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Respiratory MCQs for Nursing Exams

2,191 questions with explanations · 26 free to practise now.

Respiratory questions for NORCET, RRB, ESIC, CHO and state nursing officer exams, split into 41 topics. Open a topic to read sample questions with answers, or start free practice. Every question comes with a simple-English explanation.

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Respiratory topics

General 572Asthma 134Tuberculosis 131Pneumonia 128Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 100Tracheostomy 89Chest Tube 88Pneumothorax 84Lung Cancer 78Cystic Fibrosis 69COPD 58Arterial Blood Gas 54Emphysema 54Respiratory Disorders 52Mechanical Ventilation 51Respiratory Alkalosis 45Laryngectomy 43Pulmonary Embolism 39Oxygen Therapy 30Nursing Care In Specialized Settings 25Management Of Patients With Upper Respiratory Tract 24The Client With Respiratory Health Problems 23Assessment Of Respiratory Function 22Respiratory Acidosis 21Respiratory Care Modalities 21The Nursing Care Of Adults With Medical-Surgical Disorders 16Management Of Patients With Chest And Lower Respiratory 15Physiological Integrity 13Respiratory Management 13Chronic Bronchitis 10Hypertension 10Respiratory Disorders Of The Adult Client 10The Client With A Sex Or Growth Hormone 10The Client With An Upper Respiratory Tract 10The Client With Pain 9Informed Consent 8Heart Failure 7The Client With An Upper Respiratory 7Charge Nurse 6Nasogastric Tube 6Osteoarthritis 6

Sample Respiratory questions

Q1. The patient diagnosed with a community-acquired pneumonia is being admitted to the unit. Which doctor's order should be implemented first?

  1. Place patient in respiratory isolation
  2. Obtain a sputum specimen for culture and sensitivity
  3. Administer Rocephin 50 mg IVPB every 24 hours
  4. Apply oxygen 2 L via nasal cannula
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. Obtain a sputum specimen for culture and sensitivity

A. The nurse should administer the prescribed antibiotic as soon as possible but not before obtaining sputum culture. B. The patient with pneumonia needs more than 2 L oxygen via nasal cannula, which would be appropriate for a patient diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. C. The nurse needs to obtain a sputum culture before administering antibiotic because the culture and sensitivity will be skewed if the patient receives antibiotics. This should be the first HCP implemented. D. The patient with pneumonia is not placed in respiratory isolation. This HCP order should be questioned.

Q2. When teaching a patient to deep breathe effectively after a lobectomy, the nurse should instruct the patient to do which of these?

  1. Contract the abdominal muscles, take a slow deep breath through the nose and hold it for 3 to 5 seconds, then exhale
  2. Contract the abdominal muscles, take a deep breath through the mouth, and exhale slowly as if trying to blow out a candle
  3. Relax the abdominal muscles, take a deep breath through the mouth, and exhale slowly over 10 seconds
  4. Relax the abdominal muscles, take a slow deep breath through the nose, and hold it for 3 to 5 seconds
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Contract the abdominal muscles, take a slow deep breath through the nose and hold it for 3 to 5 seconds, then exhale

The recommended procedure for teaching patients postoperatively to deep breathe includes contracting (pulling in) the abdominal muscles and taking a slow, deep breath through the nose. This breath is held 3 to 5 seconds, which facilitates alveolar ventilation by improving the inspiratory phase of ventilation. Exhaling slowly as if trying to blow out a candle is a technique used in pursed- lip breathing to facilitate exhalation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is recommended that the abdominal muscles be contracted, not relaxed, to promote deep breathing. The patient should breathe through the nose.

Q3. A patient who had a laryngectomy is ready for discharge. What question is it essential for the nurse to ask the patient before discharge?

  1. Do you cook with gas or electricity?
  2. How many people live in your household?
  3. Does your home have working smoke detectors?
  4. When is your doctor's appointment?
Show answer and explanation

Answer: C. Does your home have working smoke detectors?

A person who has had a laryngectomy does not have a sense of smell and could not smell smoke. Working smoke detectors are essential. If the patient is to be discharged on oxygen, it would be important to know if he cooks with gas or electricity. There are no data to suggest the patient will have oxygen at home. The other information is nice to know but not essential.

Q4. A nurse is teaching a patient with asthma about Azmacort, an inhaled corticosteroid. Which adverse effects would the nurse be sure to address in patient teaching?

  1. Cough and oral thrush
  2. Fatigue and decreased level of consciousness
  3. Nausea and vomiting
  4. Dyspnea and increased respiratory secretions
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Cough and oral thrush

Azmacort has possible adverse effects of cough, dysphonia, oral thrush (candidiasis), and headache. In high doses, systemic effects may occur (e.g., adrenal suppression, osteoporosis, skin thinning, and easy bruising). The other listed adverse effects are not associated with this drug.

Q5. The nurse is caring for a patient having respiratory distress related to an anxiety attack. Recent arterial blood gas values are pH = 7.53, PaO2 = 72 mm Hg (72 mm Hg), PaCO2 = 32 mm Hg (32 mm Hg), and HCO3- = 28 mEq/L (28 mmol/L). Which conclusion about the patient would the nurse make?

  1. The patient is probably overreacting
  2. The patient has acidotic blood
  3. The patient is fluid volume overloaded
  4. The patient is probably hyperventilating
Show answer and explanation

Answer: D. The patient is probably hyperventilating

The ABG values are abnormal, which supports a physiological problem. The ABGs indicate respiratory alkalosis as a result of hyperventilating, not acidosis. Concluding that the patient is overreacting is an insufficient analysis. No conclusion can be made about a patient's fluid volume status from the information provided.

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More subjects

Fundamentals & AssessmentPharmacologyFluids, Labs & EmergencyMaternity & NewbornChild Health (Paediatrics)Mental HealthCommunity & Geriatric CareLeadership, Law & EthicsNutritionNORCET Previous YearsMixed Review

Frequently asked questions

Are the Respiratory questions free?

A set of 26 questions is free to practise after you enter your name and mobile number (no OTP). The full set of 2,191 questions is in NurseRank Premium.

Is Respiratory asked in NORCET and other nursing officer exams?

Nursing exams test the core nursing subjects, so this subject is useful for NORCET, RRB, ESIC, CHO and state exams. Check your exam's official syllabus for exact weightage.

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