NBRC TMC/CRT/RRT EXAM PREP BUNDLE
2026–2027 | COMPLETE THERAPIST
MULTIPLE-CHOICE (TMC) STUDY GUIDE &
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
• This 200-question TMC practice bundle mirrors the full NBRC Therapist Multiple-
Choice exam blueprint — covering every tested domain from airway management
to ventilator management, pharmacology, cardiopulmonary diagnostics, patient
assessment, disease management, and emergency care.
• Study by attempting each question independently before reading the correct
answer and EXPERT RATIONALE; review missed questions by topic cluster to
reinforce weak areas before your exam date.
NBRC TMC/CRT/RRT EXAM PREP BUNDLE 2026–2027 COMPLETE THERAPIST
MULTIPLE-CHOICE (TMC) STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
EXPERT RATIONALE
PATIENT ASSESSMENT & CLINICAL DATA
Question 1: A respiratory therapist reviews a patient's chart and notes a PaO₂
of 55 mmHg on room air. Which of the following best describes this finding?
A. Normal oxygenation
B. Mild hypoxemia
C. Moderate hypoxemia
D. Severe hypoxemia
E. Hyperoxia
Correct Answer: C. Moderate hypoxemia
,EXPERT RATIONALE: A PaO₂ of 55 mmHg falls within the moderate hypoxemia range
(40–59 mmHg). Normal PaO₂ is 80–100 mmHg. Mild hypoxemia is 60–79 mmHg, severe
hypoxemia is below 40 mmHg, and hyperoxia is a PaO₂ above 100 mmHg.
Question 2: A patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg,
HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L. How should the therapist interpret this?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis uncompensated
D. Metabolic alkalosis
E. Combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis uncompensated
EXPERT RATIONALE: The pH is low (acidosis), PaCO₂ is elevated (respiratory cause), and
HCO₃⁻ is normal (no renal compensation). This is consistent with acute, uncompensated
respiratory acidosis.
Question 3: Which physical assessment finding is most consistent with
consolidation of the lung?
A. Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Diminished breath sounds
C. Bronchial breath sounds over the peripheral lung
D. Tympany on percussion
E. Vesicular breath sounds over all fields
Correct Answer: C. Bronchial breath sounds over the peripheral lung
EXPERT RATIONALE: Consolidation, such as in pneumonia, causes the lung tissue to
become solid, transmitting sound more efficiently. Bronchial breath sounds heard over
,peripheral lung areas — where vesicular sounds are normally expected — indicate
consolidation.
Question 4: A patient's sputum is described as rust-colored. This finding is
most associated with which condition?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
C. Streptococcal pneumonia
D. Chronic bronchitis
E. Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: C. Streptococcal pneumonia
EXPERT RATIONALE: Rust-colored (blood-tinged) sputum is a classic hallmark of
Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Pink frothy sputum suggests pulmonary edema;
clear/mucoid sputum is typical in chronic bronchitis; blood-streaked sputum may occur
with PE.
Question 5: Which of the following best represents a normal SpO₂ reading for
an adult patient at sea level?
A. 85–89%
B. 90–93%
C. 94–98%
D. 99–100% only
E. 80–84%
Correct Answer: C. 94–98%
, EXPERT RATIONALE: A normal SpO₂ for a healthy adult breathing room air at sea level
ranges from 94–98%. Values below 90% indicate significant hypoxemia requiring
intervention. Values of 99–100% are acceptable but not the defined "normal range."
Question 6: When assessing a patient's breathing pattern, the therapist notes
periods of apnea alternating with crescendo-decrescendo respirations. This
pattern is called:
A. Biot's respirations
B. Kussmaul respirations
C. Apneustic breathing
D. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
E. Ataxic breathing
Correct Answer: D. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
EXPERT RATIONALE: Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by a cyclical pattern
of gradually increasing then decreasing tidal volumes with periods of apnea. This
pattern is commonly seen in heart failure and neurological injury.
Question 7: A therapist auscultates fine, late-inspiratory crackles in both lung
bases. This finding is most consistent with:
A. Asthma
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary edema
D. Upper airway obstruction
E. Emphysema
Correct Answer: C. Pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary edema
2026–2027 | COMPLETE THERAPIST
MULTIPLE-CHOICE (TMC) STUDY GUIDE &
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
• This 200-question TMC practice bundle mirrors the full NBRC Therapist Multiple-
Choice exam blueprint — covering every tested domain from airway management
to ventilator management, pharmacology, cardiopulmonary diagnostics, patient
assessment, disease management, and emergency care.
• Study by attempting each question independently before reading the correct
answer and EXPERT RATIONALE; review missed questions by topic cluster to
reinforce weak areas before your exam date.
NBRC TMC/CRT/RRT EXAM PREP BUNDLE 2026–2027 COMPLETE THERAPIST
MULTIPLE-CHOICE (TMC) STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
EXPERT RATIONALE
PATIENT ASSESSMENT & CLINICAL DATA
Question 1: A respiratory therapist reviews a patient's chart and notes a PaO₂
of 55 mmHg on room air. Which of the following best describes this finding?
A. Normal oxygenation
B. Mild hypoxemia
C. Moderate hypoxemia
D. Severe hypoxemia
E. Hyperoxia
Correct Answer: C. Moderate hypoxemia
,EXPERT RATIONALE: A PaO₂ of 55 mmHg falls within the moderate hypoxemia range
(40–59 mmHg). Normal PaO₂ is 80–100 mmHg. Mild hypoxemia is 60–79 mmHg, severe
hypoxemia is below 40 mmHg, and hyperoxia is a PaO₂ above 100 mmHg.
Question 2: A patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg,
HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L. How should the therapist interpret this?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis uncompensated
D. Metabolic alkalosis
E. Combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: C. Respiratory acidosis uncompensated
EXPERT RATIONALE: The pH is low (acidosis), PaCO₂ is elevated (respiratory cause), and
HCO₃⁻ is normal (no renal compensation). This is consistent with acute, uncompensated
respiratory acidosis.
Question 3: Which physical assessment finding is most consistent with
consolidation of the lung?
A. Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Diminished breath sounds
C. Bronchial breath sounds over the peripheral lung
D. Tympany on percussion
E. Vesicular breath sounds over all fields
Correct Answer: C. Bronchial breath sounds over the peripheral lung
EXPERT RATIONALE: Consolidation, such as in pneumonia, causes the lung tissue to
become solid, transmitting sound more efficiently. Bronchial breath sounds heard over
,peripheral lung areas — where vesicular sounds are normally expected — indicate
consolidation.
Question 4: A patient's sputum is described as rust-colored. This finding is
most associated with which condition?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
C. Streptococcal pneumonia
D. Chronic bronchitis
E. Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: C. Streptococcal pneumonia
EXPERT RATIONALE: Rust-colored (blood-tinged) sputum is a classic hallmark of
Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Pink frothy sputum suggests pulmonary edema;
clear/mucoid sputum is typical in chronic bronchitis; blood-streaked sputum may occur
with PE.
Question 5: Which of the following best represents a normal SpO₂ reading for
an adult patient at sea level?
A. 85–89%
B. 90–93%
C. 94–98%
D. 99–100% only
E. 80–84%
Correct Answer: C. 94–98%
, EXPERT RATIONALE: A normal SpO₂ for a healthy adult breathing room air at sea level
ranges from 94–98%. Values below 90% indicate significant hypoxemia requiring
intervention. Values of 99–100% are acceptable but not the defined "normal range."
Question 6: When assessing a patient's breathing pattern, the therapist notes
periods of apnea alternating with crescendo-decrescendo respirations. This
pattern is called:
A. Biot's respirations
B. Kussmaul respirations
C. Apneustic breathing
D. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
E. Ataxic breathing
Correct Answer: D. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
EXPERT RATIONALE: Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by a cyclical pattern
of gradually increasing then decreasing tidal volumes with periods of apnea. This
pattern is commonly seen in heart failure and neurological injury.
Question 7: A therapist auscultates fine, late-inspiratory crackles in both lung
bases. This finding is most consistent with:
A. Asthma
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary edema
D. Upper airway obstruction
E. Emphysema
Correct Answer: C. Pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary edema
