NBRC CSE Exam Review – Practice Questions |
Latest Update 2026 | Exam Prep PDF | Graded
A+
After a patient undergoes a thoracentesis, the respiratory therapist notes that the
obtained pleural fluid is clear with a slight straw color. This fluid is most likely the result
of
A. empyema.
B. congestive heart failure.
C. lung carcinoma.
D. hemothorax. - correct answerCongestive Heart Failure
The respiratory therapist is calibrating a spirometer and checking the volume with a 3.0
liter super syringe. the volumes recorded are 2.85L, 2.8L and 2.8L. Based upon the
information obtained, which of the following is a correct statement?
A. Another syringe needs to be used
B. Spirometer is accurate
C. The plunger was advanced too slowly
D. Spirometer may have a leak - correct answerD. Spirometer may have a leak
Which of the following is an indication for high frequency jet ventilation?
A. Bronchopleural fistula
B. Wilson Mikity syndrome
C Necrotizing lesion of right lung
D. Centrilobular emphysema - correct answerBronchopleural Fistula
**(because it uses mean airway pressures & low tidal volumes to improve oxygenation
and we do not want to worsen bp fistula)
A 43 y/o female patient has just undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy. The pt
arrives in the post anesthesia care unit obtunded with minimal response to painful
stimulus. what treatment should the RT recommend for this pt? - correct answerInsert
OPA (b/c they are unresponsive)
What is the normal VD/VT ratio for a patient breathing room air? - correct answer20-
40%
All of the following could cause a patient's right-hemidiaphragm to be elevated,
EXCEPT:
,A. right lower lobe atelectasis
B. right side hyperlucency, absent vascular markings
C. hepatomegaly
D. right lower lobe consolidation with air bronchograms - correct answerB. right side
hyperlucency, absent vascular markings (pneumothorax)
A 2 y/o child with croup has been intubated for 4 days with a 4mm ID uncuffed ETT.
Heated aerosol at an FiO2 of 30% has been delivered to the patient. The physician asks
the RT to evaluate the pt for possible extubation. Which of the following would most
likely indicate that the pt is ready for extubation?
A. Pt is making normal quiet ventilatory efforts
B. Negative sputum culture and sensitivity has been reported
C. Pt's ABG are within normal range
D. Breath sounds are heard around the tube on auscultation - correct answerD. Breath
sounds are heard around the tube on auscultation
A pt is senn inthe ER for complaints of nausea and vomiting. A NGT has been inserted
and the pt is started on lasix. Which of the following should the RT monitor?
A. Cardiac enzymes
B. Serum electrolytes
C. ABG
D. Cell hydration level - correct answerB. Serum electrolytes (because of loss of fluids)
While instructing a pt prior to a vital capacity maneuver, the RT should direct the pt to:
A. exhale to RV and inhale to IC
B. inhale to TLC then exhale to RV
C. exhale normally then inhale to TLC
D. inhale normally then exhale to FRC - correct answerB. inhale to TLC then exhale to
RV
A 77 y/o male patient is admitted to the ER with shortness of breath, fine basilar
crackles, +2 pitting edema and a chest X-ray with a butterfly pattern. These results are
most consistent with which of the following?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema
C. Pneumothorax
D. Emphysema - correct answerA. Pulmonary edema (and CHF!)
Which of the formula will determine the total flow being delivered to a pt with a 28%
venturi mask running at 6 L/min? - correct answerTotal flow = 6 x 11 (flow factor for 28%
= 10:1 = 11)
, A pt with end-stage pulmonary fibrosis is receiving O2 at 2L/min via a transtracheal
oxygen catheter. The pt experiences an increased WOB and shortness of breath. The
RT should do what? - correct answerFlush the transtracheal device with isotonic saline
During bedside monitoring the RT notices a dampened waveform on the arterial line
graphic. To restore the graphic to normal, what should the RT do? - correct
answerCheck the transducer dome for air bubbles
An optimal PEEP study is initiated on a pt receiving mechanical ventilation. The RT first
places the pt on a PEEP of 10 cm H20 for 20 mins with no adverse effects. The PEEP
is increased to 15cm H20 and the pt's HR rises significantly with a severe fall in the BP.
Based upon the above info, what should the RT conclude that the pt is suffering from? -
correct answerHypovolemia
A post-op thoracotomy pt is receiving incentive spirometry therapy Q2H. Breath sounds
are diminished in the bases of the lungs with scattered crackles. the pt's inspiratory
capacity has decreased over the past 2 days. A chest X-ray indicates thin-layered
basilar densities. Which of the following has most likely occured?
A. Atelectasis
B. Pneumonia
C. Pulmonary Edema
D. Consolidation - correct answerA. Atelectasis
The RT is in charge of transporting a pt with multiple trauma to a regional trauma center
in a fixed wing aircraft. Which of the following should the RT be most concerned about
during the transport?
A. Tissue oxygenation
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary embolus
D. Humidification of the inspired gas - correct answerTissue oxygenation
Transcutaneous monitoring of PO2 values will correlate well with ABG PO2 values in
which of the following situations? (Pick all that apply)
A. Hypotension
B. Hypothermia
C. Pneumonia - correct answerPneumonia only
What is the air-to-oxygen ratio for an air entrainment device delivering 60% oxygen? -
correct answer1:1
Following surgery to correct an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a 54 y/o female pt suddenly
develops intense substernal chest pain with severe dyspnea. the pain does not appear
to be aggravated by her respiratioins. Auscultation reveals bilateral, basilar, moist,
Latest Update 2026 | Exam Prep PDF | Graded
A+
After a patient undergoes a thoracentesis, the respiratory therapist notes that the
obtained pleural fluid is clear with a slight straw color. This fluid is most likely the result
of
A. empyema.
B. congestive heart failure.
C. lung carcinoma.
D. hemothorax. - correct answerCongestive Heart Failure
The respiratory therapist is calibrating a spirometer and checking the volume with a 3.0
liter super syringe. the volumes recorded are 2.85L, 2.8L and 2.8L. Based upon the
information obtained, which of the following is a correct statement?
A. Another syringe needs to be used
B. Spirometer is accurate
C. The plunger was advanced too slowly
D. Spirometer may have a leak - correct answerD. Spirometer may have a leak
Which of the following is an indication for high frequency jet ventilation?
A. Bronchopleural fistula
B. Wilson Mikity syndrome
C Necrotizing lesion of right lung
D. Centrilobular emphysema - correct answerBronchopleural Fistula
**(because it uses mean airway pressures & low tidal volumes to improve oxygenation
and we do not want to worsen bp fistula)
A 43 y/o female patient has just undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy. The pt
arrives in the post anesthesia care unit obtunded with minimal response to painful
stimulus. what treatment should the RT recommend for this pt? - correct answerInsert
OPA (b/c they are unresponsive)
What is the normal VD/VT ratio for a patient breathing room air? - correct answer20-
40%
All of the following could cause a patient's right-hemidiaphragm to be elevated,
EXCEPT:
,A. right lower lobe atelectasis
B. right side hyperlucency, absent vascular markings
C. hepatomegaly
D. right lower lobe consolidation with air bronchograms - correct answerB. right side
hyperlucency, absent vascular markings (pneumothorax)
A 2 y/o child with croup has been intubated for 4 days with a 4mm ID uncuffed ETT.
Heated aerosol at an FiO2 of 30% has been delivered to the patient. The physician asks
the RT to evaluate the pt for possible extubation. Which of the following would most
likely indicate that the pt is ready for extubation?
A. Pt is making normal quiet ventilatory efforts
B. Negative sputum culture and sensitivity has been reported
C. Pt's ABG are within normal range
D. Breath sounds are heard around the tube on auscultation - correct answerD. Breath
sounds are heard around the tube on auscultation
A pt is senn inthe ER for complaints of nausea and vomiting. A NGT has been inserted
and the pt is started on lasix. Which of the following should the RT monitor?
A. Cardiac enzymes
B. Serum electrolytes
C. ABG
D. Cell hydration level - correct answerB. Serum electrolytes (because of loss of fluids)
While instructing a pt prior to a vital capacity maneuver, the RT should direct the pt to:
A. exhale to RV and inhale to IC
B. inhale to TLC then exhale to RV
C. exhale normally then inhale to TLC
D. inhale normally then exhale to FRC - correct answerB. inhale to TLC then exhale to
RV
A 77 y/o male patient is admitted to the ER with shortness of breath, fine basilar
crackles, +2 pitting edema and a chest X-ray with a butterfly pattern. These results are
most consistent with which of the following?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema
C. Pneumothorax
D. Emphysema - correct answerA. Pulmonary edema (and CHF!)
Which of the formula will determine the total flow being delivered to a pt with a 28%
venturi mask running at 6 L/min? - correct answerTotal flow = 6 x 11 (flow factor for 28%
= 10:1 = 11)
, A pt with end-stage pulmonary fibrosis is receiving O2 at 2L/min via a transtracheal
oxygen catheter. The pt experiences an increased WOB and shortness of breath. The
RT should do what? - correct answerFlush the transtracheal device with isotonic saline
During bedside monitoring the RT notices a dampened waveform on the arterial line
graphic. To restore the graphic to normal, what should the RT do? - correct
answerCheck the transducer dome for air bubbles
An optimal PEEP study is initiated on a pt receiving mechanical ventilation. The RT first
places the pt on a PEEP of 10 cm H20 for 20 mins with no adverse effects. The PEEP
is increased to 15cm H20 and the pt's HR rises significantly with a severe fall in the BP.
Based upon the above info, what should the RT conclude that the pt is suffering from? -
correct answerHypovolemia
A post-op thoracotomy pt is receiving incentive spirometry therapy Q2H. Breath sounds
are diminished in the bases of the lungs with scattered crackles. the pt's inspiratory
capacity has decreased over the past 2 days. A chest X-ray indicates thin-layered
basilar densities. Which of the following has most likely occured?
A. Atelectasis
B. Pneumonia
C. Pulmonary Edema
D. Consolidation - correct answerA. Atelectasis
The RT is in charge of transporting a pt with multiple trauma to a regional trauma center
in a fixed wing aircraft. Which of the following should the RT be most concerned about
during the transport?
A. Tissue oxygenation
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary embolus
D. Humidification of the inspired gas - correct answerTissue oxygenation
Transcutaneous monitoring of PO2 values will correlate well with ABG PO2 values in
which of the following situations? (Pick all that apply)
A. Hypotension
B. Hypothermia
C. Pneumonia - correct answerPneumonia only
What is the air-to-oxygen ratio for an air entrainment device delivering 60% oxygen? -
correct answer1:1
Following surgery to correct an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a 54 y/o female pt suddenly
develops intense substernal chest pain with severe dyspnea. the pain does not appear
to be aggravated by her respiratioins. Auscultation reveals bilateral, basilar, moist,
