ATI LPN
Exam Questions on Respiratory System Questions
Question 1 of 5
Lobar pneumonia (old paper)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lobar pneumonia involves red to grey hepatization (B), marking RBC disintegration in consolidation. Choice A is false; Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause. Choice C is incorrect; productive cough is typical. Choice D is wrong; atypical pneumonia, not lobar, links to immunosuppression. Choice E (age-specific) is a marker, not cause. Page 750 details B's sequence congestion to resolution via hepatization reflects S pneumoniae's progression, unlike A's rarity or C's cough denial.
Question 2 of 5
In which stage of pertussis is the characteristic whooping sound made?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pertussis, or whooping cough, progresses through stages. The catarrhal stage mimics a cold with runny nose and mild cough. The paroxysmal stage follows, featuring severe, uncontrollable coughing fits ending in a high-pitched 'whoop' as air is inhaled forcefully through a narrowed airway Bordetella pertussis's toxin damages cilia, causing this. Convalescence is recovery, with diminishing cough. Prodromal isn't a recognized stage here catarrhal serves as the early phase. The whooping sound in the paroxysmal stage, peaking 2-6 weeks after onset, is diagnostic, reflecting airway obstruction and mucus buildup, critical for identifying this vaccine-preventable disease and initiating supportive care and antibiotics.
Question 3 of 5
In the United States, most histoplasmosis cases occur
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Histoplasmosis, from Histoplasma capsulatum, thrives in soil enriched by bird or bat droppings, peaking in the Mississippi River Valley, where humid conditions favor spore dispersal, causing lung infections via inhalation. The Pacific Northwest has fewer cases cooler, less bat-heavy. The desert southwest suits coccidioidomycosis, not histoplasmosis. The Colorado River Valley lacks the specific ecology for Histoplasma. The Mississippi region's 'histo belt' links to farming and river systems, driving endemicity cases mimic flu or progress to disseminated disease in the immunocompromised, requiring itraconazole, unlike other regions' fungal profiles, key for geographic disease mapping.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is preparing discharge instructions for the parents of a young child recovering from pneumonia. Which information should the nurse provide to help prevent the reoccurrence of the disease?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Complete all prescribed medications' (B) prevents pneumonia recurrence by eradicating pathogens (e.g., S. pneumoniae), per AAP guidelines. Reporting symptoms (A) is reactive, not preventive. Vaccinations (C) protect long-term but not immediate recurrence. Rest (D) aids recovery, not prevention. The document's answer (B) ensures antibiotic compliance unfinished courses (e.g., 5 vs. 10 days) risk resistant bacteria, distinguishing it from A's monitoring or C's future focus.
Question 5 of 5
In which part of the respiratory system does gaseous exchange take place?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Gaseous exchange occurs in the alveoli, tiny air sacs in the lungs where oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide exits, facilitated by their thin walls and vast surface area surrounded by capillaries. The pharynx conducts air but lacks exchange surfaces. The larynx manages airflow and sound, not diffusion. The trachea transports air to the lungs, lined with cilia and mucus for filtering, not gas exchange. Alveoli's unique structure thin, moist, and capillary-rich optimizes this process, driven by concentration gradients, making them the respiratory system's exchange hub. This distinction is vital for understanding respiration's purpose: delivering oxygen to tissues and removing waste, a cornerstone of pulmonary physiology and clinical respiratory care.