SJVC RCP 100 FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 | RESPIRATORY CARE
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |
EXAM PREP | COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE 2026&2027
1. A patient receiving supplemental oxygen has an SpO2 of 88% while breathing through a
properly positioned nasal cannula at 2 L/min. The patient is alert but mildly dyspneic.
What should the respiratory care practitioner do FIRST?
A. Increase oxygen flow to 10 L/min
B. Assess the patient's airway, breathing, and equipment before adjusting therapy
C. Immediately initiate noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation
D. Remove the oxygen and reassess after five minutes
Answer: B
The first priority is to assess the patient and verify equipment function before escalating
therapy. This determines whether the low saturation is caused by patient deterioration, an
airway problem, or an equipment issue.
2. Which structure is the primary site of gas exchange between inspired air and pulmonary
capillary blood?
A. Trachea
B. Bronchi
C. Alveoli
D. Larynx
Answer: C
The alveoli provide a thin respiratory membrane surrounded by pulmonary capillaries,
allowing oxygen and carbon dioxide to diffuse between alveolar gas and blood.
3. A respiratory therapist is reviewing a patient's airway anatomy. Which structure
prevents food and liquid from entering the trachea during swallowing?
A. Epiglottis
B. Uvula
C. Carina
D. Diaphragm
Answer: A
The epiglottis helps cover the laryngeal opening during swallowing, directing food and liquid
toward the esophagus and protecting the lower airway.
4. Which muscle is primarily responsible for quiet inspiration?
A. Rectus abdominis
,B. Internal intercostals
C. Sternocleidomastoid
D. Diaphragm
Answer: D
During quiet inspiration, contraction of the diaphragm increases thoracic volume and
decreases intrathoracic pressure, allowing air to enter the lungs.
5. A patient with pneumonia has an increased respiratory rate and reduced oxygen
saturation. Which mechanism most directly explains impaired oxygenation when alveoli
are filled with inflammatory fluid?
A. Increased anatomical dead space
B. Ventilation-perfusion mismatch
C. Increased hemoglobin concentration
D. Reduced metabolic demand
Answer: B
Fluid-filled alveoli may remain perfused while receiving inadequate ventilation, producing a
ventilation-perfusion mismatch and impaired oxygen transfer.
6. Which term describes the volume of air moved into or out of the lungs during a normal
breath?
A. Tidal volume
B. Residual volume
C. Vital capacity
D. Inspiratory reserve volume
Answer: A
Tidal volume is the amount of air inhaled or exhaled during a normal respiratory cycle.
7. A patient takes 12 breaths/min with a tidal volume of 500 mL. What is the approximate
minute ventilation?
A. 2 L/min
B. 4 L/min
C. 6 L/min
D. 12 L/min
Answer: C
Minute ventilation equals respiratory rate multiplied by tidal volume. Twelve breaths/min
multiplied by 0.5 L produces approximately 6 L/min.
,8. Which component of blood carries the majority of oxygen under normal conditions?
A. Plasma bicarbonate
B. Hemoglobin
C. Platelets
D. Albumin
Answer: B
Most oxygen is transported bound to hemoglobin within red blood cells. Only a small fraction
is physically dissolved in plasma.
9. A patient with chronic respiratory disease has an elevated PaCO2. Which condition is
most directly represented by this finding?
A. Hypercapnia
B. Hypoxemia
C. Hypocapnia
D. Hyperoxia
Answer: A
Hypercapnia refers to an abnormally elevated arterial carbon dioxide level and commonly
results from inadequate alveolar ventilation.
10. Which gas law explains the inverse relationship between pressure and volume when
temperature remains constant?
A. Charles' law
B. Henry's law
C. Dalton's law
D. Boyle's law
Answer: D
Boyle's law states that pressure and volume are inversely related when temperature remains
constant. This principle contributes to understanding pressure changes during breathing.
11. A patient develops sudden dyspnea after being exposed to an allergen. Wheezing is
heard bilaterally. Which condition is most likely responsible for the airway narrowing?
A. Pulmonary fibrosis
B. Pleural effusion
C. Bronchospasm
D. Pneumothorax
Answer: C
Bronchospasm causes narrowing of the bronchial airways and increases airway resistance,
commonly producing expiratory wheezing.
, 12. Which assessment finding most strongly suggests increased work of breathing?
A. Respiratory rate of 14/min with relaxed breathing
B. Use of accessory muscles during inspiration
C. Warm extremities
D. Regular pulse
Answer: B
Accessory muscle recruitment indicates that the patient is using additional respiratory effort
to maintain ventilation.
13. Which clinical sign is most concerning for significant hypoxemia?
A. Mild thirst
B. Warm skin
C. Restlessness and altered mental status
D. Increased appetite
Answer: C
Restlessness, confusion, and altered mental status can occur with significant hypoxemia and
require prompt assessment and intervention.
14. A patient has an oxygen saturation of 99% on a high concentration of supplemental
oxygen without a clear indication. What is the most appropriate principle guiding oxygen
therapy?
A. Oxygen should always be maximized
B. Oxygen should be administered at the lowest effective concentration appropriate for the
patient's condition
C. Oxygen saturation should always exceed 99%
D. Oxygen should be discontinued immediately
Answer: B
Oxygen is a medication and should be titrated to an appropriate clinical target rather than
automatically maximized.
15. Which device generally delivers a fixed and more predictable oxygen concentration
than a standard nasal cannula?
A. Venturi mask
B. Simple face mask
C. Nonrebreather mask
D. Partial-rebreather mask
Answer: A
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |
EXAM PREP | COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE 2026&2027
1. A patient receiving supplemental oxygen has an SpO2 of 88% while breathing through a
properly positioned nasal cannula at 2 L/min. The patient is alert but mildly dyspneic.
What should the respiratory care practitioner do FIRST?
A. Increase oxygen flow to 10 L/min
B. Assess the patient's airway, breathing, and equipment before adjusting therapy
C. Immediately initiate noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation
D. Remove the oxygen and reassess after five minutes
Answer: B
The first priority is to assess the patient and verify equipment function before escalating
therapy. This determines whether the low saturation is caused by patient deterioration, an
airway problem, or an equipment issue.
2. Which structure is the primary site of gas exchange between inspired air and pulmonary
capillary blood?
A. Trachea
B. Bronchi
C. Alveoli
D. Larynx
Answer: C
The alveoli provide a thin respiratory membrane surrounded by pulmonary capillaries,
allowing oxygen and carbon dioxide to diffuse between alveolar gas and blood.
3. A respiratory therapist is reviewing a patient's airway anatomy. Which structure
prevents food and liquid from entering the trachea during swallowing?
A. Epiglottis
B. Uvula
C. Carina
D. Diaphragm
Answer: A
The epiglottis helps cover the laryngeal opening during swallowing, directing food and liquid
toward the esophagus and protecting the lower airway.
4. Which muscle is primarily responsible for quiet inspiration?
A. Rectus abdominis
,B. Internal intercostals
C. Sternocleidomastoid
D. Diaphragm
Answer: D
During quiet inspiration, contraction of the diaphragm increases thoracic volume and
decreases intrathoracic pressure, allowing air to enter the lungs.
5. A patient with pneumonia has an increased respiratory rate and reduced oxygen
saturation. Which mechanism most directly explains impaired oxygenation when alveoli
are filled with inflammatory fluid?
A. Increased anatomical dead space
B. Ventilation-perfusion mismatch
C. Increased hemoglobin concentration
D. Reduced metabolic demand
Answer: B
Fluid-filled alveoli may remain perfused while receiving inadequate ventilation, producing a
ventilation-perfusion mismatch and impaired oxygen transfer.
6. Which term describes the volume of air moved into or out of the lungs during a normal
breath?
A. Tidal volume
B. Residual volume
C. Vital capacity
D. Inspiratory reserve volume
Answer: A
Tidal volume is the amount of air inhaled or exhaled during a normal respiratory cycle.
7. A patient takes 12 breaths/min with a tidal volume of 500 mL. What is the approximate
minute ventilation?
A. 2 L/min
B. 4 L/min
C. 6 L/min
D. 12 L/min
Answer: C
Minute ventilation equals respiratory rate multiplied by tidal volume. Twelve breaths/min
multiplied by 0.5 L produces approximately 6 L/min.
,8. Which component of blood carries the majority of oxygen under normal conditions?
A. Plasma bicarbonate
B. Hemoglobin
C. Platelets
D. Albumin
Answer: B
Most oxygen is transported bound to hemoglobin within red blood cells. Only a small fraction
is physically dissolved in plasma.
9. A patient with chronic respiratory disease has an elevated PaCO2. Which condition is
most directly represented by this finding?
A. Hypercapnia
B. Hypoxemia
C. Hypocapnia
D. Hyperoxia
Answer: A
Hypercapnia refers to an abnormally elevated arterial carbon dioxide level and commonly
results from inadequate alveolar ventilation.
10. Which gas law explains the inverse relationship between pressure and volume when
temperature remains constant?
A. Charles' law
B. Henry's law
C. Dalton's law
D. Boyle's law
Answer: D
Boyle's law states that pressure and volume are inversely related when temperature remains
constant. This principle contributes to understanding pressure changes during breathing.
11. A patient develops sudden dyspnea after being exposed to an allergen. Wheezing is
heard bilaterally. Which condition is most likely responsible for the airway narrowing?
A. Pulmonary fibrosis
B. Pleural effusion
C. Bronchospasm
D. Pneumothorax
Answer: C
Bronchospasm causes narrowing of the bronchial airways and increases airway resistance,
commonly producing expiratory wheezing.
, 12. Which assessment finding most strongly suggests increased work of breathing?
A. Respiratory rate of 14/min with relaxed breathing
B. Use of accessory muscles during inspiration
C. Warm extremities
D. Regular pulse
Answer: B
Accessory muscle recruitment indicates that the patient is using additional respiratory effort
to maintain ventilation.
13. Which clinical sign is most concerning for significant hypoxemia?
A. Mild thirst
B. Warm skin
C. Restlessness and altered mental status
D. Increased appetite
Answer: C
Restlessness, confusion, and altered mental status can occur with significant hypoxemia and
require prompt assessment and intervention.
14. A patient has an oxygen saturation of 99% on a high concentration of supplemental
oxygen without a clear indication. What is the most appropriate principle guiding oxygen
therapy?
A. Oxygen should always be maximized
B. Oxygen should be administered at the lowest effective concentration appropriate for the
patient's condition
C. Oxygen saturation should always exceed 99%
D. Oxygen should be discontinued immediately
Answer: B
Oxygen is a medication and should be titrated to an appropriate clinical target rather than
automatically maximized.
15. Which device generally delivers a fixed and more predictable oxygen concentration
than a standard nasal cannula?
A. Venturi mask
B. Simple face mask
C. Nonrebreather mask
D. Partial-rebreather mask
Answer: A
