NBRC TMC
EXAM PREP
NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC)
431 Questions with Detailed Rationales
📘 WHAT YOU’LL GET:
✔ 431 NBRC TMC-style practice questions
✔ Detailed answer rationales
✔ Covers key respiratory therapy concepts
✔ Organized for easy study & review
✔ Printable + digital PDF
This product is for study purposes only and is not affiliated with NBRC
or any official testing organization.
,Which of the following is needed to calculate alveolar oxygen tension?
A. VD/VT, PAO2
B. BP and FiO2
C. PetCO2 and PaO2
D. QS/QT, deadspace
B.
Barometric pressure, FiO2, and PaO2 are all included in the formula (BP stands for
barometric pressure)
L/min/m2 is the unit of measure for:
A. Systemic vascular resistance
B. Cardiac output
C. Cardiac index
D. Stroke volume
C.
A spontaneously breathing patient has the following arterial blood gas results:
pH 7.38 PaCO2 42 mmHgPaO2 76 mmHgHCO3- 24 mEq/LBE 0 mEq/L
Which of the following supplemental oxygen levels is most appropriate?
A. 2 L/min nasal cannula
B. 5 L/min nasal cannula
C. non-rebreathing mask
D. Venturi mask at 30%
B.
A patient who is showing signs of hypoxemia should receive supplemental oxygen. If
the patient is not a COPD patient and the situation is not an emergency, then the proper
supplemental oxygen is an adult therapeutic dose, which is 40% to 55%. Of the options
available only 5 L/min nasal cannula will approach this. Other options are either
insufficient or too much.
Left heart failure would be manifested in which of the following values?
A. CVP and mPAP
B. mPAP and wedge pressure
C. MAP and SVR
D. cardiac output and wedge pressure
,D.
The function of the left heart, specifically the left ventricle, is best assessed
hemodynamically by looking at those values that precede and come after the left heart.
In this case pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac output (or cardiac index)
are the values found before and after the left heart.
Which of the following findings is most closely associated with increased airway
resistance?
A. reduced SpO2
B. accessory muscle use
C. altered P50
D. increased PetCO2
B.
Of the options given, use of accessory muscles is most closely associated with an
increase in airway resistance. This is especially true with patients who have asthma or
other types of upper airway inflammation or bronchoconstriction.
For a patient receiving volume-controlled mechanical ventilation, the lower
inflection point on a pressure-volume loop can best be described as:
A. amount of pressure required to keep the alveoli and small airways open
B. optimal PEEP
C. minimal PEEP
D. upper limit of residual volume
A.
The lowest inflection point on a pressure-volume ventilator graphic is an indication of
the minimum pressure needed to keep alveoli open.
The results of a V/Q scan shows poor perfusion with adequate ventilation. A chest
radiograph shows a wedge-shaped infiltrate over the right lung field. The patient
most likely has
A. fluid overload
B. ARDS
C. a pulmonary embolism
D. pneumonia
C.
A VQ scan that shows poor perfusion but adequate ventilation is most closely
associated with a pulmonary embolism. Supportive data is found in the radiological
report of wedge-shaped infiltrates.
, The respiratory therapist notes in the medical record of a 65-year-old male that
the patient is ordered to receive bronchodilator therapy with Albuterol. The
therapist also notes the patient is receiving beta-blocker medication. The
therapist should recommend
A. Administer Dexamethasone (Decadron) in place of Albuterol
B. Add Xopenex to the bronchodilator regimen
C. Replace Albuterol with Beclamethasone (Beclovent)
D. Switch from Albuterol to ipratropium bromide (Atrovent)
D.
Because albuterol is a beta-agonist medication, patients who are taking beta-blockers
should utilize other bronchodilation medication.
A hospital has an extremely low incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. To
which of the following reasons may this be attributed?
A. periodic discontinuation of sedation
B. use of respiratory precautions with the population
C. diversion of infectious patients to other facilities
D. broad use of prophylactic antibiotics
A.
The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, or VAP, is lowered by using a closed
system suction catheter, periodically discontinuing sedation, keeping the patient and
semi-Fowler's position, and proper handwashing among caregivers. All are correct.
A pressure-volume loop ventilator graphic shows no rise in pressure for the first
200 mL of delivered volume. The therapist should
A. increase inspiratory flow rate
B. increase PEEP
C. decrease tidal volume
D. decrease inspiratory flow rate
B.
In this question the description of the pressure volume loop would indicate a flat bottom
as manifested by no rise in pressure with the first 200 mL of delivered volume. We call
this a "flat football". The solution is to increase PEEP to a level that the pressure begins
to rise immediately as volume is introduced.
Which of the following would be the most effective, appropriate method for
resolving atelectasis in a spontaneously breathing, post operative patient who is
under the influence of sedation and will not respond to verbal stimuli?
A. IPPB
EXAM PREP
NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC)
431 Questions with Detailed Rationales
📘 WHAT YOU’LL GET:
✔ 431 NBRC TMC-style practice questions
✔ Detailed answer rationales
✔ Covers key respiratory therapy concepts
✔ Organized for easy study & review
✔ Printable + digital PDF
This product is for study purposes only and is not affiliated with NBRC
or any official testing organization.
,Which of the following is needed to calculate alveolar oxygen tension?
A. VD/VT, PAO2
B. BP and FiO2
C. PetCO2 and PaO2
D. QS/QT, deadspace
B.
Barometric pressure, FiO2, and PaO2 are all included in the formula (BP stands for
barometric pressure)
L/min/m2 is the unit of measure for:
A. Systemic vascular resistance
B. Cardiac output
C. Cardiac index
D. Stroke volume
C.
A spontaneously breathing patient has the following arterial blood gas results:
pH 7.38 PaCO2 42 mmHgPaO2 76 mmHgHCO3- 24 mEq/LBE 0 mEq/L
Which of the following supplemental oxygen levels is most appropriate?
A. 2 L/min nasal cannula
B. 5 L/min nasal cannula
C. non-rebreathing mask
D. Venturi mask at 30%
B.
A patient who is showing signs of hypoxemia should receive supplemental oxygen. If
the patient is not a COPD patient and the situation is not an emergency, then the proper
supplemental oxygen is an adult therapeutic dose, which is 40% to 55%. Of the options
available only 5 L/min nasal cannula will approach this. Other options are either
insufficient or too much.
Left heart failure would be manifested in which of the following values?
A. CVP and mPAP
B. mPAP and wedge pressure
C. MAP and SVR
D. cardiac output and wedge pressure
,D.
The function of the left heart, specifically the left ventricle, is best assessed
hemodynamically by looking at those values that precede and come after the left heart.
In this case pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac output (or cardiac index)
are the values found before and after the left heart.
Which of the following findings is most closely associated with increased airway
resistance?
A. reduced SpO2
B. accessory muscle use
C. altered P50
D. increased PetCO2
B.
Of the options given, use of accessory muscles is most closely associated with an
increase in airway resistance. This is especially true with patients who have asthma or
other types of upper airway inflammation or bronchoconstriction.
For a patient receiving volume-controlled mechanical ventilation, the lower
inflection point on a pressure-volume loop can best be described as:
A. amount of pressure required to keep the alveoli and small airways open
B. optimal PEEP
C. minimal PEEP
D. upper limit of residual volume
A.
The lowest inflection point on a pressure-volume ventilator graphic is an indication of
the minimum pressure needed to keep alveoli open.
The results of a V/Q scan shows poor perfusion with adequate ventilation. A chest
radiograph shows a wedge-shaped infiltrate over the right lung field. The patient
most likely has
A. fluid overload
B. ARDS
C. a pulmonary embolism
D. pneumonia
C.
A VQ scan that shows poor perfusion but adequate ventilation is most closely
associated with a pulmonary embolism. Supportive data is found in the radiological
report of wedge-shaped infiltrates.
, The respiratory therapist notes in the medical record of a 65-year-old male that
the patient is ordered to receive bronchodilator therapy with Albuterol. The
therapist also notes the patient is receiving beta-blocker medication. The
therapist should recommend
A. Administer Dexamethasone (Decadron) in place of Albuterol
B. Add Xopenex to the bronchodilator regimen
C. Replace Albuterol with Beclamethasone (Beclovent)
D. Switch from Albuterol to ipratropium bromide (Atrovent)
D.
Because albuterol is a beta-agonist medication, patients who are taking beta-blockers
should utilize other bronchodilation medication.
A hospital has an extremely low incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. To
which of the following reasons may this be attributed?
A. periodic discontinuation of sedation
B. use of respiratory precautions with the population
C. diversion of infectious patients to other facilities
D. broad use of prophylactic antibiotics
A.
The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, or VAP, is lowered by using a closed
system suction catheter, periodically discontinuing sedation, keeping the patient and
semi-Fowler's position, and proper handwashing among caregivers. All are correct.
A pressure-volume loop ventilator graphic shows no rise in pressure for the first
200 mL of delivered volume. The therapist should
A. increase inspiratory flow rate
B. increase PEEP
C. decrease tidal volume
D. decrease inspiratory flow rate
B.
In this question the description of the pressure volume loop would indicate a flat bottom
as manifested by no rise in pressure with the first 200 mL of delivered volume. We call
this a "flat football". The solution is to increase PEEP to a level that the pressure begins
to rise immediately as volume is introduced.
Which of the following would be the most effective, appropriate method for
resolving atelectasis in a spontaneously breathing, post operative patient who is
under the influence of sedation and will not respond to verbal stimuli?
A. IPPB
