ATI LPN
Introduction of Respiratory System NCLEX Questions PN Questions
Question 1 of 5
Fick's law states that:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fick's law states gas diffusion rate (V) = (A · D · (P1-P2)) / T, where A is area, D is diffusion constant, P1-P2 is pressure gradient, and T is thickness. Choice A is the alveolar ventilation equation, not Fick's. Choice C is the pH definition, unrelated. Choice D is Boyle's law (gas volume-pressure). Choice E is a temperature ratio misstep. Fick's law governs O₂ and CO₂ transfer across the alveolar-capillary membrane, emphasizing area and gradient (e.g., DₗO₂ ≈ 25 mL/min/mmHg), inversely proportional to thickness. B accurately captures this principle, critical for lung gas exchange calculations.
Question 2 of 5
The pediatric nurse is talking to a young child's grandmother, who cares for the child during the work week. The grandmother can't remember whether she gave aspirin or acetaminophen when the child had a fever. What is the best advice the pediatric nurse can give the grandmother for the future?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aspirin is contraindicated in children with fever, especially during viral illnesses like the flu, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but severe condition affecting the liver and brain. Acetaminophen is a safer choice for fever reduction in children, widely recommended by healthcare providers. Advising the grandmother to avoid aspirin protects the child from this potentially fatal complication, which is linked to aspirin use in viral infections. Keeping a record of medications is helpful but secondary to ensuring safety by avoiding harmful drugs. Telling the grandmother not to use acetaminophen would be incorrect, as it's effective and safe when dosed properly. Claiming aspirin and acetaminophen are equally suitable ignores the significant risks associated with aspirin in this context. The nurse's primary responsibility is to prevent harm, making the advice to avoid aspirin the most critical and evidence-based recommendation for future fever management in the child.
Question 3 of 5
A 67-year-old client is seen in the health clinic for influenza. The nurse knows that influenza markedly increases the client's risk of developing which condition?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Influenza in a 67-year-old increases the risk of sinusitis and otitis media, secondary infections stemming from viral irritation of the upper respiratory tract. Sinusitis arises when flu causes sinus inflammation, trapping bacteria, while otitis media follows eustachian tube dysfunction from nasal congestion, common in older adults with weakened immunity. Arthritis and Cushing's syndrome are unrelated flu doesn't affect joints or cortisol long-term. Aortic valve prolapse involves heart structure, not infection risk. Gastritis and goiter concern the stomach and thyroid, not respiratory complications. The nurse recognizes sinusitis and otitis media as frequent flu sequelae in seniors, whose immune response and mucosal clearance decline with age, necessitating monitoring for symptoms like ear pain or sinus pressure to prevent untreated bacterial superinfections that could worsen the client's condition.
Question 4 of 5
The residents and staff of a nursing home are in a geographical area with reports of confirmed influenza cases. The nurse administrator has decided to offer antiviral medication to all staff and residents as a preventive measure. When is it safe for them to stop taking the drugs?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Antiviral prophylaxis (e.g., oseltamivir) in a nursing home during a flu outbreak aims to prevent infection amid high-risk residents and staff. Stopping after 7 days with no new cases aligns with CDC guidance, indicating the outbreak is controlled transmission risk drops when no new infections emerge over a week, roughly the flu's incubation and contagious period. No deaths in 2 days doesn't confirm outbreak end cases could persist. Five days of medication is a treatment duration, not prophylaxis, which often extends longer (e.g., 7–14 days) in outbreaks. Immunity takes weeks via vaccination, not antivirals, which only suppress viral replication. The nurse administrator ensures safety by tying cessation to epidemiological evidence of outbreak resolution, protecting this vulnerable population where flu spreads rapidly, balancing efficacy and drug exposure.
Question 5 of 5
Appropriate nursing diagnoses for a client admitted with pneumonia secondary to influenza include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For pneumonia secondary to influenza, ineffective breathing pattern is a key nursing diagnosis, reflecting lung inflammation and mucus obstructing airflow, causing shortness of breath or hypoxia central to this condition's threat. Disturbed sleep pattern fits, as coughing and discomfort disrupt rest, hindering recovery. Self-care deficit: bathing applies if weakness limits hygiene, common in severe respiratory illness. Chronic pain, implying long-term issues, doesn't match pneumonia causes acute pain (e.g., pleuritic), not chronic. The nurse prioritizes ineffective breathing due to its life-threatening potential, guiding interventions like oxygen or positioning, while addressing sleep and self-care supports holistic care, aligning with the client's acute respiratory and fatigue challenges.