Free Respiratory Nursing MCQs with Answers
50 Respiratory Nursing MCQs from Medical Surgical Nursing, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Covers nursing assessment and management of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleural disorders and respiratory failure. Key areas include breath sounds, oxygen therapy, airway suctioning, inhaled medicines, arterial blood gases and the difference between hypoxia, hypoxemia and carbon dioxide retention.
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50 questions · page 2 of 3
- A. Nasal cannula
- B. Simple face mask
- C. Venturi mask
- D. Non-rebreather mask
Explanation: A Venturi mask entrains a fixed amount of room air and delivers a predictable oxygen concentration.
Correct answer: Venturi mask- A. Apply suction while inserting the catheter
- B. Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter
- C. Keep suction applied for 30 seconds
- D. Instil saline before every suction pass
Explanation: The catheter is inserted without suction, and suction is applied during withdrawal while the catheter is rotated.
Correct answer: Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter- A. Clamp the chest tube for 30 minutes
- B. Check the tubing and connections for an air leak
- C. Increase wall suction to the maximum setting
- D. Remove the water-seal chamber from the system
Explanation: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber usually indicates an air leak in the system or from the patient.
Correct answer: Check the tubing and connections for an air leak- A. Encourage shallow breathing at rest
- B. Encourage regular deep breathing and coughing
- C. Maintain strict bed rest until the fever resolves
- D. Restrict oral fluids to reduce respiratory secretions
Explanation: Deep breathing opens poorly ventilated alveoli, and coughing helps remove secretions.
Correct answer: Encourage regular deep breathing and coughing- A. It provides immediate relief during severe bronchospasm
- B. It is a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator
- C. It is an inhaled corticosteroid used to treat airway inflammation
- D. It is an antibiotic used for infected respiratory secretions
Explanation: Tiotropium is a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic that reduces bronchoconstriction and is used for maintenance treatment.
Correct answer: It is a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator- A. Report the symptom and expect pyridoxine supplementation
- B. Tell the patient to stop all tuberculosis medicines immediately
- C. Administer an extra dose of rifampicin
- D. Explain that the symptom proves treatment is working
Explanation: Isoniazid can cause peripheral neuropathy, and pyridoxine, also called vitamin B6, helps prevent or treat this adverse effect.
Correct answer: Report the symptom and expect pyridoxine supplementation- A. Oxygen itself catches fire at room temperature
- B. Oxygen supports rapid combustion of nearby materials
- C. Oxygen makes all electrical equipment produce radiation
- D. Oxygen causes water-based disinfectants to explode
Explanation: Oxygen is not itself flammable, but it supports combustion and allows materials to burn more rapidly and intensely.
Correct answer: Oxygen supports rapid combustion of nearby materials- A. Place the patient flat and leave the room
- B. Stop observation until the procedure report is completed
- C. Assess the patient, apply oxygen and notify the provider urgently
- D. Encourage forceful coughing to remove pleural fluid
Explanation: Sudden respiratory distress after thoracentesis may indicate a pneumothorax, so airway and breathing assessment with oxygen support takes…
Correct answer: Assess the patient, apply oxygen and notify the provider urgently- A. A low arterial oxygen level in a patient with pneumonia
- B. Normal arterial oxygen with severe circulatory shock
- C. A low oxygen saturation caused by airway obstruction
- D. Reduced arterial oxygen after a large pulmonary embolus
Explanation: Hypoxia means inadequate oxygen at the tissue level and can occur when tissue perfusion or oxygen use is impaired, even if arterial oxygen…
Correct answer: Normal arterial oxygen with severe circulatory shock- A. The green zone with well-controlled asthma
- B. The yellow zone with mild stable symptoms
- C. The red zone requiring urgent action
- D. A normal result after using a reliever inhaler
Explanation: A peak-flow reading below 50% of the patient's personal best is generally in the red zone and indicates severe airway narrowing.
Correct answer: The red zone requiring urgent action- A. Air moving through narrowed bronchi
- B. Fluid opening small collapsed airways
- C. Pleural surfaces rubbing together
- D. Complete blockage of a main bronchus
Explanation: Fine crackles occur when small airways or alveoli containing fluid or secretions open during inspiration.
Correct answer: Fluid opening small collapsed airways- A. Supine with the legs elevated
- B. High Fowler position with support
- C. Prone with the head turned sideways
- D. Flat position with the neck flexed
Explanation: High Fowler position promotes maximum lung expansion and reduces pressure from abdominal organs on the diaphragm.
Correct answer: High Fowler position with support- A. Keep the drainage unit below chest level
- B. Clamp the tube during routine ambulation
- C. Empty the water-seal chamber every hour
- D. Place the drainage unit on the patient's bed
Explanation: The drainage system stays below the patient's chest so fluid can drain by gravity and does not flow back into the pleural space.
Correct answer: Keep the drainage unit below chest level- A. Orange-coloured urine
- B. Blurred vision or difficulty seeing colours
- C. Mild nausea after taking the tablet
- D. Increased appetite during treatment
Explanation: Ethambutol can cause optic neuritis, which may appear as blurred vision or impaired red-green colour discrimination.
Correct answer: Blurred vision or difficulty seeing colours- A. Collect the sputum specimen before the first dose
- B. Delay the specimen until the fever resolves
- C. Give the antibiotic before collecting sputum
- D. Discard the order if the cough is productive
Explanation: When the patient is stable, the specimen is collected before antibiotics so the causative organism is less likely to be suppressed.
Correct answer: Collect the sputum specimen before the first dose- A. Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
- B. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
- C. Compensated respiratory acidosis
- D. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
Explanation: The raised PaCO2 indicates respiratory acidosis, while the raised bicarbonate shows renal compensation.
Correct answer: Compensated respiratory acidosis- A. Apply petroleum jelly inside both nostrils
- B. Assess the prescribed humidification system
- C. Stop oxygen until the irritation ends
- D. Increase the oxygen flow without an order
Explanation: The nurse should assess whether appropriate humidification is prescribed and functioning, especially during prolonged oxygen therapy.
Correct answer: Assess the prescribed humidification system- A. Breathe out forcefully into the device
- B. Inhale slowly through the mouthpiece
- C. Use it only when shortness of breath occurs
- D. Exhale rapidly after every normal breath
Explanation: The patient inhales slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece to raise the indicator and expand dependent alveoli.
Correct answer: Inhale slowly through the mouthpiece- A. Apply suction while advancing the catheter
- B. Preoxygenate the patient with prescribed oxygen
- C. Give oral fluids to loosen the secretions
- D. Deflate the cuff and remove the tube
Explanation: Preoxygenation helps reduce the risk of hypoxemia during the brief suctioning procedure.
Correct answer: Preoxygenate the patient with prescribed oxygen- A. Mild dry mouth after a dose
- B. Tremor with repeated vomiting
- C. Occasional clear sputum production
- D. Slight increase in exercise tolerance
Explanation: Theophylline toxicity may cause nausea, vomiting, tremor, agitation, tachycardia and serious dysrhythmias.
Correct answer: Tremor with repeated vomiting