NBRC TMC Practice Exam B Study Guide
| Complete Practice Test with 100%
Verified Correct Answers and Detailed
Rationales | Latest Update 2026/2027 -
Already Graded A+
Exam Overview: This practice test covers the TMC Practice Exam B for
respiratory therapy students and practitioners preparing for the NBRC Therapist
Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination. The content spans patient assessment,
pulmonary diagnostics, mechanical ventilation, hemodynamics, oxygen therapy,
airway management, and respiratory disease management. Answers and detailed
rationales are provided for each question.
Question 1
After a patient undergoes a thoracentesis, the respiratory therapist notes that the
obtained pleural fluid is clear with a slight straw color. This fluid is most likely the
result of:
A. Empyema.
B. Congestive heart failure.
C. Lung carcinoma.
D. Hemothorax.
Answer: B
Rationale: Clear, straw-colored pleural fluid is a transudate, which is most
commonly associated with congestive heart failure. Empyema produces purulent
fluid. Lung carcinoma may produce bloody or serosanguineous fluid. Hemothorax
produces bloody fluid.
pg. 1
,Question 2
Which of the following would be most important to evaluate for a patient who is
entering a smoking cessation program?
A. Height
B. Smoking history
C. Weight
D. Diet
Answer: B
Rationale: A detailed smoking history, including pack-years, duration, and current
smoking habits, is essential for tailoring a smoking cessation program and
assessing cardiovascular and pulmonary risk.
Question 3
The respiratory therapist is calibrating a spirometer and checking the volume with
a 3.0 liter super syringe. The volumes recorded are: 2.85 L, 2.8 L, and 2.8 L. Based
upon the information obtained which of the following is a correct statement?
A. Another syringe needs to be used.
B. Spirometer is accurate.
C. The plunger was advanced too slowly.
D. Spirometer may have a leak.
Answer: D
Rationale: The spirometer consistently reads approximately 2.8 L instead of the
expected 3.0 L, indicating a volume leak or calibration error. A 5-7% error is
unacceptable and suggests the spirometer needs repair or recalibration.
Question 4
Which of the following is an indication for high frequency jet ventilation?
A. Bronchopleural fistula
B. Wilson Mikity syndrome
C. Necrotizing lesion of right lung
D. Centrilobular emphysema
pg. 2
,Answer: A
Rationale: High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is indicated for patients with
bronchopleural fistula because it delivers small tidal volumes at high frequencies
with lower airway pressures, reducing air leak through the fistula.
Question 5
A 43-year-old female patient has just undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy.
The patient arrives in the post anesthesia care unit obtunded with minimal response
to painful stimulus. What treatment should the respiratory therapist recommend for
this patient?
A. Initiate assisted ventilation
B. Insert oropharyngeal airway
C. Obtain positron emission tomography
D. Initiate noninvasive capnography
Answer: A
Rationale: The patient is obtunded with minimal response, indicating respiratory
depression from anesthesia. Assisted ventilation is appropriate to support
ventilation until the patient recovers. An oropharyngeal airway alone does not
provide ventilation.
Question 6
A 44-week gestational age infant has just been delivered via C-section and is
gasping, grunting, and has tachycardia and tachypnea. At one minute his Apgar
score is 4 and at 5 minutes the score is 5. The infant is most likely suffering from:
A. Transient tachypnea of the newborn.
B. Meconium aspiration.
C. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
D. Apnea of prematurity.
Answer: B
Rationale: A 44-week gestation infant (post-term) with gasping, grunting, and low
Apgar scores is at high risk for meconium aspiration syndrome. Post-term infants
often pass meconium in utero due to stress.
pg. 3
, Question 7
What is the normal VD/VT ratio for a patient breathing room air?
A. 5-15%
B. 20-40%
C. 45-55%
D. 65-75%
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal physiologic dead space (VD/VT) is approximately 20-40% of
tidal volume in healthy adults breathing room air. Values >60% indicate significant
dead space ventilation.
Question 8
A heat moisture exchanger is indicated for humidification in which of the
following situations?
A. Mechanical ventilation in a long-term care facility.
B. Transport to a tertiary care center.
C. Patient with tenacious secretions.
D. Delivery of aerosolized bronchodilators.
Answer: B
Rationale: Heat moisture exchangers (HMEs) are ideal for short-term use during
patient transport because they are passive humidifiers that capture exhaled heat and
moisture. They are not recommended for patients with tenacious secretions or
during aerosol drug delivery.
Question 9
All of the following could cause a patient's right-hemidiaphragm to be elevated,
EXCEPT:
A. Right lower lobe atelectasis.
B. Right side hyperlucency, absent vascular markings.
pg. 4
| Complete Practice Test with 100%
Verified Correct Answers and Detailed
Rationales | Latest Update 2026/2027 -
Already Graded A+
Exam Overview: This practice test covers the TMC Practice Exam B for
respiratory therapy students and practitioners preparing for the NBRC Therapist
Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination. The content spans patient assessment,
pulmonary diagnostics, mechanical ventilation, hemodynamics, oxygen therapy,
airway management, and respiratory disease management. Answers and detailed
rationales are provided for each question.
Question 1
After a patient undergoes a thoracentesis, the respiratory therapist notes that the
obtained pleural fluid is clear with a slight straw color. This fluid is most likely the
result of:
A. Empyema.
B. Congestive heart failure.
C. Lung carcinoma.
D. Hemothorax.
Answer: B
Rationale: Clear, straw-colored pleural fluid is a transudate, which is most
commonly associated with congestive heart failure. Empyema produces purulent
fluid. Lung carcinoma may produce bloody or serosanguineous fluid. Hemothorax
produces bloody fluid.
pg. 1
,Question 2
Which of the following would be most important to evaluate for a patient who is
entering a smoking cessation program?
A. Height
B. Smoking history
C. Weight
D. Diet
Answer: B
Rationale: A detailed smoking history, including pack-years, duration, and current
smoking habits, is essential for tailoring a smoking cessation program and
assessing cardiovascular and pulmonary risk.
Question 3
The respiratory therapist is calibrating a spirometer and checking the volume with
a 3.0 liter super syringe. The volumes recorded are: 2.85 L, 2.8 L, and 2.8 L. Based
upon the information obtained which of the following is a correct statement?
A. Another syringe needs to be used.
B. Spirometer is accurate.
C. The plunger was advanced too slowly.
D. Spirometer may have a leak.
Answer: D
Rationale: The spirometer consistently reads approximately 2.8 L instead of the
expected 3.0 L, indicating a volume leak or calibration error. A 5-7% error is
unacceptable and suggests the spirometer needs repair or recalibration.
Question 4
Which of the following is an indication for high frequency jet ventilation?
A. Bronchopleural fistula
B. Wilson Mikity syndrome
C. Necrotizing lesion of right lung
D. Centrilobular emphysema
pg. 2
,Answer: A
Rationale: High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is indicated for patients with
bronchopleural fistula because it delivers small tidal volumes at high frequencies
with lower airway pressures, reducing air leak through the fistula.
Question 5
A 43-year-old female patient has just undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy.
The patient arrives in the post anesthesia care unit obtunded with minimal response
to painful stimulus. What treatment should the respiratory therapist recommend for
this patient?
A. Initiate assisted ventilation
B. Insert oropharyngeal airway
C. Obtain positron emission tomography
D. Initiate noninvasive capnography
Answer: A
Rationale: The patient is obtunded with minimal response, indicating respiratory
depression from anesthesia. Assisted ventilation is appropriate to support
ventilation until the patient recovers. An oropharyngeal airway alone does not
provide ventilation.
Question 6
A 44-week gestational age infant has just been delivered via C-section and is
gasping, grunting, and has tachycardia and tachypnea. At one minute his Apgar
score is 4 and at 5 minutes the score is 5. The infant is most likely suffering from:
A. Transient tachypnea of the newborn.
B. Meconium aspiration.
C. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
D. Apnea of prematurity.
Answer: B
Rationale: A 44-week gestation infant (post-term) with gasping, grunting, and low
Apgar scores is at high risk for meconium aspiration syndrome. Post-term infants
often pass meconium in utero due to stress.
pg. 3
, Question 7
What is the normal VD/VT ratio for a patient breathing room air?
A. 5-15%
B. 20-40%
C. 45-55%
D. 65-75%
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal physiologic dead space (VD/VT) is approximately 20-40% of
tidal volume in healthy adults breathing room air. Values >60% indicate significant
dead space ventilation.
Question 8
A heat moisture exchanger is indicated for humidification in which of the
following situations?
A. Mechanical ventilation in a long-term care facility.
B. Transport to a tertiary care center.
C. Patient with tenacious secretions.
D. Delivery of aerosolized bronchodilators.
Answer: B
Rationale: Heat moisture exchangers (HMEs) are ideal for short-term use during
patient transport because they are passive humidifiers that capture exhaled heat and
moisture. They are not recommended for patients with tenacious secretions or
during aerosol drug delivery.
Question 9
All of the following could cause a patient's right-hemidiaphragm to be elevated,
EXCEPT:
A. Right lower lobe atelectasis.
B. Right side hyperlucency, absent vascular markings.
pg. 4
