Question 1

A nurse palpating the chest of a patient finds increased fremitus bilaterally. What is the significance of this finding?

Accepted Answer

A)  An expected finding 
B)  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
C)  Bilateral pneumonia 
D)  Bilateral pneumothorax 
A)  An expected finding 
B)  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
C)  Bilateral pneumonia 
D)  Bilateral pneumothorax

Question 2

In reviewing the patient's record, the nurse notes that the patient has air in the subcutaneous tissue. The nurse validates that this patient has crepitus with which finding?

Accepted Answer

A)  Asymmetric expansion of the chest wall on inhalation 
B)  Increased transmission of vocal vibrations on auscultation 
C)  Crackling sensation under the skin of the chest on palpation 
D)  Coarse grating sounds heard over the mediastinum on inspiration 
A)  Asymmetric expansion of the chest wall on inhalation 
B)  Increased transmission of vocal vibrations on auscultation 
C)  Crackling sensation under the skin of the chest on palpation 
D)  Coarse grating sounds heard over the mediastinum on inspiration

Question 3

A nurse inspects a patient's hands and notices clubbing of the fingers. The nurse correlates this finding with what condition?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pulmonary infection 
B)  Trauma to the thorax 
C)  Chronic hypoxemia 
D)  Allergic reaction 
A)  Pulmonary infection 
B)  Trauma to the thorax 
C)  Chronic hypoxemia 
D)  Allergic reaction

Question 4

A nurse examines a patient with a pleural effusion and finds decreased fremitus. What additional abnormal finding should the nurse anticipate during further examination?

Accepted Answer

A)  An increase in the anteroposterior to lateral ratio 
B)  Hyperresonance over the affected area 
C)  Absent breath sounds in the affected area 
D)  Increased vocal fremitus over the affected area 
A)  An increase in the anteroposterior to lateral ratio 
B)  Hyperresonance over the affected area 
C)  Absent breath sounds in the affected area 
D)  Increased vocal fremitus over the affected area

Question 5

Where does a nurse expect to hear bronchovesicular lung sounds in a healthy adult?

Accepted Answer

A)  In the lower lobes 
B)  Over the trachea 
C)  In the apices of the lungs 
D)  Near the sternal border 
A)  In the lower lobes 
B)  Over the trachea 
C)  In the apices of the lungs 
D)  Near the sternal border

Question 6

A patient tells the nurse that she has smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day for 20 years. The nurse records this as how many pack-years?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  20 
C)  40 
D)  60 
A)  10 
B)  20 
C)  40 
D)  60

Question 7

A nurse auscultates low-pitched, coarse snoring sounds in a patient's lungs during inhalation. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take at this time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Palpate the posterior thorax for vocal fremitus. 
B)  Ask the patient to cough and repeat auscultation. 
C)  Auscultate the posterior thorax for vocal sounds. 
D)  Percuss the posterior thorax for tone. 
A)  Palpate the posterior thorax for vocal fremitus. 
B)  Ask the patient to cough and repeat auscultation. 
C)  Auscultate the posterior thorax for vocal sounds. 
D)  Percuss the posterior thorax for tone.

Question 8

During the problem-based history, a patient reports coughing up sputum when lying on the right side, but not when lying on the back or left side. The nurse suspects this patient may have a lung abscess. What additional question does the nurse ask to gather more data?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Does the sputum have an odor?" 
B)  "Do you have chest pain when you take a deep breath?" 
C)  "Have you also experienced tightness in your chest?" 
D)  "Have you coughed up any blood?" 
A)  "Does the sputum have an odor?" 
B)  "Do you have chest pain when you take a deep breath?" 
C)  "Have you also experienced tightness in your chest?" 
D)  "Have you coughed up any blood?"

Question 9

A nurse notices a patient's chest wall moving in during inspiration and out during expiration. What additional assessment must the nurse perform immediately?

Accepted Answer

A)  Palpate for tracheal deviation. 
B)  Auscultate for bronchovesicular breath sounds in the lung periphery. 
C)  Palpate posterior thoracic muscles for tenderness. 
D)  Auscultate for absence of breath sounds in the lung periphery. 
A)  Palpate for tracheal deviation. 
B)  Auscultate for bronchovesicular breath sounds in the lung periphery. 
C)  Palpate posterior thoracic muscles for tenderness. 
D)  Auscultate for absence of breath sounds in the lung periphery.

Question 10

A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a patient with a moderate left pneumothorax. What does this nurse expect to find during the respiratory examination?

Accepted Answer

A)  Increased fremitus over the left chest 
B)  Tracheal deviation to the left side 
C)  Hyporesonant percussion tones over the left chest 
D)  Distant to absent breath sounds over the left chest 
A)  Increased fremitus over the left chest 
B)  Tracheal deviation to the left side 
C)  Hyporesonant percussion tones over the left chest 
D)  Distant to absent breath sounds over the left chest

Question 11

During a history, a nurse notices a patient is short of breath, is using pursed-lip breathing, and maintains a tripod position. Based on these data, what abnormal finding should the nurse expect to find during the examination?

Accepted Answer

A)  Increased tactile fremitus 
B)  Inspiratory and expiratory wheezing 
C)  Tracheal deviation 
D)  An increased anteroposterior diameter 
A)  Increased tactile fremitus 
B)  Inspiratory and expiratory wheezing 
C)  Tracheal deviation 
D)  An increased anteroposterior diameter

Question 12

A nurse is assessing the respiratory system of a healthy adult. Which findings does this nurse expect to find? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Thoracic expansion that is symmetric bilaterally 
B)  Respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min 
C)  Bronchophony revealing clear voice sounds 
D)  Breath sounds clear with vesicular breath sounds heard over most lung fields 
E)  Anteroposterior diameter of the chest about a 1:2 ratio of anteroposterior to lateral diameter
F) Symmetric thorax with ribs sloping downward at about 45 degrees relative to the spine 
A)  Thoracic expansion that is symmetric bilaterally 
B)  Respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min 
C)  Bronchophony revealing clear voice sounds 
D)  Breath sounds clear with vesicular breath sounds heard over most lung fields 
E)  Anteroposterior diameter of the chest about a 1:2 ratio of anteroposterior to lateral diameter
F) Symmetric thorax with ribs sloping downward at about 45 degrees relative to the spine

A nurse palpating the chest of a patient finds increased fremitus bilaterally. What is the significance of this finding?

In reviewing the patient's record, the nurse notes that the patient has air in the subcutaneous tissue. The nurse validates that this patient has crepitus with which finding?

A nurse inspects a patient's hands and notices clubbing of the fingers. The nurse correlates this finding with what condition?

A nurse examines a patient with a pleural effusion and finds decreased fremitus. What additional abnormal finding should the nurse anticipate during further examination?

Where does a nurse expect to hear bronchovesicular lung sounds in a healthy adult?

A patient tells the nurse that she has smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day for 20 years. The nurse records this as how many pack-years?

A nurse auscultates low-pitched, coarse snoring sounds in a patient's lungs during inhalation. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take at this time?

During the problem-based history, a patient reports coughing up sputum when lying on the right side, but not when lying on the back or left side. The nurse suspects this patient may have a lung abscess. What additional question does the nurse ask to gather more data?

A nurse notices a patient's chest wall moving in during inspiration and out during expiration. What additional assessment must the nurse perform immediately?

A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a patient with a moderate left pneumothorax. What does this nurse expect to find during the respiratory examination?

During a history, a nurse notices a patient is short of breath, is using pursed-lip breathing, and maintains a tripod position. Based on these data, what abnormal finding should the nurse expect to find during the examination?

A nurse is assessing the respiratory system of a healthy adult. Which findings does this nurse expect to find? (Select all that apply.)

Introduction to Health Assessment

Obtaining a Health History

Techniques and Equipment for Physical Assessment

General Inspection and Measurement of Vital Signs

Cultural Assessment

Pain Assessment

Mental Health Assessment

Nutritional Assessment

Skin, Hair, and Nails

Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat

Heart and Peripheral Vascular System

Abdomen and Gastrointestinal System

Musculoskeletal System

Neurologic System

Breasts and Axillae

Reproductive System and the Perineum

Developmental Assessment Throughout the Life Span

Assessment of the Infant, Child, and Adolescent

Assessment of the Pregnant Patient

Assessment of the Older Adult

Conducting a Head-to-Toe Examination

Documenting the Comprehensive Health Assessment

Adapting Health Assessment to the Hospitalized Patient

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Exam 11: Lungs and Respiratory System

A nurse palpating the chest of a patient finds increased fremitus bilaterally. What is the significance of this finding?

In reviewing the patient's record, the nurse notes that the patient has air in the subcutaneous tissue. The nurse validates that this patient has crepitus with which finding?

A nurse inspects a patient's hands and notices clubbing of the fingers. The nurse correlates this finding with what condition?

A nurse examines a patient with a pleural effusion and finds decreased fremitus. What additional abnormal finding should the nurse anticipate during further examination?

Where does a nurse expect to hear bronchovesicular lung sounds in a healthy adult?

A patient tells the nurse that she has smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day for 20 years. The nurse records this as how many pack-years?

A nurse auscultates low-pitched, coarse snoring sounds in a patient's lungs during inhalation. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take at this time?

During the problem-based history, a patient reports coughing up sputum when lying on the right side, but not when lying on the back or left side. The nurse suspects this patient may have a lung abscess. What additional question does the nurse ask to gather more data?

A nurse notices a patient's chest wall moving in during inspiration and out during expiration. What additional assessment must the nurse perform immediately?

A nurse in the emergency department is assessing a patient with a moderate left pneumothorax. What does this nurse expect to find during the respiratory examination?

During a history, a nurse notices a patient is short of breath, is using pursed-lip breathing, and maintains a tripod position. Based on these data, what abnormal finding should the nurse expect to find during the examination?

A nurse is assessing the respiratory system of a healthy adult. Which findings does this nurse expect to find? (Select all that apply.)

Introduction to Health Assessment

Obtaining a Health History

Techniques and Equipment for Physical Assessment

General Inspection and Measurement of Vital Signs

Cultural Assessment

Pain Assessment

Mental Health Assessment

Nutritional Assessment

Skin, Hair, and Nails

Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat

Heart and Peripheral Vascular System

Abdomen and Gastrointestinal System

Musculoskeletal System

Neurologic System

Breasts and Axillae

Reproductive System and the Perineum

Developmental Assessment Throughout the Life Span

Assessment of the Infant, Child, and Adolescent

Assessment of the Pregnant Patient

Assessment of the Older Adult

Conducting a Head-to-Toe Examination

Documenting the Comprehensive Health Assessment

Adapting Health Assessment to the Hospitalized Patient

Filters