Respiratory System NCLEX Practice Questions Related

Review Respiratory System NCLEX Practice Questions related questions and content

The clinic nurse is caring for a patient who has been diagnosed with emphysema and who has just had a pulmonary function test (PFT) ordered. The patient asks, 'What exactly is this test for?' What would be the nurse's best response?

  • A. A PFT measures how much air moves in and out of your lungs when you breathe.
  • B. A PFT measures how much energy you get from the oxygen you breathe.
  • C. A PFT measures how elastic your lungs are.
  • D. A PFT measures whether oxygen and carbon dioxide move between your lungs and your blood.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because a pulmonary function test (PFT) measures lung function by assessing how much air moves in and out of the lungs when breathing. This test helps diagnose conditions like emphysema by evaluating lung capacity and air flow. Choice B is incorrect because PFTs do not measure energy obtained from oxygen, but rather focus on lung function. Choice C is incorrect as PFTs do not specifically measure lung elasticity. Choice D is incorrect because PFTs primarily assess air movement in the lungs, not the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and blood.