ATI RN
Practice Questions for Respiratory System Questions
Question 1 of 5
A long-term COPD client is receiving oxygen at 1 L/minute. Her visiting cousin decides she "doesn't look too good" and increases her oxygen to 7 L/minute. What should the nurse's initial action be?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Immediately decrease the oxygen. Increasing oxygen without physician's order can lead to oxygen toxicity in COPD patients. Step-by-step rationale: 1. Assess the client's condition. 2. Determine the client's baseline oxygen therapy. 3. Recognize that sudden increase in oxygen can suppress the respiratory drive in COPD patients. 4. Decrease oxygen to the prescribed level. Summary: A: Inadequate response, as oxygen adjustment is necessary. C: Not immediate action, physician notification can follow. D: Pertinent to assess, but not the initial action needed in this scenario.
Question 2 of 5
Which vertebrate body system is most closely associated functionally with respiration?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: circulatory system. This system is most closely associated with respiration as it transports oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and removes carbon dioxide. The circulatory system includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood. The other choices (A: urinary, B: digestive, C: endocrine) are not directly involved in the process of respiration and do not play a significant role in the exchange of gases in the body.
Question 3 of 5
Smoking has been shown to cause
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Smoking causes bronchitis due to inflammation of bronchial tubes, emphysema by damaging air sacs in lungs, and lung cancer from carcinogens. Therefore, "D: all of the above" is correct as smoking leads to all these respiratory health issues. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as smoking is linked to all three conditions.
Question 4 of 5
Asphyxia occurs due to
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Rise in level of CO2. Asphyxia occurs when there is a buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the body, leading to a lack of oxygen supply to tissues. When CO2 levels rise, it can displace oxygen in the bloodstream, causing respiratory distress and potential suffocation. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because a fall in CO2 levels, a rise in O2 levels, or a fall in O2 levels do not directly cause asphyxia. This highlights the importance of understanding the physiological processes involved in respiration to identify the correct answer.
Question 5 of 5
The function of tracheal cilia is to
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pass mucus out. Tracheal cilia help move mucus, which contains dust, debris, and pathogens, out of the respiratory tract to prevent infections and maintain clear airways. This process is known as mucociliary clearance. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because tracheal cilia do not pass mucus in, pass air out, or pass air in. Tracheal cilia specifically function to clear mucus out of the respiratory tract.