Mannat Group of Nursing Academy
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
1. You're providing care to a patient who is being
treated for aspiration pneumonia. The patient is
on a 100% non-rebreather mask. Which finding
below is a HALLMARK sign and symptom that
the patient is developing acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS)?
A. The patient is experiencing bradypnea.
B. The patient is tired and confused.
C. The patient's PaO2 remains at 45 mmHg.
D. The patient's blood pressure is 180/96.
2. You're teaching a class on critical care concepts
to a group of new nurses. You're discussing the
topic of acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS). At the beginning of the lecture, you
assess the new nurses understanding about this
condition. Which statement by a new nurse
demonstrates he understands the condition?*
A. "This condition develops because the exocrine
glands start to work incorrectly leading to thick,
copious mucous to collect in the alveoli sacs."
B. "ARDS is a pulmonary disease that gradually
causes chronic obstruction of airflow from the
lungs."
C. "Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurs due
to the collapsing of a lung because air has
accumulated in the pleural space."
D. "This condition develops because alveolar
capillary membrane permeability has changed
leading to fluid collecting in the alveoli sacs."
3. During the exudative phase of acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS), the patient's lung
cells that produce surfactant have become
damaged. As the nurse you know this will lead
to?*
A. bronchoconstriction B. atelectasis
C. upper airway blockage D. pulmonary edema
4. A patient has been hospitalized in the ICU for a
near drowning event. The patient's respiratory
function has been deteriorating over the last 24
hours. The physician suspects acute respiratory
distress syndrome. A STAT chest x-ray is
ordered. What finding on the chest x-ray is
indicative of ARDS?*
A. infiltrates only on the upper lobes
B. enlargement of the heart with bilateral lower
lobe infiltrates
C. white-out infiltrates bilaterally
D. normal chest x-ray
5. You're providing care to a patient who was just
transferred to your unit for the treatment of
ARDS. The patient is in the exudative phase. The
patient is ordered arterial blood gases. The
results are back. Which results are expected
during this early phase of acute respiratory
distress syndrome that correlates with this
diagnosis?*
A. PaO2 40, pH 7.59, PaCO2 30, HCO3 23
B. PaO2 85, pH 7.42, PaCO2 37, HCO3 26
C. PaO2 50, pH 7.20, PaCO2 48, HCO3 29
D. PaO2 55, pH 7.26, PaCO2 58, HCO3 19
6. Which patient below is at MOST risk for
developing ARDS and has the worst prognosis?
A. A 52-year-old male patient with a pneumothorax
B. A 48-year-old male being treated for diabetic
ketoacidosis.
C. A 69-year-old female with sepsis caused by a
gram-negative bacterial infection.
D. A 30-year-old female with cystic fibrosis.
7. As the nurse you know that acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS) can be caused by
direct or indirect lung injury. Select below all
the INDIRECT causes of ARDS:*
A. Drowning B. Aspiration
C. Sepsis D. Blood transfusion
E. Pneumonia F. Pancreatitis
8. A patient is on mechanical ventilation with
PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure). Which
finding below indicates the patient is
developing a complication related to their
therapy and requires immediate treatment?*
A. HCO3 26 mmHg B. Blood pressure 70/45
C. PaO2 80 mmHg D. PaCO2 38 mmHg
9. You are caring for a patient with acute
respiratory distress syndrome. As the nurse you
know that prone positioning can be beneficial
for some patients with this condition. Which
findings below indicate this type of positioning
was beneficial for your patient with ARDS?*
A. Improvement in lung sounds
B. Development of a V/Q mismatch
C. PaO2 increased from 59 mmHg to 82 mmHg
D. PEEP needs to be titrated to 15 mmHg of water
10. A patient is experiencing respiratory failure due
to pulmonary edema. The physician suspects
ARDS but wants to rule out a cardiac cause. A
pulmonary artery wedge pressure is obtained.
As the nurse you know that what measurement
reading obtained indicates that this type of
respiratory failure is NOT cardiac related?*
A. >25 mmHg B. <10 mmHg
C. >50 mmHg D. <18 mmHg
11. You’re precepting a nursing student who is
assisting you care for a patient on mechanical
ventilation with PEEP for treatment of ARDS.
The student asks you why the PEEP setting is at
10 mmHg. Your response is:*
A. "This pressure setting assists the patient with
breathing in and out and helps improve air flow."
B. "This pressure setting will help prevent a
decrease in cardiac output and hyperinflation of the
lungs.
C. "This pressure setting helps prevent fluid from
filling the alveoli sacs."
D. "This pressure setting helps open the alveoli sacs
that are collapsed during exhalation."