CFRN - Certified Flight Registered Nurse Flight Physiology and Gas Laws Questions and Answers

Question 1

A flight crew is transporting a patient with a pneumothorax from a rural facility at sea level to a trauma center.
As the aircraft ascends to cruising altitude, the patient develops increasing respiratory distress, hypotension, and tachycardia.
Which gas law best explains this clinical deterioration?

Accepted Answer

Boyle's Law

Answer

Dalton's Law

Answer

Henry's Law

Answer

Charles's Law

Question 2

A patient with a history of COPD has a baseline oxygen saturation of 92% on room air at sea level. During helicopter transport at 8,000 feet, the flight nurse notes the patient's saturation has dropped to 85% despite being on the same FiO2. This physiological change is primarily explained by:

Accepted Answer

A decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen.

Answer

A decrease in the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere.

Answer

An increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide.

Answer

An expansion of gases in the patient's bullae.

Question 3

A flight nurse is caring for a patient who was rescued after a prolonged deep-sea diving incident. The patient is now complaining of severe joint pain, dizziness, and has a mottled skin rash. These symptoms are most consistent with a condition explained by which gas law?

Accepted Answer

Henry's Law

Answer

Boyle's Law

Answer

Charles's Law

Answer

Gay-Lussac's Law

Question 4

During a winter transport in a rotor-wing aircraft, the flight nurse notices that the pressure reading on a portable oxygen cylinder has decreased significantly since the pre-flight check, even though no oxygen has been administered. Which of the following gas laws provides the best explanation for this observation?

Accepted Answer

Charles's Law

Answer

Dalton's Law

Answer

Boyle's Law

Answer

Henry's Law

Question 5

Which of the following is the MOST critical initial intervention for a patient experiencing hypoxic hypoxia due to an unexpected loss of cabin pressure at high altitude?

Accepted Answer

Applying 100% supplemental oxygen

Answer

Administering a bronchodilator

Answer

Placing the patient in a Trendelenburg position

Answer

Initiating a rapid intravenous fluid bolus

Question 6

A patient with a bowel obstruction is being transported by a fixed-wing aircraft pressurized to a cabin altitude of 8,000 feet. The flight nurse should anticipate and monitor for which potential complication related to gas expansion?

Accepted Answer

Increased pain and abdominal distention

Answer

Sudden onset of hypotension

Answer

Development of a fever

Answer

Decreased nasogastric tube output

A flight crew is transporting a patient with a pneumothorax from a rural facility at sea level to a trauma center.As the aircraft ascends to cruising altitude, the patient develops increasing respiratory distress, hypotension, and tachycardia.Which gas law best explains this clinical deterioration?