NUR 151 Test 5
List the structures of the upper airway - ANS nose, pharynx, larynx, epiglottis
list the structures of the lower airway - ANS trachea, right mainstream bronchi, left mainstream
bronchi, segmental bronchi, terminal bronchioles
What can happen to the body when the CO2 intake is too high? - ANS pH decreases causing the body
to become acidic which can result in death
A patient with exacerbated COPD comes in with a high CO2 intake, what can happen to this patient if
he is not given O2 to combat the rising CO2? - ANS The blood pH decreases causing the body to
become acidic which can cause death
What are the 3 steps of oxygenation? - ANS Ventilation (gas), perfusion (blood), diffusion (move)
A 72-year-old man comes into the ER and has had mild difficulty breathing for the last couple years.
Upon assessment it is found that he does not have any breathing-related conditions and that he is
not experiencing a serious medical emergency such as anaphylaxis. What could explain this event
occurring in somebody his age? - ANS As we age the lungs become less elastic which can make
breathing more difficult and lung expansion can be inhibited causing less air to enter the body
An 80 year old patient is in for respiratory issues and is found to have a low production of surfactant
which is causing her difficulty breathing. Why does the low surfactant levels effect the patient's
breathing? - ANS Low surfactant can result in alveolar collapse because the surfactant is what
prevents collapse and maintains the surface tension
A 29-year-old woman is in the postpartum unit after birthing her child and begins hemorrhaging.
What is the hemorrhage's effect on CO2 and how does this effect the body? - ANS Hemorrhage cause
low CO2 which decreases the circulating blood due to blood loss which prevents enough blood from
being oxygenated causing poor perfusion and blood loss
A man is in the hospital with pneumonia, when we look at this from a physiologic perspective, we
know that the membranes become thicker with this disease. What is the membrane thickness effect
on diffusion? - ANS Diffusion takes longer to push through the membrane
, An 8-month pregnant woman is complaining of shortness of breath and frequently having to sit
down and catch her breath when moving for periods of time. Why would this be happening to her? -
ANS Pregnancy condenses the diaphragm because the fetus is putting pressure on the diaphragm
preventing full expansion
A 50-year-old male patient is found to have had a CVA and is showing changes in his respirations.
Why might this be? - ANS CVA's can cause the diaphragm to be unable to expand by inhibiting the
CNS function to control respirations
A female patient aged 45 has just came out of a vehicular accident where a family member has died.
Her CO2 is very low, and she is stating "Where is my other daughter, is she okay?" repeatedly. What
is she experiencing? - ANS hyperventilation
A 16-year-old male is in the ER after a drug overdose with a respiratory rate of 8. He is only
responsive to pain and when this occurs, he gro ANS and occasionally twitches his body away from
the painful stimuli. Upon assessment it is found that he has atrial tachycardia which has not been
previously documented in his medical history. What might this patient be experiencing? - ANS
hypoventilation
A 22-year-old female has been admitted to the ED with multiple rib fractures after being involved in
a drunk driving accident. Her symptoms upon assessment include dizziness, fatigue, bounding pulse,
use of accessory muscle when breathing, a BP of 140/98, and a respiratory rate of 26. What might
this patient be experiencing? - ANS hypoxia
A male aged 42 has just had cardiothoracic surgery and has had a chest tube placed afterward. Why
would a chest tube be placed after this surgery? - ANS to prevent bleeding
Why would someone have a pneumothorax chest tube? - ANS air is stuck in the pleural cavity
(sometimes the lungs but usually the pleural cavity)
Why would someone have a hemothorax chest tube? - ANS blood is stuck in the pleural lining
A man has just been given a post-operative chest tube (bleeding prevention) and after 2 days of it
being in the nurse is assessing the liquid inside and notes bubbles are present. Is this normal for
post-operative chest tubes why or why not? - ANS No because bubbles indicates a leak
A nurse is assessing the female patient with a hemothorax chest tube and to assess the blood easier
she clamps the tubing for a couple minutes while she notes the liquid inside and the measurements.
List the structures of the upper airway - ANS nose, pharynx, larynx, epiglottis
list the structures of the lower airway - ANS trachea, right mainstream bronchi, left mainstream
bronchi, segmental bronchi, terminal bronchioles
What can happen to the body when the CO2 intake is too high? - ANS pH decreases causing the body
to become acidic which can result in death
A patient with exacerbated COPD comes in with a high CO2 intake, what can happen to this patient if
he is not given O2 to combat the rising CO2? - ANS The blood pH decreases causing the body to
become acidic which can cause death
What are the 3 steps of oxygenation? - ANS Ventilation (gas), perfusion (blood), diffusion (move)
A 72-year-old man comes into the ER and has had mild difficulty breathing for the last couple years.
Upon assessment it is found that he does not have any breathing-related conditions and that he is
not experiencing a serious medical emergency such as anaphylaxis. What could explain this event
occurring in somebody his age? - ANS As we age the lungs become less elastic which can make
breathing more difficult and lung expansion can be inhibited causing less air to enter the body
An 80 year old patient is in for respiratory issues and is found to have a low production of surfactant
which is causing her difficulty breathing. Why does the low surfactant levels effect the patient's
breathing? - ANS Low surfactant can result in alveolar collapse because the surfactant is what
prevents collapse and maintains the surface tension
A 29-year-old woman is in the postpartum unit after birthing her child and begins hemorrhaging.
What is the hemorrhage's effect on CO2 and how does this effect the body? - ANS Hemorrhage cause
low CO2 which decreases the circulating blood due to blood loss which prevents enough blood from
being oxygenated causing poor perfusion and blood loss
A man is in the hospital with pneumonia, when we look at this from a physiologic perspective, we
know that the membranes become thicker with this disease. What is the membrane thickness effect
on diffusion? - ANS Diffusion takes longer to push through the membrane
, An 8-month pregnant woman is complaining of shortness of breath and frequently having to sit
down and catch her breath when moving for periods of time. Why would this be happening to her? -
ANS Pregnancy condenses the diaphragm because the fetus is putting pressure on the diaphragm
preventing full expansion
A 50-year-old male patient is found to have had a CVA and is showing changes in his respirations.
Why might this be? - ANS CVA's can cause the diaphragm to be unable to expand by inhibiting the
CNS function to control respirations
A female patient aged 45 has just came out of a vehicular accident where a family member has died.
Her CO2 is very low, and she is stating "Where is my other daughter, is she okay?" repeatedly. What
is she experiencing? - ANS hyperventilation
A 16-year-old male is in the ER after a drug overdose with a respiratory rate of 8. He is only
responsive to pain and when this occurs, he gro ANS and occasionally twitches his body away from
the painful stimuli. Upon assessment it is found that he has atrial tachycardia which has not been
previously documented in his medical history. What might this patient be experiencing? - ANS
hypoventilation
A 22-year-old female has been admitted to the ED with multiple rib fractures after being involved in
a drunk driving accident. Her symptoms upon assessment include dizziness, fatigue, bounding pulse,
use of accessory muscle when breathing, a BP of 140/98, and a respiratory rate of 26. What might
this patient be experiencing? - ANS hypoxia
A male aged 42 has just had cardiothoracic surgery and has had a chest tube placed afterward. Why
would a chest tube be placed after this surgery? - ANS to prevent bleeding
Why would someone have a pneumothorax chest tube? - ANS air is stuck in the pleural cavity
(sometimes the lungs but usually the pleural cavity)
Why would someone have a hemothorax chest tube? - ANS blood is stuck in the pleural lining
A man has just been given a post-operative chest tube (bleeding prevention) and after 2 days of it
being in the nurse is assessing the liquid inside and notes bubbles are present. Is this normal for
post-operative chest tubes why or why not? - ANS No because bubbles indicates a leak
A nurse is assessing the female patient with a hemothorax chest tube and to assess the blood easier
she clamps the tubing for a couple minutes while she notes the liquid inside and the measurements.
