ATI LPN
NCLEX PN Questions Respiratory System Questions
Question 1 of 5
Regarding surfactant, which statement is INCORRECT?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: long-term 100% O₂ therapy damages Type II pneumocytes, reducing surfactant, not increasing it (O₂ toxicity). Choice A is true; surfactant is ≈90% phospholipids (e.g., DPPC). ' hydrophobic tails face the lumen, hydrophilic heads face the cell, reducing tension. Choice D is accurate; smoking impairs surfactant via oxidative stress. Choice E (edema from absence) is true. Surfactant lowers alveolar surface tension (P = 2T/R), stabilizing lungs, but hyperoxia disrupts production, contradicting B's claim of increase, making it the false statement.
Question 2 of 5
A family of five checks into an urgent care center with symptoms of the flu. Which members of the family are at increased risk of significant complications? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Influenza poses greater risks to individuals with compromised immune systems, chronic illnesses, or developmental vulnerabilities. The grandmother with COPD faces heightened risk due to her chronic respiratory condition, which impairs lung function and makes flu complications like pneumonia more likely. The father with HIV has a weakened immune system, increasing susceptibility to severe flu outcomes. The newborn baby girl, with an immature immune system, is also at high risk, as infants under six months cannot receive the flu vaccine and struggle to fight infections. The mother with anemia, while possibly fatigued, does not have a condition that inherently heightens flu complication risks to the same degree. The 8-year-old boy, assuming no chronic conditions, is less vulnerable. The nurse must identify those most likely to suffer severe outcomes here, the grandmother, father, and newborn based on their health status and age-related vulnerabilities, ensuring they receive prioritized care and monitoring.
Question 3 of 5
A worried parent of a 6-month-old infant wants to know if the child needs to be seen by a healthcare provider for flu-like symptoms. Which question should the nurse ask to best determine the acuity of the child's illness?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Asking if the infant is having trouble breathing best determines acuity because respiratory distress in a 6-month-old with flu-like symptoms signals a potentially life-threatening condition, like bronchiolitis or pneumonia, requiring immediate evaluation. Infants have small airways and immature lungs, making breathing difficulty a red flag symptoms like rapid breathing or grunting indicate severity. Temperature matters, but fever alone doesn't assess urgency as precisely. Nasal drainage is common in flu but not inherently acute. Symptom onset helps timeline illness but doesn't pinpoint critical status. The nurse prioritizes breathing difficulty because, in infants under six months (too young for flu shots), respiratory compromise is a leading cause of flu-related hospitalization, guiding the parent to seek care if this symptom is present, ensuring timely intervention for the vulnerable child.
Question 4 of 5
The healthcare provider understands that teaching has been effective when the patient verbalizes the following regarding influenza vaccinations:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Effective teaching means the patient understands the influenza vaccine (injectable form) is an inactivated virus, unable to cause flu but possibly triggering mild cold-like symptoms (e.g., soreness, low fever) from immune activation. This reflects accurate knowledge unlike the live nasal spray, the shot doesn't infect, and side effects are transient, not illness. Believing it's live and causes 4–7 days of sickness misinterprets the shot's nature. Vaccines prevent, not cure, flu, so that's incorrect. Annual vaccination is recommended due to strain changes, contradicting last year's shot sufficing. The provider confirms comprehension when the patient grasps the vaccine's mechanism and mild effects, ensuring informed acceptance and adherence, critical for public health protection against evolving flu viruses.
Question 5 of 5
A client asks the nurse if the body possesses any natural defenses against influenza. What information about natural defenses should the nurse provide to the client?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse explains that viscous mucus secretions trap influenza viruses in the respiratory tract, while local immunologic defenses antibodies and inflammation neutralize them at entry, forming the body's first line against flu. This response, causing symptoms like swelling, limits viral spread before systemic immunity kicks in. Lowering body temperature isn't a defense fever helps fight viruses. Antihistamines aren't naturally released, and catecholamines don't target flu. Coughing clears mucus, but antidiuretic hormone inhibition relates to hydration, not defense. This accurate info highlights mucus and local immunity's protective roles, educating the client on innate barriers, enhancing understanding of flu resistance and symptom origins.