Exam 26: Nursing Assessment: Respiratory System

A patient is admitted to the emergency department complaining of sudden onset shortness of breath and diagnosed with a possible pulmonary embolus. To confirm the diagnosis, the nurse will anticipate preparing the patient for a

A patient with COPD has a "barrel chest." The nurse would expect the chest x-ray report to indicate that there is

While assessing the role-relationship health pattern in a patient with respiratory problems, the nurse should specifically ask about

The nurse is admitting a patient who has a diagnosis of an acute asthma attack. Which information obtained by the nurse indicates that the patient may need teaching regarding medication use?

A patient is scheduled for a spiral CT scan to rule out a pulmonary embolus. Which information obtained by the nurse is most important to communicate to the health care provider before the examination?

A patient with chronic hypoxemia (SaO₂ levels of 89%-90%) caused by COPD has just been admitted with increasing shortness of breath. In planning for discharge, which of these actions by the nurse will be most effective in improving compliance with discharge teaching?

When performing an assessment of the patient's respiratory system, the nurse uses the following illustrated technique to evaluate

On auscultation of a patient's lungs, the nurse hears short, high-pitched sounds just before the end of inspiration in the right and left lower lobes. The nurse records this finding as

When auscultating a patient's chest while the patient takes a deep breath, the nurse hears loud, high-pitched, "blowing" sounds at both lung bases. The nurse will document these as

An 80-year-old patient breathing room air has an ABG analysis. The nurse interprets which results as normal?

A patient with a chronic cough with blood-tinged sputum undergoes a bronchoscopy. Following the bronchoscopy, the nurse should

While caring for a patient with respiratory disease, the nurse observes that the patient's SpO₂ drops from 94% to 85% when the patient ambulates in the hall. The nurse determines that

When admitting a patient who has a pleural effusion, which technique will the nurse use to assess for tactile fremitus?

A patient who has a 30-pack-year history of smoking asks the nurse, "How does smoking really harm my lungs?" The nurse's response will be based on the effect of smoking on

In analyzing the results of a patient's blood gas analysis, the nurse will be most concerned about an

When assessing the respiratory system of a 78-year-old patient, which of these data indicate that the nurse should take immediate action?

The nurse is observing a student who is auscultating a patient's lungs. Which action by the student indicates that the nurse should intervene?

The health care provider performs a thoracentesis on a patient with a right pleural effusion. In preparing the patient for the procedure, the nurse positions the patient

A patient is admitted with a metabolic acidosis of unknown origin. Based on this diagnosis, the nurse would expect the patient to have

A hypothermic patient is admitted to the emergency department, and pulse oximetry (SpO₂) indicates that the O₂ saturation is 95%. Which action should the nurse take next?