Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

In patients diagnosed with respiratory conditions, what phenomenon is expected during a thorough assessment?

1. Decreased oxygen saturation

2. Chest pain upon inspiration

3. Increase in respiratory rate

4. Frequent coughing episodes

The correct answer is: Increase in respiratory rate

In patients with respiratory conditions, an increase in respiratory rate is a common and expected phenomenon during assessment. This increase, known as tachypnea, often occurs as the body attempts to compensate for decreased oxygenation or impaired gas exchange. Respiratory conditions can lead to hypoxemia or hypercapnia, prompting the respiratory center in the brain to stimulate a faster breathing rate to improve oxygen intake and carbon dioxide elimination. Enhanced respiratory rate can also be a response to factors such as anxiety or pain, which can accompany respiratory distress. By recognizing that increased respiratory rate is a natural compensatory mechanism, healthcare providers can better assess the severity of the patient's condition and the effectiveness of their respiratory function. Other phenomena like decreased oxygen saturation, chest pain upon inspiration, and frequent coughing episodes may also be observed in respiratory conditions, but they are not universally present in every case. For instance, while many patients do experience decreased oxygen saturation, this may not be the case in all individuals, especially in early stages of certain conditions. Similarly, chest pain can occur, but it is often more specific to conditions like pleuritis or pulmonary embolism. Frequent coughing can point towards specific issues like bronchitis or infections but isn't a definitive sign applied to all respiratory illnesses. Thus, the