ATI LPN
NCLEX PN Questions on Respiratory System Questions
Question 1 of 5
Regarding the chemical control of breathing, which statement is INCORRECT?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: carotid bodies markedly increase firing when arterial PO₂ falls below 60 mmHg, not 70 mmHg, which is a less pronounced threshold. Choice A is true; central chemoreceptors reside in the medulla, sensing CSF pH. ' hypoxia (via peripheral chemoreceptors) enhances CO₂ sensitivity, amplifying ventilation. Choice D is accurate; carotid bodies have exceptionally high blood flow (≈2000 mL/min/100 g) for rapid gas sensing. Choice E (CO₂ dominance) is also true. The carotid bodies' steep response curve begins at ≈60 mmHg, driving significant respiratory stimulation below this level (e.g., SaO₂ < 90%), as seen in hypoxia studies. At 70 mmHg, stimulation is milder, making C's threshold overstated and thus the incorrect statement.
Question 2 of 5
An adolescent client with several flu symptoms calls the advice nurse to ask about using cough suppressants. What suggestion from the nurse would promote better airway clearance?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cough suppressants are medications that reduce the cough reflex, which can be helpful for sleep but may hinder airway clearance during the day when the body needs to expel mucus. For an adolescent with flu symptoms, promoting airway clearance is critical to prevent mucus buildup, which could lead to complications like pneumonia. Using cough suppressants at night allows the client to rest while still enabling productive coughing during the day to clear the airways. Morning, evening, or afternoon use could suppress coughing when it's most needed to expel mucus, especially since flu often involves increased respiratory secretions. The nurse's focus is on balancing symptom relief with the body's natural defense mechanisms, and nighttime use aligns with this goal by prioritizing rest without fully inhibiting airway clearance throughout the day. This approach supports recovery by ensuring mucus is cleared effectively while minimizing discomfort during sleep.
Question 3 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 body's natural defenses against influenza include viscous mucus secretions in the respiratory tract that trap viral particles, preventing deeper penetration, and local immunologic defenses like antibodies and inflammatory responses that neutralize the virus at entry points. This inflammation, triggered by immune cells, fights infection but causes symptoms like swelling or fever. Vasodilation occurs, but lowering body temperature isn't a defense fever actually helps combat viruses. Antihistamines aren't naturally released; they're medications, and catecholamines boost alertness, not immunity. Coughing clears mucus, but antidiuretic hormone inhibition isn't a flu defense it relates to fluid balance. The nurse explains mucus and local immunity as key barriers, educating the client on how the body resists influenza naturally before adaptive immunity fully activates, emphasizing their role in limiting viral spread and aiding recovery.
Question 4 of 5
The school nurse is talking to fifth graders about the use of tissues when blowing one's nose. Which cause of a runny nose should the nurse include in the teaching session?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A runny nose during flu stems from cells lining the respiratory passages dying due to viral attack, releasing fluid and sparking inflammation that boosts mucus production. This immune response traps and expels the virus, a concept fifth graders can grasp as the body's defense, making tissues essential for hygiene. Drinking water hydrates but doesn't cause runny noses excess fluid isn't secreted nasally. Lack of coughing or sneezing might worsen congestion but isn't the trigger mucus forms from infection, not clearance failure. Viruses don't ‘melt' into fluid; they're already microscopic, and fever aids immunity, not liquefaction. The nurse uses this cellular explanation to connect symptoms to infection, encouraging tissue use to manage mucus and curb germ spread, tailoring the lesson to young learners' understanding of flu's effects.
Question 5 of 5
Which adverse reaction should the nurse include in teaching a client who has received the influenza vaccine?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse teaches that a sore muscle at the injection site is a common flu vaccine reaction, caused by needle trauma and local immune response, typically mild and short-lived (1–2 days). This prepares the client for a normal effect, per CDC data, reducing worry. Rhinorrhea and low-grade fever tie more to the live nasal spray, not the inactivated shot most receive. Hives and numbness signal rare allergic reactions, not routine teaching points. Malaise and myalgia occur occasionally but aren't as universal as site soreness. Highlighting this expected outcome ensures the client distinguishes it from serious issues, fostering vaccine trust and adherence by setting realistic post-shot expectations.