ATI RN
Respiratory System Exam Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) includes
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term that encompasses both emphysema and bronchitis. Emphysema is characterized by damage to the air sacs in the lungs, while bronchitis involves inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Asthma, on the other hand, is a separate condition characterized by reversible airway obstruction. Therefore, choices A, B, and C are incorrect, as only emphysema and bronchitis fall under the category of COPD.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient who has been scheduled for a bronchoscopy. How should the nurse prepare the patient for this procedure?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because withholding food and fluids for several hours before a bronchoscopy is important to prevent aspiration during the procedure. When the patient is sedated for the bronchoscopy, there is an increased risk of vomiting, and having an empty stomach reduces this risk. Administering IV fluids (choice A) is not necessary unless clinically indicated. Inserting a peripherally inserted central catheter (choice B) is not typically required for a bronchoscopy. Administering nebulized bronchodilators (choice C) may not be needed for all patients and should be based on the individual's respiratory condition.
Question 3 of 5
An increase in the level of carbon dioxide in the blood will result in a(n):
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: an increase of the respiratory rate. When carbon dioxide levels rise in the blood, it triggers the body to increase the rate of breathing to eliminate excess carbon dioxide through exhalation. This is known as the respiratory drive, controlled by the respiratory centers in the brainstem. Increasing the respiratory rate helps to restore the balance of gases in the blood. Incorrect Choices: A: Decrease in the rate of breathing - This is incorrect because high levels of carbon dioxide would stimulate an increase in breathing rate, not a decrease. C: Decrease of pulmonary ventilation - This is incorrect as an increase in carbon dioxide would typically lead to an increase, not a decrease, in pulmonary ventilation. D: Decrease of the alveolar ventilation rate - This is incorrect because an increase in carbon dioxide would prompt an increase in alveolar ventilation to remove excess carbon dioxide from the blood.
Question 4 of 5
Carbon dioxide and water combine to form
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: carbonic acid. When carbon dioxide and water combine, they form carbonic acid through a chemical reaction known as hydration. This process is essential for the transportation of carbon dioxide in the blood and plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's pH balance. Hydrochloric acid (A) is formed by the reaction of hydrogen chloride gas with water. Oxygen (B) is not a product of the reaction between carbon dioxide and water. Carbaminohemoglobin (D) is a compound formed by the binding of carbon dioxide to hemoglobin in red blood cells, not a direct product of the reaction between carbon dioxide and water.
Question 5 of 5
The pneumotaxic center of the pons
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the pneumotaxic center in the pons modifies the rate and depth of breathing by sending inhibitory signals to the dorsal respiratory group in the medulla, which controls inspiration and expiration. It does not set the at-rest respiratory pattern like option A, prolong inspiration like option B, or suppress the expiratory center in the medulla like option D. This center plays a crucial role in fine-tuning breathing patterns to maintain appropriate oxygen levels in the body.