Respiratory Care and Oxygenation Flashcards
7 cards from real LPN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Respiratory Care and Oxygenation flashcards as text
A patient with asthma is having an acute attack. Which medication should the LPN anticipate administering first?
Answer: Short-acting beta-2 agonist (albuterol)
Short-acting beta-2 agonists like albuterol cause rapid bronchodilation and are the first-line rescue medication for acute asthma attacks.
Why is it important to maintain a flow rate of at least 5 L/min when using a simple face mask?
Answer: To prevent CO2 rebreathing
A simple face mask must have a flow rate of at least 5 L/min to flush exhaled CO2 out of the mask reservoir; lower rates allow CO2 to accumulate and be rebreathed.
Which assessment finding is most indicative of pneumonia?
Answer: Bronchial breath sounds over peripheral lung fields
Bronchial breath sounds heard over peripheral lung fields (where vesicular sounds are normal) indicate consolidation of lung tissue, a hallmark of pneumonia.
A patient with a spontaneous pneumothorax would most likely exhibit which assessment finding on the affected side?
Answer: Absent or markedly decreased breath sounds
A pneumothorax causes air to enter the pleural space and collapse the lung, resulting in absent or markedly decreased breath sounds on the affected side.
Which principle should the LPN follow when performing oropharyngeal suctioning?
Answer: Limit each suctioning pass to no longer than 10-15 seconds
Limiting each suction pass to 10-15 seconds prevents hypoxia and tracheal mucosal trauma; suction is only applied while withdrawing the catheter.
A patient's ABG results show pH 7.28, PaCO2 58 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L. How should the LPN interpret this?
Answer: Respiratory acidosis
A low pH (7.28) with elevated PaCO2 (58 mmHg) and normal bicarbonate indicates respiratory acidosis from hypoventilation and CO2 retention.
When should postural drainage therapy be scheduled to reduce the risk of aspiration?
Answer: 1-2 hours before or after meals
Postural drainage should be performed 1-2 hours before or after meals to reduce the risk of aspiration and prevent nausea or vomiting during the procedure.