Pulmonary Edema Quiz: NCLEX Nursing Review

1. A patient with pulmonary edema has a BNP of 850 pg/mL. What does this indicate?

Normal cardiac function

Cardiac dysfunction and volume overload

Acute respiratory infection

Pulmonary embolism

2. When educating a patient about preventing pulmonary edema recurrence, which instruction is most critical?

Avoid all physical activity indefinitely

Strict sodium restriction and medication adherence

Eliminate all fluids from diet

Remain supine at all times

3. High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) occurs due to which mechanism?

Decreased atmospheric oxygen causing hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction

Increased cardiac output

Allergic reaction to altitude

Dehydration from dry air

4. Which patient population has the highest risk for developing pulmonary edema?

Young athletes with normal cardiac function

Elderly patients with heart failure or MI history

Patients on long-term antibiotics

Healthy individuals at sea level

5. A patient with pulmonary edema develops worsening respiratory distress despite treatment. What is the most concerning complication?

Hypokalemia

Respiratory failure requiring intubation

Hyperglycemia

Thrombocytopenia

6. In acute pulmonary edema, why is morphine administered despite its respiratory depressant effects?

It increases heart rate and contractility

It reduces anxiety, decreases preload, and causes vasodilation

It improves kidney function

It prevents arrhythmias

7. Which nursing assessment parameter is most important to monitor during diuretic therapy for pulmonary edema?

Blood glucose levels

Serum electrolytes and renal function

Hemoglobin concentration

Platelet count

8. A patient with pulmonary edema has a pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) of 28 mmHg. This finding confirms which type of edema?

Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema

Cardiogenic pulmonary edema

Lymphatic pulmonary edema

Neurogenic pulmonary edema

9. ARDS and sepsis-related pulmonary edema develop due to which primary mechanism?

Elevated hydrostatic pressure

Decreased plasma proteins

Increased capillary permeability

Lymphatic obstruction

10. Which type of pulmonary edema is caused by non-cardiogenic mechanisms such as increased capillary permeability?

Cardiogenic pulmonary edema

Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema

Lymphatic obstruction edema

Neurogenic edema

11. Which mechanism best explains how left ventricular failure leads to pulmonary edema?

Decreased hydrostatic pressure in pulmonary capillaries

Increased hydrostatic pressure forcing fluid into alveoli

Elevated plasma colloid osmotic pressure

Decreased pulmonary vascular resistance

12. Positive pressure ventilation (CPAP/BiPAP) reduces pulmonary edema by which mechanism?

Increasing oxygen concentration in airways

Reducing venous return and intrathoracic pressure

Killing pathogenic bacteria

Improving renal perfusion

13. In chronic pulmonary edema from mitral stenosis, which finding would you expect on cardiac examination?

Systolic murmur at apex

Diastolic rumble at apex

Aortic ejection murmur

Pericardial friction rub

14. A patient receiving nitroglycerin for pulmonary edema develops severe hypotension. What is the nurse's priority action?

Continue the medication to achieve therapeutic effect

Stop the medication and elevate legs

Administer fluid bolus immediately

Increase oxygen flow rate

15. Which medication is a first-line agent for acute pulmonary edema due to left heart failure?

Dopamine

Furosemide (IV)

Dobutamine

Norepinephrine

16. In acute pulmonary edema, why is the patient positioned upright rather than supine?

To reduce venous return and decrease pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

To improve gastric emptying

To facilitate kidney function

To reduce anxiety only

17. A chest X-ray shows bilateral interstitial infiltrates with a butterfly pattern. This finding is consistent with which diagnosis?

Pneumonia

Pulmonary embolism

Acute pulmonary edema

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

18. Which clinical finding is most specific for acute pulmonary edema?

Crackles on lung auscultation

Elevated blood pressure

Tachycardia

Peripheral edema

19. A patient with acute pulmonary edema presents with orthopnea and frothy pink sputum. What is the primary cause of the pink color?

Bacterial infection in airways

Red blood cells mixed with fluid in alveoli

Inflammatory response to allergens

Fungal colonization of lung tissue

Pulmonary Edema Quiz: Can You Clear the Fluid?