ATI LPN
Respiratory System Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The parents of an infant with bronchiolitis ask the nurse why their baby's room has a sign on the door that says 'contact precautions' and why the nurses all wear gloves and gowns when they hold him. What is the nurse's best response?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Precautions prevent viral spread' (A) best explains contact precautions for bronchiolitis (RSV), per document (1). Gloves/gowns block droplet/contact transmission (e.g., 10ⶠvirions/mL mucus), protecting others. B's focus on severity is true but less precise. C's protection reverses direction. D's generalization is false. A's clarity 30% hospital spread risk educates, unlike C's inaccuracy, per CDC.
Question 2 of 5
During swallowing, the glottis is covered by
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The epiglottis, a cartilage flap, covers the glottis (laryngeal opening) during swallowing, tilting back to seal the airway and direct food to the esophagus, preventing aspiration. False vocal cords (vestibular folds) and true vocal cords (within the larynx) shape sound, not closure. The Adam's apple (thyroid cartilage) protects the larynx but doesn't cover the glottis. This epiglottal action, a reflex via the vagus nerve, is vital for airway protection, key in choking prevention and understanding dysphagia where this fails, a critical upper respiratory function.
Question 3 of 5
A 34-year-old woman with a history of asthma is admitted to the emergency department. The nurse notes that the client is dyspneic, with a respiratory rate of 35 breaths/minute, nasal flaring, and use of accessory muscles. Auscultation of the lung fields reveals greatly diminished breath sounds. Based on these findings, what action should the nurse take to initiate care of the client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Administering ordered bronchodilators is the priority for this asthmatic client with dyspnea, rapid breathing (35 breaths/minute), nasal flaring, accessory muscle use, and diminished breath sounds signs of severe bronchoconstriction and impending respiratory failure. Bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol) rapidly relax airway smooth muscle, restoring airflow. Oxygen therapy alone (A) delays critical reversal of obstruction; reassessing later risks deterioration. ABGs and x-rays (B) are diagnostic, not immediate fixes, wasting time. Encouraging slow breathing (C) is futile without relieving the physical blockage. Diminished sounds suggest a silent chest,' an emergency requiring swift pharmacologic intervention, often with corticosteroids, to prevent hypoxia a cornerstone of acute asthma management in nursing practice.
Question 4 of 5
A 9-year-old child is admitted to the pediatric unit for treatment of cystic fibrosis. The nurse is assessing the child's respiratory status. Which of the following findings is consistent with cystic fibrosis?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Thick, sticky mucus (A) is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder where defective CFTR protein causes viscous secretions, obstructing airways and fostering infections like bronchitis. This chronic cough is often productive, not nonproductive (B), though early stages may vary. Stridor (C), a high-pitched upper airway sound, suggests laryngeal issues, not CF's lower airway involvement. Unilateral breath sound loss (D) implies focal issues (e.g., pneumothorax), not CF's diffuse pattern. Thick mucus drives CF's respiratory burden recurrent infections, wheezing key in nursing assessment to guide suctioning or chest physiotherapy, distinguishing CF from asthma or acute conditions.
Question 5 of 5
The clinic nurse is providing instructions to a parent of a child with cystic fibrosis regarding the immunization schedule for the child. Which statement should the nurse make to the parent?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse should state (D) that the child with cystic fibrosis (CF) needs the basic immunization series (e.g., DTaP, MMR) plus a yearly influenza vaccine. CF's thick mucus predisposes to respiratory infections, making vaccines essential flu shots reduce exacerbation risk. Altering the schedule (A) or skipping hepatitis (B) or polio (C) lacks rationale; CF doesn't contraindicate these. Full protection against communicable diseases, plus flu prevention, aligns with CF's chronic lung vulnerability, a nursing priority to educate parents on maintaining health and minimizing infection-driven complications.