ATI LPN
Introduction of Respiratory System NCLEX Questions PN Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which of these microbes causes 'walking pneumonia'?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes 'walking pneumonia,' an atypical, mild lung infection where patients remain ambulatory lacking a cell wall, it resists some antibiotics, needing drugs like azithromycin. Klebsiella pneumoniae causes severe, necrotizing pneumonia, often in alcoholics. Streptococcus pneumoniae leads to classic bacterial pneumonia with lobar consolidation. Chlamydophila pneumoniae also causes atypical pneumonia but is less commonly termed 'walking.' M. pneumoniae's subtle symptoms (dry cough, fatigue) and slow spread in close-knit groups distinguish it, requiring specific lab tests like PCR for confirmation. This milder presentation contrasts with the others' acute severity, guiding treatment and highlighting atypical pneumonia's unique microbial etiology.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client with a temperature of 39°C (102.5°F), productive cough, chills, shortness of breath, and malaise. Which diagnostic test should the nurse expect to prepare the client for? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chest x-ray (A), sputum culture, and arterial blood gases (A, B, D) diagnose pneumonia per the document. X-ray (A) confirms consolidation (e.g., lobar opacity). Sputum (B) identifies pathogens (e.g., S. pneumoniae), ABGs (D) assess hypoxemia (PaOâ‚‚ <80 mmHg). Polysomnography (C) tests sleep apnea, not pneumonia. MRI is rare here. A's priority visualizing lung infiltrates drives diagnosis, distinguishing it as the key test.
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following statements is true about involuntary breathing?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Involuntary breathing is regulated by neurons in the medulla and pons, brain stem regions that set the respiratory rhythm. The medulla's dorsal respiratory group initiates inspiration, while the pons fine-tunes it, responding to CO2 levels via chemoreceptors, ensuring automatic breathing without conscious effort. Bronchioles adjust airflow but don't control rhythm. Pulmonary arterioles regulate blood flow, not breathing. The alveolar-capillary network facilitates gas exchange, not its initiation. This neural control, via the phrenic nerve to the diaphragm, underscores breathing's autonomic nature, vital for survival, distinguishing it from voluntary overrides like holding breath, a key concept in respiratory neuroscience.
Question 4 of 5
Which of these statements is true about internal respiration?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Internal respiration is the exchange of gases oxygen from blood to tissues, carbon dioxide from tissues to blood occurring at the cellular level via diffusion across capillaries. ATP production is cellular respiration's outcome, not the exchange itself. Alveolar-blood exchange is external respiration, not internal. Breathing from atmosphere to alveoli is ventilation, not respiration's tissue phase. This process sustains metabolism, delivering oxygen for energy and removing CO2 waste, distinct from lung-based external respiration, a vital concept in understanding systemic oxygen transport and tissue oxygenation in physiology.
Question 5 of 5
Which of the following is used to reduce friction between the layers of membranes surrounding the heart?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Pericardial fluid, a serous secretion between the pericardium's parietal and visceral (epicardium) layers, reduces friction as the heart beats, ensuring smooth motion within the sac. Synovial fluid lubricates joints, not the heart. The endocardium lines heart chambers, not reducing external friction. Pleural fluid lubricates lung pleura, not the pericardium. This fluid's role about 15-50 mL prevents adhesion during cardiac cycles, a vital mechanism for uninterrupted pumping, central to cardiac physiology and relevant in pericardial effusion where excess fluid disrupts function.