geriatric nurse that the client has shallow respirations. What advice can the geriatric nurse give the caretaker to improve the client's ease of breathing? (Select all that apply.)

  1. A. Use a face mask.
  2. B. Elevate the head of the client's bed.
  3. C. Give antipyretic medications.
  4. D. Put a humidifier at the client's bedside.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: B — Elevate the head of the client's bed.

Shallow respirations in an older client with flu suggest difficulty oxygenating effectively, often due to mucus buildup or fatigue. Elevating the head of the bed helps by using gravity to open the airways, reducing pressure on the diaphragm and improving lung expansion, which is especially beneficial for older adults with weakened respiratory muscles. A humidifier adds moisture to the air, loosening mucus and easing breathing, which is critical when flu causes thick secretions. Antipyretics reduce fever but don't directly address shallow breathing, though fever management supports overall comfort. Analgesics might relieve pain but not respiratory effort. A face mask could worsen breathing by restricting airflow unless oxygen is medically indicated. The nurse's advice focuses on non-invasive, practical measures to enhance airflow and comfort, tailored to the client's age and flu-related respiratory challenges, ensuring better oxygenation and reduced strain.

Question 4

Regarding intrapleural pressure, which one is true?

  1. A. Less than ATM-pressure only during inspiration
  2. B. Becomes equal to external environmental air pressure by action of respiratory muscles
  3. C. Difference between the pressure in the pleural cavity and that within the alveoli
  4. D. Always less than ATM-pressure
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: D — Always less than ATM-pressure

Intrapleural pressure (IPP) is the pressure in the pleural cavity, normally negative relative to atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg) due to the opposing recoils of the lung (inward) and chest wall (outward). At rest (FRC), IPP is ~756 mmHg (-4 mmHg); during inspiration, it drops further (e.g., -6 mmHg) as the thoracic cavity expands, and during expiration, it rises slightly but remains negative. It's always less than atmospheric pressure in a healthy lung, even during forced maneuvers, unless the pleural space is breached (e.g., pneumothorax), equalizing it to 760 mmHg. It's not just low during inspiration it's consistently subatmospheric. Respiratory muscles create the gradient but don't equalize IPP to atmospheric pressure. IPP isn't the alveolar-pleural difference (that's transpulmonary pressure); it's the absolute pressure in the pleural space. The constant negativity maintains lung expansion, making this the true statement reflecting pleural mechanics.

Question 5

A patient with restrictive lung disease will have a relatively normal?

  1. A. FEV1
  2. B. FVC
  3. C. V/Q ratio
  4. D. FEV1/FVC
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: D — FEV1/FVC

Restrictive lung diseases (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis) stiffen lungs, reducing expansion and volumes like forced vital capacity (FVC), which drops below normal (e.g., from 4-5 L to 2-3 L) due to limited inspiratory capacity. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) also decreases proportionally (e.g., from 3-4 L to 1.5-2 L), as less air is available to exhale. However, the FEV1/FVC ratio remains normal or elevated (≥80%) because both values decline similarly, unlike obstructive diseases where FEV1 falls more, lowering the ratio (<70%). Ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratio may skew high in restrictive disease (e.g., fibrosis) due to reduced ventilation from stiff lungs, not normal matching. FEV1 and FVC individually are reduced, not normal. The FEV1/FVC ratio's preservation reflects the restrictive pattern impaired volume, not airflow obstruction making it the value least altered relative to healthy norms, a key diagnostic feature in spirometry.

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Question 6

Which of the following structures contains blood with the highest PCO2?

  1. A. Carotid bodies
  2. B. Pulmonary veins
  3. C. Superior vena cava
  4. D. The midportion of pulmonary capillaries
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Question 7

Assuming a normal anatomic dead space of 150 ml and a fixed respiratory minute ventilation of 6 L/min. Which combination of respiratory rate and tidal volume will give the largest alveolar ventilation?

  1. A. 200 ml at 30 breaths/min
  2. B. 300 ml at 20 breaths/min
  3. C. 400 ml at 15 breaths/min
  4. D. 600 ml at 10 breaths/min
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Question 8

The clinic nurse is preparing to give an antiviral drug to an older client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sickle cell disease. Which ordered medication would cause the nurse to notify the prescriber?

  1. A. Oseltamivir
  2. B. Xanax
  3. C. Zanamivir
  4. D. Tamiflu
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Question 9

An increase in the level of carbon dioxide in the blood will result in a(n):

  1. A. decrease in the rate of breathing.
  2. B. increase of the respiratory rate.
  3. C. decrease of pulmonary ventilation.
  4. D. decrease of the alveolar ventilation rate.
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Question 10

Regarding Pneumothorax, one of the following isn't true?

  1. A. Diameter of the thorax increases
  2. B. Venous return decreases
  3. C. Vital capacity (VC) decreases
  4. D. Lung compliance increases
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Question 11

When COâ‚‚ diffuses into blood in systemic capillaries most of it:

  1. A. Remains in solution as COâ‚‚
  2. B. Converts to carbamino compounds
  3. C. Converts to bicarbonate ions in RBC
  4. D. Combines with Hb directly
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Question 12

An increase in the level of carbon dioxide in the blood will result in a(n):

  1. A. decrease in the rate of breathing.
  2. B. increase of the respiratory rate.
  3. C. decrease of pulmonary ventilation.
  4. D. decrease of the alveolar ventilation rate.
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Question 13

A nurse is speaking with a client who recently completed chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer diagnosed 11 months prior. The woman asks about the wisdom of getting an influenza vaccine so soon after completing treatment. What statements by the nurse are accurate responses to the client's question? (Select all that apply.)

  1. A. Since the influenza vaccine will likely cause you to get influenza, it's not a good idea to get the vaccine this year.
  2. B. Influenza infection is a modifiable risk factor; this means your risk of becoming ill with the virus can be lowered by getting the flu vaccine.
  3. C. Those with compromised immune systems should only get the inactivated form of the virus using the shot, NOT the attenuated virus in the nasal spray.
  4. D. People with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infections and to becoming more ill when infected. Thus, getting vaccinated is wise.
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Question 14

The term "blue bloater" refers to which of the following conditions?

  1. A. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
  2. B. Asthma
  3. C. Chronic obstructive bronchitis
  4. D. Emphysema
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Question 15

Factors affecting the release of oxygen from hemoglobin can be visualized by using a

  1. A. spirograph
  2. B. pulmonary volume chart
  3. C. respiratory cycle chart
  4. D. oxygen-hemoglobin saturation curve
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About these RN exams respiratory questions

RN exams respiratory practice questions, set 4 for nursing students in the United States. Fifteen items. Five include answers and rationales in American English.

No. Nursier is independent practice. Register through the official path named on the RN exams exam guide.

The first five questions already include the rationale. Start full practice to unlock the remaining keys, missed-question review, and the rest of the bank.

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