Medical Tests Medical Tests Certifications CEN Questions & Answers

• Question 61:

  What is the primary action of aminophylline (theophylline) when given for acute bronchitis?

  A. Promote expectoration.

  B. Suppress the cough.

  C. Relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial airway.

  D. Prevent infection.

  Correct Answer: C

  Aminophylline relaxes the smooth muscle of the bronchial airway. Aminophylline is a bronchodilator. This allows the airway to open so that the patient is able to breathe easier.

• Question 62:

  Your patient with emphysema is receiving oxygen. What flow rate would you not want to exceed for this patient?

  A. 1 L/min

  B. 2 L/min

  C. 6 L/min

  D. 10 L/min

  Correct Answer: B

  The oxygen level for an emphysema patient should not exceed 2 L/min. The patient has been in a longstanding hypercapnia, which leads to the patient's drive to breathe being triggered by low oxygen levels. Too much oxygen would lead to the patient losing their drive to breathe.

• Question 63:

  Which diagnostic test would confirm a diagnosis of tuberculosis?

  A. Bronchoscopy

  B. Chest x-ray

  C. Sputum culture

  D. Tuberculin skin test

  Correct Answer: C

  A sputum culture would confirm the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The culture would isolate the bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A tuberculin skin test leads to a presumptive diagnosis. A chest x-ray would show evidence of graunulomatous disease.

• Question 64:

  In which position would a patient with emphysema be able to enhance the effectiveness of breathing?

  A. On the side, lying in bed

  B. Sitting in a recliner

  C. Sitting up in bed

  D. Sitting on the side of the bed and leaning on an overbed table

  Correct Answer: D

  The patient with emphysema would be able to enhance their breathing by sitting on the side of the bed and leaning on an overbed table. Other effective positions for the patient would be resting the elbows on the knees and standing while leaning against a wall.

• Question 65:

  You are assessing a patient with acute exacerbation of COPD. What would you expect to find on this assessment?

  A. Increased oxygen saturation

  B. Hypocapnia

  C. A hyperinflated chest on x-ray film

  D. A widened diaphragm on chest x-ray film

  Correct Answer: C

  The patient with COPD in exacerbation would have a hyperinflated chest on x-ray film. Other signs and symptoms would include hypoxemia, hypercapnia, dyspnea and use of accessory muscles. The diaphragm would be flattened with this patient.

• Question 66:

  You are caring for an unconscious patient who has had an arterial blood gas drawn. The results reveal a pH of 7.30, low bicarbonate, a normal carbon dioxide level, normal oxygen level and an elevated potassium level. What would the diagnosis be for this patient based on the laboratory results?

  A. Metabolic acidosis

  B. Respiratory acidosis

  C. Combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis

  D. Overcompensated respiratory acidosis

  Correct Answer: A

  This patient is in metabolic acidosis. With acidosis, the pH is always low. Low pH with low bicarbonate points to metabolic acidosis.

• Question 67:

  What sign would indicate that a patient with a blunt injury to the chest has developed a pneumothorax?

  A. A sucking sound at the site of injury

  B. Diminished breath sounds

  C. A low respiratory rate

  D. Presence of a barrel chest

  Correct Answer: B

  Diminished breath sounds would indicate a pneumothorax. Other symptoms might be shortness of breath and chest pain. If it is a large pneumothorax, the nurse may see tachypnea, cyanosis and subcutaneous emphysema.

• Question 68:

  What is the most appropriate nursing intervention if your patient's heart rate drops during suctioning?

  A. Continue to suction.

  B. Limit suctioning to 15 seconds.

  C. Stop and reoxygenate the patient.

  D. Notify the physician.

  Correct Answer: C

  If the patient's heart rate drops during suctioning, the nurse should stop and reoxygenate the patient before continuing suctioning. The nurse should monitor the patient closely during suctioning for any adverse side effects. If any side effects occur, the patient should be reoxygenated.

• Question 69:

  You are caring for a child who has HIV with a positive Mantoux test. The physician orders isoniazid (INH). You instruct the child's mother that the patient will have to take the medication for how long?

  A. 4 months

  B. 6 months

  C. 9 months

  D. 12 months

  Correct Answer: D

  The child will need to take the medication for 12 months. A child with HIV would need to take the medication for longer to prevent latent infection from progressing to active infection. Children who are not immune compromised will need to take the drug for 2 to 4 months.

• Question 70:

  What is the maximum suction time for a patient with a tracheostomy?

  A. 5 seconds

  B. 10 seconds

  C. 30 seconds

  D. 1 minute

  Correct Answer: B

  The nurse would want to limit suctioning to 10 seconds through a tracheostomy. Hypoxemia can be caused by prolonged suctioning and will stimulate the pacemaker cells in the heart. This could lead to a vasovagal response, which will cause bradycardia. The patient will need to be preoxygenated prior to suctioning.