RRT & CRITICAL CARE RESPIRATORY EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND
WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
(Improves gas exchange by increasing a person's positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP),
thus opening the alveoli.) - CORRECT ANSWER -How does pursed lip breathing help patients
with COPD?
pursed lip breathing - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the one of the most effective
interventions for patients with COPD to tolerate exercise?
7.35-7.45 - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas) pH?
35-45 mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas)
PaCO2?
23-29 mEq/L - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas)
carbon dioxide? (not PaCO2, just straight up carbon dioxide in the bloodstream)
21-28 mEq/L - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas)
bicarbonate?
80-100 mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas)
PaO2?
3-7 mg/dL - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas) lactic
acid?
pneumonia
ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome)
PE (pulmonary embolism) - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top three causes of
oxygenation respiratory failure?
CNS depression (drug overdose)
Neuromuscular disorders
Ineffective breathing pattern - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top three causes of
ventilatory respiratory failure?
perfusion - CORRECT ANSWER -Oxygenation respiratory failure is characterized by a failure
of ____________ (ventilation or perfusion)
perfusion - CORRECT ANSWER -The supply of oxygen to and removal of wastes from the cells
and tissues of the body as a result of the flow of blood through the capillaries.
,ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER -mechanical movement of air in and out of the lungs
The patient in ventilatory failure would be more likely to present with mental status change,
possibly leading to coma, due to the buildup of carbon dioxide, especially in hypercapnic
failure in COPD exacerbations. - CORRECT ANSWER -How would the symptoms of two
patients with respiratory failure, one with oxygenation failure and one with ventilatory
failure, differ? (Explain the difference in symptoms)
SaO2<90%
*PaO2<60mmHg* - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the expected abnormal ABG values for a
patient in oxygenation respiratory failure?
SaO2<90%
*PaCO2>45mmHg*
*pH<7.35* - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the expected abnormal ABG values for a patient
in ventilatory respiratory failure?
Supplemental Oxygen (paO2>60mmHg)
Treat Underlying Cause
Intubation - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top three interventions for a patient in
oxygenation respiratory failure?
Supplemental Oxygen
Treat Underlying Cause
Intubation - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top three interventions for a patient in
ventilatory respiratory failure?
hypoxia - CORRECT ANSWER -Oxygenation respiratory failure is also called
________________
hypercapnia (or hypercarbia) - CORRECT ANSWER -Ventilatory respiratory failure is also
called ______________
PEEP
FiO2 - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the two most important ventilator settings to evaluate
increased oxygenation?
less monitoring (significantly less complicated, requiring less monitoring) - CORRECT
ANSWER -What is the main advantage of mechanical ventilation over ECMO (extra-corporeal
membrane oxygenation) therapy?
sedation required
, high pressure
(patients tend to tolerate this poorly, requiring varying levels of sedation; also the high
pressure causes problems long term) - CORRECT ANSWER -What are two disadvantages of
mechanical ventilation over ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation) therapy?
SaO2<85%
PaO2<60mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER -What abnormal ABG values would you expect in a
patient who requires intubation?
bronchodilators - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the priority intervention for an intubated
patient who develops crackles?
suction - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the priority intervention for an intubated patient who
develops rhonchi?
Rhonchi - CORRECT ANSWER -________________: Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard
in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.
Crackles - CORRECT ANSWER -_______________: fine crackling or bubbling sounds,
commonly heard during inspiration when there is fluid in the alveoli; also called rales
Elevate HOB to 35-45 degrees
Daily sedation vacations to assess readiness to extubate
Good hand washing
In-line suctioning
Good oral care - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top five interventions to prevent
ventilator associated pneumonia?
DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
PUD (peptic ulcer disease) - CORRECT ANSWER -Ventilated patients require prophylaxis
against what two common complications of immobility?
48 - CORRECT ANSWER -A patient with pneumonia should experience improvement within
____ hours of antibiotic administration
obtain culture specimens - CORRECT ANSWER -What key intervention is appropriate prior to
administering antibiotics to a patient with a major infection like pneumonia?
expiratory - CORRECT ANSWER -A COPD exacerbation is a chronic and recurrent
exacerbation of _____________ airflow (inspiratory or expiratory?
suction
meds via nebulizer
WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
(Improves gas exchange by increasing a person's positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP),
thus opening the alveoli.) - CORRECT ANSWER -How does pursed lip breathing help patients
with COPD?
pursed lip breathing - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the one of the most effective
interventions for patients with COPD to tolerate exercise?
7.35-7.45 - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas) pH?
35-45 mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas)
PaCO2?
23-29 mEq/L - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas)
carbon dioxide? (not PaCO2, just straight up carbon dioxide in the bloodstream)
21-28 mEq/L - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas)
bicarbonate?
80-100 mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas)
PaO2?
3-7 mg/dL - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the normal range for ABG (arterial blood gas) lactic
acid?
pneumonia
ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome)
PE (pulmonary embolism) - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top three causes of
oxygenation respiratory failure?
CNS depression (drug overdose)
Neuromuscular disorders
Ineffective breathing pattern - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top three causes of
ventilatory respiratory failure?
perfusion - CORRECT ANSWER -Oxygenation respiratory failure is characterized by a failure
of ____________ (ventilation or perfusion)
perfusion - CORRECT ANSWER -The supply of oxygen to and removal of wastes from the cells
and tissues of the body as a result of the flow of blood through the capillaries.
,ventilation - CORRECT ANSWER -mechanical movement of air in and out of the lungs
The patient in ventilatory failure would be more likely to present with mental status change,
possibly leading to coma, due to the buildup of carbon dioxide, especially in hypercapnic
failure in COPD exacerbations. - CORRECT ANSWER -How would the symptoms of two
patients with respiratory failure, one with oxygenation failure and one with ventilatory
failure, differ? (Explain the difference in symptoms)
SaO2<90%
*PaO2<60mmHg* - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the expected abnormal ABG values for a
patient in oxygenation respiratory failure?
SaO2<90%
*PaCO2>45mmHg*
*pH<7.35* - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the expected abnormal ABG values for a patient
in ventilatory respiratory failure?
Supplemental Oxygen (paO2>60mmHg)
Treat Underlying Cause
Intubation - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top three interventions for a patient in
oxygenation respiratory failure?
Supplemental Oxygen
Treat Underlying Cause
Intubation - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top three interventions for a patient in
ventilatory respiratory failure?
hypoxia - CORRECT ANSWER -Oxygenation respiratory failure is also called
________________
hypercapnia (or hypercarbia) - CORRECT ANSWER -Ventilatory respiratory failure is also
called ______________
PEEP
FiO2 - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the two most important ventilator settings to evaluate
increased oxygenation?
less monitoring (significantly less complicated, requiring less monitoring) - CORRECT
ANSWER -What is the main advantage of mechanical ventilation over ECMO (extra-corporeal
membrane oxygenation) therapy?
sedation required
, high pressure
(patients tend to tolerate this poorly, requiring varying levels of sedation; also the high
pressure causes problems long term) - CORRECT ANSWER -What are two disadvantages of
mechanical ventilation over ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation) therapy?
SaO2<85%
PaO2<60mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER -What abnormal ABG values would you expect in a
patient who requires intubation?
bronchodilators - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the priority intervention for an intubated
patient who develops crackles?
suction - CORRECT ANSWER -What is the priority intervention for an intubated patient who
develops rhonchi?
Rhonchi - CORRECT ANSWER -________________: Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard
in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.
Crackles - CORRECT ANSWER -_______________: fine crackling or bubbling sounds,
commonly heard during inspiration when there is fluid in the alveoli; also called rales
Elevate HOB to 35-45 degrees
Daily sedation vacations to assess readiness to extubate
Good hand washing
In-line suctioning
Good oral care - CORRECT ANSWER -What are the top five interventions to prevent
ventilator associated pneumonia?
DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
PUD (peptic ulcer disease) - CORRECT ANSWER -Ventilated patients require prophylaxis
against what two common complications of immobility?
48 - CORRECT ANSWER -A patient with pneumonia should experience improvement within
____ hours of antibiotic administration
obtain culture specimens - CORRECT ANSWER -What key intervention is appropriate prior to
administering antibiotics to a patient with a major infection like pneumonia?
expiratory - CORRECT ANSWER -A COPD exacerbation is a chronic and recurrent
exacerbation of _____________ airflow (inspiratory or expiratory?
suction
meds via nebulizer
