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DHA Respiratory Nursing Practice Questions
Respiratory questions test oxygen therapy, airway care and recognising respiratory failure, including the classic COPD and asthma scenarios. Below are 5 free sample questions for the DHA Registered Nurse exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- Oxygen delivery devices and target saturations
- COPD and controlled oxygen
- Asthma management and inhaler technique
- Chest drains and tracheostomy care
- ABG interpretation
- TB and pneumonia nursing care
The full bank has 89 respiratory nursing questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free DHA respiratory nursing questions
1. Which is a common adverse effect of salbutamol that the nurse should monitor for?
- A. Tachycardia and tremor
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Hyperkalaemia
- D. Constipation
Show answer and rationale
Beta-2 agonists commonly cause tachycardia, palpitations and fine tremor. They can also cause hypokalaemia, not hyperkalaemia.
Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – beta-2 agonists
2. Finger clubbing is most commonly associated with which type of condition?
- A. Chronic hypoxaemic conditions such as lung cancer or bronchiectasis
- B. Acute asthma
- C. Acute viral upper respiratory infection
- D. Seasonal allergic rhinitis
Show answer and rationale
Clubbing develops over time in conditions associated with chronic hypoxaemia or chronic lung disease, such as lung cancer, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis and cyanotic heart disease. It does not occur with short-term illnesses.
Reference: Potter & Perry – respiratory assessment
3. Which breath sound is described as a continuous, high-pitched musical sound heard mainly on expiration and caused by narrowed airways?
- A. Wheeze
- B. Fine crackles
- C. Pleural friction rub
- D. Stridor
Show answer and rationale
Wheezes are continuous musical sounds from air passing through narrowed airways, typical of asthma and COPD. Stridor is also high-pitched but is heard mainly on inspiration and arises from upper airway obstruction.
Reference: Potter & Perry – respiratory assessment
4. Before obtaining an arterial blood gas from the radial artery, which test checks for adequate ulnar collateral circulation?
- A. Romberg test
- B. Modified Allen test
- C. Trendelenburg test
- D. Homans' sign
Show answer and rationale
The modified Allen test checks that the ulnar artery can perfuse the hand if the radial artery becomes damaged or occluded. Homans' sign was historically used for DVT and is unreliable.
Reference: Potter & Perry – arterial blood gas sampling
5. Which intervention is part of a standard bundle to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)?
- A. Keeping the patient supine and flat
- B. Changing the ventilator circuit every 8 hours
- C. Instilling saline before every suction
- D. Elevating the head of the bed to 30–45 degrees
Show answer and rationale
Head-of-bed elevation to 30–45 degrees reduces aspiration of gastric contents and oral secretions. Other bundle elements include regular oral care, daily sedation holds with assessment of readiness to wean, and subglottic secretion drainage.
Reference: IHI Ventilator Bundle / VAP prevention
Study tip
Know the COPD target saturation range (88–92%) and when an asthma attack is becoming life-threatening (silent chest, exhaustion, falling SpO2).
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