Air Methods Critical Care Exam 2025–2026 | 199 Practice
d d d d d d d d
Questions & Verified Answers | Comprehensive Flight
d d d d d d d
d Nursing, Critical Care Transport & Air Medical
d d d d d d
Certification Study Guide
d d d
THIS EXAM INCLUDES: d d
199 comprehensive practice questions
d d d d
Verified correct answers
d d d
Critical care transport review materials
d d d d d
Flight nursing and flight paramedic concepts
d d d d d d
Air medical operations fundamentals
d d d d
Advanced airway and ventilation management
d d d d d
Hemodynamic monitoring and shock management
d d d d d
,Critical Care & Emergency Medicine Test Bank
d d d d d d
1. What is the most reliable method of confirming and monitoring
d d d d d d d d d d
correct placement of an endotracheal (ET) tube?
d d d d d d d
• A. Auscultation of bilateral breath sounds
d d d d d
• B. Presence of condensation in the ET tube
d d d d d d d
• C. Continuous waveform capnography
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• D. Pulse oximetry reading of 100%
d d d d d
Answer: C. Continuous waveform capnography
d d d d
Rationale: Continuous waveform capnography provides real-time evidence
d d d d d d
of exhaled carbon dioxide, which is the gold standard for confirming ET
d d d d d d d d d d d d
tube placement in the trachea. Auscultation and condensation can be
d d d d d d d d d d
misleading, and pulse oximetry confirms oxygenation, not ventilation or
d d d d d d d d d
placement.
d
2. Which of the following structures are included in the upper airway?
d d d d d d d d d d d
• A. Trachea, bronchi, and alveoli
d d d d
• B. Nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx
d d d d d
• C. Terminal bronchioles and alveoli
d d d d
• D. Bronchioles and alveolar ducts
d d d d
Answer: B. Nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx
d d d d d d
Rationale: The upper airway begins at the nose and mouth and includes the
d d d d d d d d d d d d
pharynx and larynx. The lower airway starts from the trachea and includes
d d d d d d d d d d d d
the bronchi and bronchioles.
d d d d
3. The area from the nose to the terminal bronchioles where no gas
d d d d d d d d d d d d
exchange occurs is called the:
d d d d d
• A. Physiological dead space
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• B. Alveolar dead space
d d d
, • C. Anatomical dead space
d d d
• D. Shunt space
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Answer: C. Anatomical dead spaced d d d
Rationale: Anatomical dead space refers to the volume of the conducting
d d d d d d d d d d
airways (nose to terminal bronchioles) that does not participate in gas
d d d d d d d d d d d
exchange. It is approximately 2 mL/kg of inspired tidal volume.
d d d d d d d d d d
4. A patient presents with tracheal deviation away from the affected
d d d d d d d d d d
side, absent breath sounds, and hyperresonance to percussion on the
d d d d d d d d d d
left hemithorax. What is the most likely diagnosis?
d d d d d d d d
• A. Massive pleural effusion
d d d
• B. Tension pneumothorax
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• C. Atelectasis
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• D. Simple pneumothorax
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Answer: B. Tension pneumothorax d d d
Rationale: The classic findings of a tension pneumothorax include tracheal
d d d d d d d d d
deviation away from the affected side, absent or decreased breath sounds,
d d d d d d d d d d d
and hyperresonance due to trapped air. This is a life-threatening condition
d d d d d d d d d d d
requiring immediate needle decompression.
d d d d
5. A patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) reveals a PaCO2 of 52 mmHg.
d d d d d d d d d d d d
This is consistent with:
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• A. Metabolic acidosis
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• B. Metabolic alkalosis
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• C. Respiratory acidosis
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• D. Respiratory alkalosis
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Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis d d d
Rationale: The normal range for PaCO2 is 35-45 mmHg. A value greater
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, than 45 mmHg indicates hypoventilation and respiratory acidosis. A value
d d d d d d d d d d
less than 35 mmHg indicates hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis.
d d d d d d d d d
6. Pulmonary hypertension is defined as a mean pulmonary artery
d d d d d d d d d
pressure (PAm) greater than:
d d d d
• A. 10 mmHg
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• B. 20 mmHg
d d
• C. 30 mmHg
d d
• D. 40 mmHg
d d
Answer: B. 20 mmHg d d d
Rationale: Normal mean pulmonary artery pressure is 10-20 mmHg.
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Pulmonary hypertension is diagnosed when the PAm exceeds 20 mmHg at
d d d d d d d d d d d
rest.
d
7. Which physiological change in pregnancy contributes to a reduced
d d d d d d d d d
functional residual capacity (FRC)?
d d d d
• A. Increased plasma volume
d d d
• B. The gravid uterus lifting the diaphragm
d d d d d d
• C. Increased tidal volume
d d d
• D. Decreased oxygen consumption
d d d
Answer: B. The gravid uterus lifting the diaphragm
d d d d d d d
Rationale: As the uterus enlarges, it pushes the diaphragm upward,
d d d d d d d d d
reducing lung volumes, including the functional residual capacity (FRC). This
d d d d d d d d d d
makes pregnant patients more susceptible to hypoxemia during periods of
d d d d d d d d d d
hypoventilation or apnea.
d d d
8. For a pregnant patient at 28 weeks gestation in cardiac arrest, the
d d d d d d d d d d d d
recommended maximum time from arrest to performing a perimortem
d d d d d d d d d
cesarean section is:
d d d
d d d d d d d d
Questions & Verified Answers | Comprehensive Flight
d d d d d d d
d Nursing, Critical Care Transport & Air Medical
d d d d d d
Certification Study Guide
d d d
THIS EXAM INCLUDES: d d
199 comprehensive practice questions
d d d d
Verified correct answers
d d d
Critical care transport review materials
d d d d d
Flight nursing and flight paramedic concepts
d d d d d d
Air medical operations fundamentals
d d d d
Advanced airway and ventilation management
d d d d d
Hemodynamic monitoring and shock management
d d d d d
,Critical Care & Emergency Medicine Test Bank
d d d d d d
1. What is the most reliable method of confirming and monitoring
d d d d d d d d d d
correct placement of an endotracheal (ET) tube?
d d d d d d d
• A. Auscultation of bilateral breath sounds
d d d d d
• B. Presence of condensation in the ET tube
d d d d d d d
• C. Continuous waveform capnography
d d d
• D. Pulse oximetry reading of 100%
d d d d d
Answer: C. Continuous waveform capnography
d d d d
Rationale: Continuous waveform capnography provides real-time evidence
d d d d d d
of exhaled carbon dioxide, which is the gold standard for confirming ET
d d d d d d d d d d d d
tube placement in the trachea. Auscultation and condensation can be
d d d d d d d d d d
misleading, and pulse oximetry confirms oxygenation, not ventilation or
d d d d d d d d d
placement.
d
2. Which of the following structures are included in the upper airway?
d d d d d d d d d d d
• A. Trachea, bronchi, and alveoli
d d d d
• B. Nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx
d d d d d
• C. Terminal bronchioles and alveoli
d d d d
• D. Bronchioles and alveolar ducts
d d d d
Answer: B. Nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx
d d d d d d
Rationale: The upper airway begins at the nose and mouth and includes the
d d d d d d d d d d d d
pharynx and larynx. The lower airway starts from the trachea and includes
d d d d d d d d d d d d
the bronchi and bronchioles.
d d d d
3. The area from the nose to the terminal bronchioles where no gas
d d d d d d d d d d d d
exchange occurs is called the:
d d d d d
• A. Physiological dead space
d d d
• B. Alveolar dead space
d d d
, • C. Anatomical dead space
d d d
• D. Shunt space
d d
Answer: C. Anatomical dead spaced d d d
Rationale: Anatomical dead space refers to the volume of the conducting
d d d d d d d d d d
airways (nose to terminal bronchioles) that does not participate in gas
d d d d d d d d d d d
exchange. It is approximately 2 mL/kg of inspired tidal volume.
d d d d d d d d d d
4. A patient presents with tracheal deviation away from the affected
d d d d d d d d d d
side, absent breath sounds, and hyperresonance to percussion on the
d d d d d d d d d d
left hemithorax. What is the most likely diagnosis?
d d d d d d d d
• A. Massive pleural effusion
d d d
• B. Tension pneumothorax
d d
• C. Atelectasis
d
• D. Simple pneumothorax
d d
Answer: B. Tension pneumothorax d d d
Rationale: The classic findings of a tension pneumothorax include tracheal
d d d d d d d d d
deviation away from the affected side, absent or decreased breath sounds,
d d d d d d d d d d d
and hyperresonance due to trapped air. This is a life-threatening condition
d d d d d d d d d d d
requiring immediate needle decompression.
d d d d
5. A patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) reveals a PaCO2 of 52 mmHg.
d d d d d d d d d d d d
This is consistent with:
d d d d
• A. Metabolic acidosis
d d
• B. Metabolic alkalosis
d d
• C. Respiratory acidosis
d d
• D. Respiratory alkalosis
d d
Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis d d d
Rationale: The normal range for PaCO2 is 35-45 mmHg. A value greater
d d d d d d d d d d d
, than 45 mmHg indicates hypoventilation and respiratory acidosis. A value
d d d d d d d d d d
less than 35 mmHg indicates hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis.
d d d d d d d d d
6. Pulmonary hypertension is defined as a mean pulmonary artery
d d d d d d d d d
pressure (PAm) greater than:
d d d d
• A. 10 mmHg
d d
• B. 20 mmHg
d d
• C. 30 mmHg
d d
• D. 40 mmHg
d d
Answer: B. 20 mmHg d d d
Rationale: Normal mean pulmonary artery pressure is 10-20 mmHg.
d d d d d d d d
Pulmonary hypertension is diagnosed when the PAm exceeds 20 mmHg at
d d d d d d d d d d d
rest.
d
7. Which physiological change in pregnancy contributes to a reduced
d d d d d d d d d
functional residual capacity (FRC)?
d d d d
• A. Increased plasma volume
d d d
• B. The gravid uterus lifting the diaphragm
d d d d d d
• C. Increased tidal volume
d d d
• D. Decreased oxygen consumption
d d d
Answer: B. The gravid uterus lifting the diaphragm
d d d d d d d
Rationale: As the uterus enlarges, it pushes the diaphragm upward,
d d d d d d d d d
reducing lung volumes, including the functional residual capacity (FRC). This
d d d d d d d d d d
makes pregnant patients more susceptible to hypoxemia during periods of
d d d d d d d d d d
hypoventilation or apnea.
d d d
8. For a pregnant patient at 28 weeks gestation in cardiac arrest, the
d d d d d d d d d d d d
recommended maximum time from arrest to performing a perimortem
d d d d d d d d d
cesarean section is:
d d d
