At the onset of an acute asthma attack, patients commonly experience difficulty breathing and:
a) expiratory wheezing.
b) rales and rhonchi.
c) audible stridor.
d) profound cyanosis.
expiratory wheezing.
In a healthy individual, the brain stem stimulates breathing on the basis of:
a) increased oxygen levels.
b) decreased carbon dioxide levels.
c) decreased oxygen levels.
d) increased carbon dioxide levels.
increased carbon dioxide levels.
In what area of the lungs does respiration occur?
a) bronchi
b) alveoli
c) capillaries
d) trachea
alveoli
A conscious and alert 29-year-old female with a history of asthma complains of difficulty breathing that began after her morning jog. The temperature outside is 40�F (5�C). On exam, you hear bilateral expiratory wheezing. After providing 100% oxygen, you
determine if she has been prescribed a beta-agonist inhaler.
You are dispatched to an apartment complex where a 21-year-old female has apparently overdosed on several narcotic medications. She is semiconscious and has slow, shallow respirations. You should:
a) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted venti
insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisted ventilation.
A 22-year-old female patient is complaining of dyspnea and numbness and tingling in her hands and feet after an argument with her fianc�. Her respirations are 40 breaths/min. You should:
a) request a paramedic to give her a sedative drug.
b) provide reass
provide reassurance and give oxygen as needed.
A 59-year-old male with a history of emphysema complains of an acute worsening of his dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain following a forceful cough. Your assessment reveals that he has a barrel-shaped chest, unilaterally diminished breath sounds, and tachyc
spontaneous pneumothorax
You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried blood
acute pulmonary embolism
Which of the following statements regarding pulse oximetry is correct?
a) The pulse oximeter is a valuable assessment tool that measures the percentage of red blood cells that contain hemoglobin molecules.
b) Pulse oximetry measures the percentage of hemo
Pulse oximetry measures the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen, but does not measure the actual hemoglobin content of the blood.
When assessing for fluid collection in the lungs during auscultation of lung sounds, you should:
a) auscultate the posterior chest first and compare the apex of one lung to the base of the opposite lung.
b) start at the lower lung fields and determine at
start at the lower lung fields and determine at which level you start hearing clear breath sounds.
An alert patient presents with a regular pattern of inhalation and exhalation and breath sounds that are clear and equal on both sides of the chest. These findings are consistent with:
a) respiratory difficulty.
b) adequate air exchange.
c) an obstructed
adequate air exchange.
A 62-year-old man with a history of congestive heart failure presents with severe respiratory distress and an oxygen saturation of 82%. When you auscultate his lungs, you hear widespread rales. He is conscious and alert, is able to follow simple commands,
apply a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, monitor his blood pressure, and observe him for signs of improvement or deterioration.
You receive a call for a 70-year-old female with respiratory distress. Her husband tells you that she has congestive heart failure; however, he does not think that she has been taking her medications as prescribed. The patient is laboring to breathe, appe
assist her ventilations with a bag-mask device.
Acute pulmonary edema would MOST likely develop as the result of:
a) right-sided heart failure.
b) severe hyperventilation.
c) an upper airway infection.
d) toxic chemical inhalation.
toxic chemical inhalation.
The respiratory distress that accompanies emphysema is caused by:
a) repeated exposure to cigarette smoke.
b) chronic stretching of the alveolar walls.
c) acute fluid accumulation in the alveoli.
d) massive constriction of the bronchioles.
chronic stretching of the alveolar walls.
Weakening of the airway in patients with chronic bronchitis is the result of:
a) loss of the lubricating substance that facilitates alveolar expansion.
b) destruction of protective mechanisms that remove foreign particles.
c) airway irritation caused by a
destruction of protective mechanisms that remove foreign particles.
When administering supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient with a chronic lung disease, you should:
a) begin with a low oxygen flow rate, even if the patient is unresponsive, because high-flow oxygen may depress his or her breathing.
b) recall that mos
adjust the flow rate accordingly until you see symptom improvement, but be prepared to assist his or her ventilations.
Harsh, high-pitched inspiratory sounds are characteristic of:
a) rales.
b) rhonchi.
c) wheezing.
d) stridor.
stridor.
Alkalosis is a condition that occurs when:
a) dangerous acids accumulate in the bloodstream.
b) the level of carbon dioxide in the blood increases.
c) slow, shallow breathing eliminates too much carbon dioxide.
d) blood acidity is reduced by excessive bre
blood acidity is reduced by excessive breathing.
A pleural effusion is MOST accurately defined as:
a) a bacterial infection of the lung tissue.
b) fluid accumulation outside the lung
c) diffuse collapsing of the alveoli.
d) a unilaterally collapsed lung.
fluid accumulation outside the lung
The two processes that occur during respiration are:
a) diffusion and oxygenation.
b) oxygenation and ventilation.
c) ventilation and diffusion.
d) inspiration and expiration.
inspiration and expiration.
Which of the following statements regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is correct?
a) The onset of SARS is typically marked by acute, severe pneumonia.
b) SARS is a viral infection that often begins with flulike symptoms.
c) SARS is most com
SARS is a viral infection that often begins with flulike symptoms.
Hyperventilation could be associated with all of the following, EXCEPT:
a) a narcotic overdose.
b) a respiratory infection.
c) an overdose of aspirin.
d) high blood glucose levels.
a narcotic overdose.
While auscultating an elderly woman's breath sounds, you hear low-pitched "rattling" sounds at the bases of both of her lungs. With which of the following conditions is this finding MOST consistent?
a) aspiration pneumonia
b) widespread atelectasis
c) acu
aspiration pneumonia
When the level of arterial carbon dioxide rises above normal:
a) exhalation lasts longer than inhalation.
b) respirations increase in rate and depth.
c) the brain stem inhibits respirations.
d) respirations decrease in rate and depth.
respirations increase in rate and depth
Which of the following statements regarding anaphylaxis is correct?
a) Most anaphylactic reactions occur within 60 minutes after exposure.
b) Patients with asthma are at lower risk of developing anaphylaxis.
c) Anaphylaxis is characterized by airway swell
Anaphylaxis is characterized by airway swelling and hypotension.
Which of the following statements regarding the hypoxic drive is MOST correct?
a) Chronic carbon dioxide elimination often results in activation of the hypoxic drive.
b) The hypoxic drive stimulates a person to breathe on the basis of low oxygen levels.
c
The hypoxic drive stimulates a person to breathe on the basis of low oxygen levels.
A 60-year-old male presents with acute respiratory distress. He is conscious and alert, has pink and dry skin, and has respirations of 24 breaths/min with adequate depth. Which of the following treatment modalities is MOST appropriate for this patient?
a)
oxygen via nonrebreathing mask and a focused secondary assessment
Asthma is caused by a response of the:
a) respiratory system.
b) endocrine system.
c) immune system.
d) cardiovascular system.
immune system.
Which of the following conditions would LEAST likely result in hypoxia?
a) pleural effusion
b) severe anxiety
c) prolonged seizures
d) pulmonary edema
severe anxiety
Albuterol is a generic name for:
a) Alupent.
b) Singulair.
c) Proventil.
d) Atrovent.
Proventil.
A young female is unconscious after intentionally ingesting a large amount of aspirin. You will MOST likely find her respirations:
a) slow and shallow.
b) slow and deep.
c) rapid and shallow.
d) deep and rapid.
deep and rapid.
Dyspnea is MOST accurately defined as:
a) labored breathing with reduced tidal volume.
b) a marked increase in the exhalation phase.
c) shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
d) a complete cessation of respiratory effort.
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
You are assisting an asthma patient with his prescribed metered-dose inhaler. After the patient takes a deep breath and depresses the inhaler, you should:
a) instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can.
b) immediately reapply the oxy
instruct him to hold his breath for as long as he comfortably can.