Exam 29: Respiratory System Function, Assessment, and Therapeutic Measures

The patient arrives to the emergency department with a stab wound to the chest. The HCP places two chest tubes to drain air and blood from the patient's thoracic cavity. The nurse sets up the chest tube drainage system. Where should the nurse place the system?

The nurse recognizes that the elderly patient's poor perfusion of body tissues is due to the patient's diagnosis of a blood disorder. Which of the following would best explain the patient's issue?

The LPN/LVN is caring for a patient with COPD who is using oxygen therapy at 2 L/min. The patient becomes short of breath and requests that the oxygen flow rate to be increased. What is the LPN/LVN's next step?

The nurse recognizes that the patient is experiencing a respiratory emergency when the patient has wheezes and stridor. What do these sounds indicate?

The nurse is preparing to perform a routine cleaning of the patient's cuffed tracheostomy. The nurse notes that the cuff has been deflated since the patient's weaning off of the mechanical ventilator. What is the nursing intervention at this time?

The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic lung disease who is receiving oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. Which observation indicates to the nurse that the system is functioning as expected?

The nurse is assessing a patient who has a history of COPD. What are some of the expected findings during the assessment? (Select all that apply.)

The patient returns to the medical unit after a pulmonary angiography. Which instructions by the nurse would help prevent complications from the test?

A patient's arterial blood gas analysis shows a PaCO₂ of 68 mm Hg. What action should the nurse take first?

The nurse is reviewing the results of a patient's pulmonary function studies. Which result indicates the patient's resting tidal volume is within normal limits? 1.200 to 400 mL

The nurse is caring for a patient who is on a ventilator and the high-pressure alarm sounds. What should the nurse consider as the cause for this alarm?

The nurse is using the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance. The nurse is implementing the intervention of ambulating or turning the patient every 2 hours. What is the rationale for this intervention?

The nurse is caring for patients in a respiratory unit and hears a ventilator alarm from the hallway. Which action should the nurse take first?

A patient with a chest drainage system is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. The nurse notes vigorous bubbling in the water seal chamber of the system. What should the nurse do?

The LPN/LVN is caring for a patient with a chest tube. The nurse notes that the dressing over the insertion site is soiled. What is the most appropriate step for the nurse to take?

The nurse places a patient who is experiencing dyspnea in the Fowler's position. What is the rationale for the nurse to use this position?

The nurse instructs the patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on methods to lower the risk of lung complications. One technique is the "long huff" cough. What is the rationale for this type of coughing exercise?