TMC Practice Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
A 48 year-old female is admitted to the ED with diaphoresis, jugular venous distension,
and 3+ pitting edema in the ankles. These findings are consistent with
A. liver failure.
B. pulmonary embolism.
C. heart failure.
D. electrolyte imbalances
Heart failure
A patient is admitted to the ED following a motor vehicle accident. On physical exam,
the respiratory therapist discovers that breath sounds are absent in the left chest with a
hyperresonant percussion note. The trachea is shifted to the right. The patient's heart
rate is 45/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg. What
action should the therapist recommend first?
A. Call for a STAT chest x-ray.
B. Insert a chest tube into the left chest.
C. Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space.
D. Activate the medical emergency team to intubate the patient.
Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space.
,All of the following strategies are likely to decrease the likelihood of damage to the
tracheal mucosa EXCEPT
A. maintaining cuff pressures between 20 and 25 mm Hg.
B. using the minimal leak technique for inflation.
C. using a low-residual-volume, low-compliance cuff.
D. monitoring intracuff pressures.
monitoring intracuff pressures.
A 52 year-old post-operative cholecystectomy patient's breath sounds become more
coarse upon completion of postural drainage with percussion. The respiratory therapist
should recommend
A. continuing the therapy until breath sounds improve.
B. administering dornase alpha.
C. administering albuterol therapy.
D. deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions.
deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions.
A 65 kg spinal cord injured patient has developed atelectasis. His inspiratory capacity is
30% of his predicted value. What bronchial hygiene therapy would be most appropriate
initially?
,A. IS / SMI
B. IPPB with normal saline
C. postural drainage and percussion
D. PEP therapy
IPPB with normal saline
A patient on VC ventilation has demonstrated auto-PEEP on ventilator graphics.
Which of the following controls, when adjusted independently, would increase
expiratory time?
1. Tidal volume
2. Respiratory Rate
3. Inspiratory flow
4. Sensitivity
1, 2, and 3 only
Which of the following would be the most appropriate therapy for a dyspneic patient
who has crepitus with tracheal deviation to the left and absent breath sounds on the
right?
A. Perform chest physiotherapy
B. Administer an IPPB treatment
C. Insert an endotracheal tube
D. Insert a chest tube
Insert a chest tube
, A 55 year-old post cardiac surgery patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.50,
PaCO2 30 torr, PaO2 62 torr, HCO3 25 mEq/L, SaO2 92%, HB 14 g/dL, BE +2. Venous
blood gas results are pH 7.39, PvCO2 43 torr, PvO2 37 torr, and SvO2 66%. Calculate
the patient's C(a-v)O2.
A. 2.5 vol%
B. 4.0 vol%
C. 5.0 vol%
D. 5.5 vol%
5.0 vol%
A patient on VC, SIMV with a VT of 500 mL has a PIP of 25 cm H2O, Pplat of 15 cm
H2O and PEEP of 5 cm H2O. What is the patient's static lung compliance
A. 25 mL/cm H2O
B. 35 mL/cm H2O
C. 45 mL/cm H2O
D. 50 mL/cm H2O
50 mL/cm H2O
Immediately after extubation of a patient in the ICU, the respiratory therapist observes
increasing respiratory distress with intercostal retractions and marked stridor. The
SpO2 on 40% oxygen is noted to be 86%. Which of the following would be most
appropriate at this time?
Correct Answers
A 48 year-old female is admitted to the ED with diaphoresis, jugular venous distension,
and 3+ pitting edema in the ankles. These findings are consistent with
A. liver failure.
B. pulmonary embolism.
C. heart failure.
D. electrolyte imbalances
Heart failure
A patient is admitted to the ED following a motor vehicle accident. On physical exam,
the respiratory therapist discovers that breath sounds are absent in the left chest with a
hyperresonant percussion note. The trachea is shifted to the right. The patient's heart
rate is 45/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg. What
action should the therapist recommend first?
A. Call for a STAT chest x-ray.
B. Insert a chest tube into the left chest.
C. Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space.
D. Activate the medical emergency team to intubate the patient.
Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space.
,All of the following strategies are likely to decrease the likelihood of damage to the
tracheal mucosa EXCEPT
A. maintaining cuff pressures between 20 and 25 mm Hg.
B. using the minimal leak technique for inflation.
C. using a low-residual-volume, low-compliance cuff.
D. monitoring intracuff pressures.
monitoring intracuff pressures.
A 52 year-old post-operative cholecystectomy patient's breath sounds become more
coarse upon completion of postural drainage with percussion. The respiratory therapist
should recommend
A. continuing the therapy until breath sounds improve.
B. administering dornase alpha.
C. administering albuterol therapy.
D. deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions.
deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions.
A 65 kg spinal cord injured patient has developed atelectasis. His inspiratory capacity is
30% of his predicted value. What bronchial hygiene therapy would be most appropriate
initially?
,A. IS / SMI
B. IPPB with normal saline
C. postural drainage and percussion
D. PEP therapy
IPPB with normal saline
A patient on VC ventilation has demonstrated auto-PEEP on ventilator graphics.
Which of the following controls, when adjusted independently, would increase
expiratory time?
1. Tidal volume
2. Respiratory Rate
3. Inspiratory flow
4. Sensitivity
1, 2, and 3 only
Which of the following would be the most appropriate therapy for a dyspneic patient
who has crepitus with tracheal deviation to the left and absent breath sounds on the
right?
A. Perform chest physiotherapy
B. Administer an IPPB treatment
C. Insert an endotracheal tube
D. Insert a chest tube
Insert a chest tube
, A 55 year-old post cardiac surgery patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.50,
PaCO2 30 torr, PaO2 62 torr, HCO3 25 mEq/L, SaO2 92%, HB 14 g/dL, BE +2. Venous
blood gas results are pH 7.39, PvCO2 43 torr, PvO2 37 torr, and SvO2 66%. Calculate
the patient's C(a-v)O2.
A. 2.5 vol%
B. 4.0 vol%
C. 5.0 vol%
D. 5.5 vol%
5.0 vol%
A patient on VC, SIMV with a VT of 500 mL has a PIP of 25 cm H2O, Pplat of 15 cm
H2O and PEEP of 5 cm H2O. What is the patient's static lung compliance
A. 25 mL/cm H2O
B. 35 mL/cm H2O
C. 45 mL/cm H2O
D. 50 mL/cm H2O
50 mL/cm H2O
Immediately after extubation of a patient in the ICU, the respiratory therapist observes
increasing respiratory distress with intercostal retractions and marked stridor. The
SpO2 on 40% oxygen is noted to be 86%. Which of the following would be most
appropriate at this time?
