Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

Respiratory Sounds Quiz (Rhonchi, Wheeze, Crackles, Pleural Friction Rub, Stridor) NCLEX NGN

Respiratory assessment quiz on the different types of adventitious lung sounds!

This quiz will test your knowledge on abnormal lung sounds such as: rhonchi, wheezes, coarse crackles, fine crackles, pleural friction rub, stridor.

Don’t forget to watch the lecture on lung sounds and to review the notes (coming soon).

Respiratory Sounds Auscultation Quiz

1. When would the nurse expect to hear rhonchi during auscultation of the lung fields?(Required)
2. The nurse notes rhonchi. How could the nurse best describe this sound during documentation?(Required)
3. Which patient below would be at risk for experiencing high-pitched wheezes? Select all that apply:(Required)
4. How could a nurse describe the sound of a high-pitched wheeze?(Required)
5. Fill-in-the-blank: Stridor can occur _______________.(Required)
6. The nurse is educating a patient's parent on how to identify stridor. The nurse asks the parent to verbalize where the sound is mainly located. Which answer by the parent is correct?(Required)
7. Which characteristic below is found with a pleural friction rub?(Required)
8. True or False: A pleural friction rub occurs because the layers around the lungs known as the tunica adventitia pleura and parietal pleura are inflamed and rubbing against each other.(Required)
9. What descriptive word could the nurse use to describe the sound of coarse crackles?(Required)
10. When would the nurse expect to auscultate coarse crackles during the respiratory cycle?(Required)
11. Where are fine crackles usually located in the respiratory system? Select-all-that-apply:(Required)
12. Which statement below best summarizes why fine crackles are occurring in a patient?(Required)

Nurse Sarah’s Notes and Merch

Just released is “ABG Interpretation Notes, Mnemonics, and Workbook by Nurse Sarah“. These notes contain 64 pages of Nurse Sarah’s illustrated, fun notes with mnemonics, and worksheets that include over 90 ABG practice problems and 60 test review questions covering ABG concepts.

You can get an eBook version here or a physical copy of the book here.

arterial blood gas interpretation notes workbook mnemonics

Lung Sounds Quiz

  1. When would the nurse expect to hear rhonchi during auscultation of the lung fields?

A. mainly on expiration but possibly heard during inspiration as well

B. beginning of inspiration which can extend to expiration

C. toward the end of inspiration

D. only on expiration

The answer is A. Rhonchi are mainly on expiration but possibly heard during inspiration as well

  1. The nurse notes rhonchi. How could the nurse best describe this sound during documentation?

A. popping

B. musical whistling

C. snoring

D. squawking

The answer is C: snoring.

  1. Which patient below would be at risk for experiencing high-pitched wheezes? Select all that apply:

A. A patient with COPD.

B. A patient with epiglottitis.

C. A patient with heart failure.

D. A patient with asthma.

The answers are A and D. These disease process can lead to narrowing of the airways. While epiglottitis can cause stridor, and heart failure can cause crackles.

  1. How could a nurse describe the sound of a high-pitched wheeze?

A. snoring

B. crackling, popping

C. bubbling

D. musical, whistling

The answer is D: musical, whistling. This is a sound characteristic of what high-pitched wheezes sounds like.

  1. Fill-in-the-blank: Stridor can occur ___.

A. during inspiration or expiration.

B. during inspiration only.

C. during expiration only.

D. during the ending of inspiration only.

The answer is A: during inspiration or expiration

  1. The nurse is educating a patient’s parent on how to identify stridor. The nurse asks the parent to verbalize where the sound is mainly located. Which answer by the parent is correct?

A. lower airways

B. throat

C. nasal

D. sternal

The answer is B: “throat” Stridor occurs because there is narrowing of the larynx and trachea which can happen due to swelling from an infection or blockage from an object etc. This sound is located in the throat area.

  1. Which characteristic below is found with a pleural friction rub?

A. high-pitched

B. disappears with suctioning

C. pain with coughing, deep breathing, or laughing

D. mainly located in the smaller airways like the bronchioles

The answer is C. Pleural friction rub is low-pitched with a harsh grating noise and is not affected by suctioning. It causes pain with coughing/deep breathing/laughing etc. It is located within the pleural layers. Check out our comprehensive video in the link above to hear what these sounds present like, the causes, and more.

  1. True or False: A pleural friction rub occurs because the layers around the lungs known as the tunica adventitia pleura and parietal pleura are inflamed and rubbing against each other.

The answer is FALSE. The statement should say: “A pleural friction rub occurs because the layers around the lungs known as the VISCERAL pleura (NOT tunica adventitia pleura) and parietal pleura are inflamed and rubbing against each other.

  1. What descriptive word could the nurse use to describe the sound of coarse crackles?

A. Bubbling

B. Popping

C. Snoring

D. Harsh-grating

The answer is A: bubbling Coarse crackles can be described as sounding like gurgling or bubbling that does not go away with coughing.

  1. When would the nurse expect to auscultate coarse crackles during the respiratory cycle?

A. end of inspiration

B. beginning of inspiration

C. end of expiration

D. throughout inspiration and expiration

The answer is B. Coarse crackles occur around the beginning of inspiration and can extend to expiration, and is longer than fine crackles.

  1. Where are fine crackles usually located in the respiratory system? Select-all-that-apply:

A. Bronchi

B. Trachea

C. Alveoli

D. Bronchioles

The answers are C and D. Fine crackles tend to occur in the smaller airways such as the alveoli and bronchioles.

  1. Which statement below best summarizes why fine crackles are occurring in a patient?

A. “The pleural layers in the lungs are inflamed and rub against each other creating a harsh-grating sound.”

B. “When inhaled air enters into small airways that are collapsed, they suddenly explode open leading to a crackling sound.”

C. “As air leaves the trachea and bronchus it hits secretions like mucus and fluid, which creates a snoring like sound.”

D. “The narrowing of the larynx and trachea from either an object or swelling leads a popping sound on inhalation.”

The answer is B.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about this quiz by sharing it your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. You can also take more fun nursing quizzes.

*Disclaimer: While we do our best to provide students with accurate and in-depth study quizzes, this quiz/test is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please refer to the latest NCLEX review books for the latest updates in nursing. This quiz is copyright RegisteredNurseRn.com. Please do not copy this quiz directly; however, please feel free to share a link to this page with students, friends, and others.

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. We strive for 100% accuracy, but nursing procedures and state laws are constantly changing. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy.

Copyright Notice

All images, articles, text, videos, and other content found on this website are protected by copyright law and are the intellectual property of RegisteredNurseRN.com or their respective owners.