Patient Assessment & Diagnosis Flashcards
7 cards from real CRE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment & Diagnosis flashcards as text
A patient with asthma is asked to complete an Asthma Control Test (ACT). A score of 15 out of 25 indicates which level of asthma control?
Answer: Not well controlled
An ACT score of 15 or below indicates asthma is not well controlled, and a step-up in therapy or specialist referral should be considered.
During a home sleep apnea test (HSAT) review, an AHI of 18 events/hour with a majority of obstructive events indicates which diagnosis?
Answer: Moderate obstructive sleep apnea
An AHI of 15–29 events/hour classifies as moderate OSA; predominantly obstructive events confirm the obstructive etiology.
When educating a patient on pursed-lip breathing, which physiologic effect should the respiratory educator emphasize as the primary benefit?
Answer: Prevents dynamic airway collapse by maintaining positive expiratory pressure
Pursed-lip breathing creates back-pressure that keeps airways open during exhalation, preventing dynamic collapse and improving CO2 elimination.
A patient presents with sudden onset pleuritic chest pain, tracheal deviation to the left, absent breath sounds on the right, and hypotension. Which diagnosis requires immediate intervention?
Answer: Right-sided tension pneumothorax
Tension pneumothorax causes tracheal shift away from the affected side, absent breath sounds, and hemodynamic compromise requiring emergent needle decompression.
Which patient history feature is the strongest independent risk factor for development of COPD?
Answer: Cumulative tobacco smoke exposure (pack-years)
Cumulative cigarette smoking measured in pack-years is the most significant and prevalent risk factor for COPD in the general population.
A patient's DLCO (diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide) is reduced to 45% of predicted while spirometry shows a normal FEV1/FVC and normal TLC. Which condition best explains this isolated DLCO reduction?
Answer: Pulmonary vascular disease or early interstitial lung disease
An isolated DLCO reduction with normal volumes and flows points to impaired gas transfer at the alveolar-capillary membrane, as seen in pulmonary vascular disease or early ILD.
A patient using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) reports their asthma symptoms are uncontrolled despite prescribed therapy. During technique assessment, the educator notes the patient inhales rapidly and forcefully. What is the primary consequence of this error?
Answer: Increased oropharyngeal deposition and reduced lung delivery
A fast inspiratory flow with an MDI causes most particles to impact and deposit in the oropharynx rather than reaching the lower airways where the drug is needed.