RRT RRT Patient Assessment 3

Question 1

Which clinical presentation is most consistent with hypercapnia (elevated PaCO2)?

Accepted Answer

Headache, drowsiness, flushed skin, and diaphoresis

Answer

Cyanosis and acute restlessness

Answer

Carpopedal spasm and perioral tingling

Answer

Fever, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain

Question 2

Orthopnea, a common complaint assessed in patients with cardiac disease, is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Breathlessness that occurs specifically when lying flat and is relieved by sitting upright

Answer

Shortness of breath that awakens the patient from sleep several hours after lying down

Answer

Dyspnea that is worsened only with physical exertion

Answer

Positional dyspnea relieved by lying on one side

Question 3

The Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale is specifically used to:

Accepted Answer

Quantify the degree of breathlessness in relation to activities of daily living

Answer

Grade oxygenation impairment based on PaO2/FiO2 ratio

Answer

Assess ventilatory muscle strength via maximal inspiratory pressure

Answer

Classify severity of airflow obstruction by FEV1 percentage

Question 4

Use of sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles during quiet, resting breathing in an adult patient indicates:

Accepted Answer

Severe respiratory distress requiring increased muscular effort

Answer

Normal resting breathing mechanics

Answer

Hypocapnia from mild hyperventilation

Answer

Anxiety-induced tachypnea without true distress

Question 5

Tracheal deviation toward the right side in a patient would most likely be caused by:

Accepted Answer

Left-sided tension pneumothorax pushing structures rightward

Answer

Right-sided tension pneumothorax pushing structures rightward

Answer

Right-sided pleural effusion pushing structures rightward

Answer

Bilateral pulmonary hyperinflation from acute asthma

Question 6

The tripod position observed during patient assessment of a breathless patient is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Patient seated and leaning forward with hands on knees or a support surface

Answer

Patient supine with legs elevated above heart level

Answer

Patient standing with arms raised overhead to expand the thorax

Answer

Patient prone with head turned to the side to open the airway

Question 7

Whispered pectoriloquy is a positive finding when assessing for pulmonary consolidation. It is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Clear, distinct transmission of whispered words heard through the stethoscope over consolidated tissue

Answer

Inability to hear any whispered sounds over consolidated lung

Answer

Muffling of normal breath sounds to whisper-level intensity over a pleural effusion

Answer

Increased resonance of percussion note over a consolidated segment