23.7.0: Review Questions
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Review Questions
1 .
The nurse is explaining the anatomy of the thorax to a group of nursing students. What statement, if made by a student nurse, would indicate an understanding of thoracic anatomy?
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“There are five thoracic vertebrae in total.”
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“The xiphoid process is the superior tip of the sternum.”
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“The main function of the thoracic cage is to protect the thoracic cavity.”
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“The larynx is also commonly called the windpipe.”
2 .
What part of the lungs is the site where gas exchange occurs?
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primary bronchi
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alveoli
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pulmonary artery
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carina
3 .
What is an accurate statement about pressure relationships and breathing mechanics?
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Air flows from areas of lower pressure to higher pressure in pulmonary ventilation.
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Higher transpulmonary pressure results in a smaller, less inflated lung.
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Intrapleural pressure undergoes significant fluctuations during the breathing cycle.
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Intra-alveolar pressure will always equalize with atmospheric pressure.
4 .
What should a nurse say to a patient who asks what the tidal volume (TV) measurement means?
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“Tidal volume is the amount of air that enters your lungs when you’re quietly breathing.”
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“This measurement shows the amount of air that you can exhale after a normal breath.”
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“Tidal volume is the extra amount of air that you can bring into the lungs during a forced inspiration of air.”
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“This will show how much air is left in your lungs after you exhale as much air as possible.”
5 .
The nurse is preparing to obtain the inspiratory capacity (IC) on a patient. What parameters will the nurse use to obtain this information?
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functional residual capacity and tidal volume
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tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume
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sum of all volumes except residual capacity
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expiratory and inspiratory reserve volumes
6 .
The nurse is obtaining a health history on a patient during a focused respiratory assessment. What information provided by the patient would the nurse note as being a potential risk factor for the development of chronic respiratory disorders?
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occasional alcohol use
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getting a flu shot annually
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BMI of 25
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working a sedentary job
7 .
The nurse is performing a focused thorax physical assessment on a patient. What finding does the nurse anticipate?
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asymmetrical chest rise and fall
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anteroposterior-transverse ratio of 1:1
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twenty-five breaths noted per minute
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inspiration that is shorter than expiration
8 .
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted for a COPD exacerbation. What assessment finding would indicate that the condition is becoming more severe?
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oxygen saturation of 92%
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patient has outward curvature of the spine
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intercostal retractions are noted
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patient breathing rate of eighteen breaths a minute
9 .
The nurse observes that a patient has unequal chest expansion during an assessment. What condition does the nurse most suspect the patient has?
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kyphosis
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barrel chest
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fractured ribs
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emphysema
10 .
The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD. What anteroposterior-transverse chest ratio would be most consistent with the patient’s condition?
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1:1
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1:2
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2:1
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1:3
11 .
The nurse is precepting a student nurse and observing the student perform a focused respiratory assessment. What observation would warrant intervention by the nurse?
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The student nurse places the stethoscope directly on the patient’s skin.
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The student nurse positions the patient in a supine position while listening to the lungs.
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The student nurse listens in a side-to-side pattern over the chest and back.
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The student nurse listens in twelve different places on the patient’s chest.
12 .
The nurse is auscultating a patient’s lungs and notices a high-pitched, loud sound over the trachea. What breathing sound is the nurse most likely hearing?
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vesicular
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stridor
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bronchial
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bronchovesicular
13 .
The nurse is auscultating a patient’s lungs and hears wheezes on inspiration. What condition is the most consistent with these findings?
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pneumonia
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asthma
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congestive heart failure
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pleuritis
14 .
The nurse is obtaining a health history on a new patient. The patient reports having difficulty sleeping flat and sleeps in the recliner most nights. How would the nurse document this information in the chart?
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bradypnea
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tachypnea
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apnea
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orthopnea
15 .
The nurse is caring for a patient with a history of COPD. What lung sounds would the nurse most anticipate?
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bradypnea
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friction rub
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stridor
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wheezing
16 .
The nurse is obtaining a health history on a patient being seen for a suspicious lump in the breast. What information, if provided by the patient, would the nurse recognize as a risk factor for breast cancer?
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family history of prostate cancer
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first menstruation cycle at age 14
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first pregnancy at age 26
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never breastfeeding
17 .
The nurse is getting ready to palpate the breasts of a patient to check for abnormal lumps. What position should the nurse place the patient in for the exam?
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prone position
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sitting upright in a chair
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supine with arms raised
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side lithotomy position
18 .
The nurse is providing education to a 50-year-old female about breast cancer screening. What frequency should the nurse recommend the patient get mammograms?
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every other year
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annually
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annually starting at age 55
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every six months
19 .
During a physical assessment, the nurse notices that the patient has swollen axillary lymph nodes. How would the nurse document these findings in the chart?
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lymphedema
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lymphadenopathy
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metastatic breast cancer
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peripheral edema
20 .
The nurse is explaining the role of the lymphatic system to a student nurse. What statement, if made by the student nurse, indicates an understanding of the teaching?
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“It fights off infection in the body.”
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“It transports blood to body organs.”
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“It discards excess fluids and wastes.”
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“It is part of the digestive system.”