A nurse is caring for a male client with emphysema who is receiving oxygen. The nurse assesses the oxygen flow rate to ensure that it does not exceed:

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Question 1 of 5

A nurse is caring for a male client with emphysema who is receiving oxygen. The nurse assesses the oxygen flow rate to ensure that it does not exceed:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 2 L/min. The rationale is that in emphysema, high oxygen flow rates can cause oxygen toxicity. The recommended maximum flow rate for patients with emphysema is typically 2 L/min to prevent oxygen toxicity. Choice A (1 L/min) may not provide sufficient oxygen, choice C (6 L/min) and choice D (10 L/min) are too high and can lead to oxygen toxicity in patients with emphysema. Therefore, choice B is the most appropriate and safe option for this client.

Question 2 of 5

The nurse recognizes that a rising PaCO2 level in a COPD patient means that:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why answer C is correct: 1. In COPD, impaired lung function leads to inadequate ventilation and CO2 retention. 2. Rising PaCO2 indicates inadequate CO2 removal, leading to respiratory acidosis. 3. Respiratory acidosis is characterized by low pH and high PaCO2 levels. 4. This condition can worsen COPD symptoms and lead to respiratory failure. Summary: Option A is incorrect as rising PaCO2 indicates hypoxemia. Option B is incorrect as ventilation-perfusion imbalance worsens in COPD. Option D is incorrect as anticholinergics do not directly affect PaCO2 levels in COPD.

Question 3 of 5

In describing the parts of the respiratory system, the word 'septum' designates a partition in the

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: nasal cavities. The term "septum" refers to a partition or dividing wall that separates two cavities. In the context of the respiratory system, the nasal septum divides the nasal cavities into left and right sides. This separation helps to regulate airflow and also provides structural support for the nasal passages. Other choices are incorrect because: A: The larynx is not typically associated with a septum. It is primarily responsible for vocalization and protecting the airway. C: The pharynx is a passageway for air and food, but it does not contain a septum dividing it into distinct sections. D: The glottis is the space between the vocal cords in the larynx and does not have a septum separating it into parts.

Question 4 of 5

Hemoglobin gives up O2 when

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: carbon dioxide concentrations are high. When carbon dioxide levels are high, it leads to a decrease in blood pH, triggering hemoglobin to release oxygen more readily through the Bohr effect. This is a physiological response to maintain homeostasis. The other choices (B, C, D) do not directly affect the release of oxygen from hemoglobin.

Question 5 of 5

During internal and external respiration, gases move by

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: diffusion. During internal and external respiration, gases move from areas of high concentration to low concentration through passive diffusion. This process is driven by the concentration gradient, allowing gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide to exchange in the lungs and tissues. Osmosis (A) is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane, not gases. Active transport (B) requires energy and moves substances against their concentration gradient, which is not how gases move during respiration. Endocytosis (D) is a process where cells engulf substances by forming vesicles, not how gases are exchanged in respiration.

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