TMC EXAM NEWEST ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS | RESPIRATORY THERAPIST
CERTIFIED STUDYGUIDE 2025
While monitoring a newborn utilizing a transcutaneous
monitor, you notice a change in PtcO2 from 60 to 142 torr
and simultaneously the (PtcCO2) changes from 37 to 2
torr. What is the most likely explanation for these
changes?
A. Upper airway obstruction
B. Poor peripheral perfusion
C. Air leak around the sensor
D. Device is out of range Correct Answer Air leak around
the sensor
A patient on the general medical ward is on a 28% air
entrainment mask with the flowmeter set at 5 L/min. What
is the total flow delivered to the patient?
A. 5 L/min
B. 55 L/min
C. 88 L/min
D. 140 L/min Correct Answer 55/Lmin
Which of the following measurements is most indicative of
pulmonary edema?
,A. Heart rate of 120/min
B. Blood pressure of 92/72 mm Hg
C. Pulmonary artery pressure of 25/10 mm Hg
D. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30 mm Hg
Correct Answer Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30
mm Hg
Sleep apnea can be defined as repeated episodes of
complete cessation of airflow for
A. 5 seconds or longer.
B. 10 seconds or longer.
C. 15 seconds or longer.
D. 20 seconds or longer. Correct Answer 10 seconds or
longer
A patient in the ICU receiving mechanical ventilation has
just undergone a fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedure in
which a tissue biopsy was collected. Immediately following
the procedure, the respiratory therapist notes that the
peak inspiratory pressure on the ventilator has increased.
Potential causes for this include all of the following
EXCEPT
A. hypoxemia.
B. pneumothorax.
C. pulmonary hemorrhage.
D. bronchospasm/laryngospasm. Correct Answer
hypoxemia
,What size endotracheal tube would be appropriate for an
adult female patient?
A. 6.0 to 6.5 mm
B. 6.5 to 7.0 mm
C. 7.0 to 7.5 mm
D. 7.5 to 8.0 mm Correct Answer 7.0 to 7.5 mm
The respiratory therapist has been asked to measure
Auto-PEEP on a patient receiving mechanical ventilation.
In order to do this, the therapist should
A. initiate an inspiratory hold just after the next ventilator-
delivered breath.
B. initiate an expiratory hold just prior to the next
ventilator-delivered breath.
C. subtract Pplat from Pdyn.
D. subtract set PEEP from the measured Pplat. Correct
Answer initiate an expiratory hold just prior to the next
ventilator-delivered breath.
A patient who suffered trauma in an ATV accident is being
monitored in the ICU. A pulmonary artery catheter has
been placed and the following data is available:
PvO2 46 torr
PCWP 19 mm Hg
PAP (mean) 10 mm Hg
CVP 12 cm H2O
Cardiac Output 3L/min
, The respiratory therapist should recommend
1. IV fluid challenge
2. positive inotropic agent
3. inhaled nitric oxide
4. diuretic therapy Correct Answer 2 and 4
What is the primary advantage of volume-controlled
ventilation as compared to pressure-controlled ventilation?
A. VC limits and controls PIP.
B. VC provides a constant minute ventilation.
C. VC ensures better patient-ventilator synchrony.
D. VC delivers a decelerating flow pattern. Correct Answer
VC provides a constant minute ventilation.
Bronchial breath sounds heard over the lung periphery
indicate
A. narrowed airways.
B. obstructed bronchi.
C. lung consolidation.
D. pulmonary edema. Correct Answer lung consolidation.
During a pre-operative evaluation, bedside spirometry
results are as follows: FVC 88% of predicted, FEV1 85%
of predicted, FEV1/FVC 82% of predicted and FEF25-75
81% of predicted. How should the respiratory therapist
interpret these results?
A. a mild restrictive disorder
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS | RESPIRATORY THERAPIST
CERTIFIED STUDYGUIDE 2025
While monitoring a newborn utilizing a transcutaneous
monitor, you notice a change in PtcO2 from 60 to 142 torr
and simultaneously the (PtcCO2) changes from 37 to 2
torr. What is the most likely explanation for these
changes?
A. Upper airway obstruction
B. Poor peripheral perfusion
C. Air leak around the sensor
D. Device is out of range Correct Answer Air leak around
the sensor
A patient on the general medical ward is on a 28% air
entrainment mask with the flowmeter set at 5 L/min. What
is the total flow delivered to the patient?
A. 5 L/min
B. 55 L/min
C. 88 L/min
D. 140 L/min Correct Answer 55/Lmin
Which of the following measurements is most indicative of
pulmonary edema?
,A. Heart rate of 120/min
B. Blood pressure of 92/72 mm Hg
C. Pulmonary artery pressure of 25/10 mm Hg
D. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30 mm Hg
Correct Answer Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30
mm Hg
Sleep apnea can be defined as repeated episodes of
complete cessation of airflow for
A. 5 seconds or longer.
B. 10 seconds or longer.
C. 15 seconds or longer.
D. 20 seconds or longer. Correct Answer 10 seconds or
longer
A patient in the ICU receiving mechanical ventilation has
just undergone a fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedure in
which a tissue biopsy was collected. Immediately following
the procedure, the respiratory therapist notes that the
peak inspiratory pressure on the ventilator has increased.
Potential causes for this include all of the following
EXCEPT
A. hypoxemia.
B. pneumothorax.
C. pulmonary hemorrhage.
D. bronchospasm/laryngospasm. Correct Answer
hypoxemia
,What size endotracheal tube would be appropriate for an
adult female patient?
A. 6.0 to 6.5 mm
B. 6.5 to 7.0 mm
C. 7.0 to 7.5 mm
D. 7.5 to 8.0 mm Correct Answer 7.0 to 7.5 mm
The respiratory therapist has been asked to measure
Auto-PEEP on a patient receiving mechanical ventilation.
In order to do this, the therapist should
A. initiate an inspiratory hold just after the next ventilator-
delivered breath.
B. initiate an expiratory hold just prior to the next
ventilator-delivered breath.
C. subtract Pplat from Pdyn.
D. subtract set PEEP from the measured Pplat. Correct
Answer initiate an expiratory hold just prior to the next
ventilator-delivered breath.
A patient who suffered trauma in an ATV accident is being
monitored in the ICU. A pulmonary artery catheter has
been placed and the following data is available:
PvO2 46 torr
PCWP 19 mm Hg
PAP (mean) 10 mm Hg
CVP 12 cm H2O
Cardiac Output 3L/min
, The respiratory therapist should recommend
1. IV fluid challenge
2. positive inotropic agent
3. inhaled nitric oxide
4. diuretic therapy Correct Answer 2 and 4
What is the primary advantage of volume-controlled
ventilation as compared to pressure-controlled ventilation?
A. VC limits and controls PIP.
B. VC provides a constant minute ventilation.
C. VC ensures better patient-ventilator synchrony.
D. VC delivers a decelerating flow pattern. Correct Answer
VC provides a constant minute ventilation.
Bronchial breath sounds heard over the lung periphery
indicate
A. narrowed airways.
B. obstructed bronchi.
C. lung consolidation.
D. pulmonary edema. Correct Answer lung consolidation.
During a pre-operative evaluation, bedside spirometry
results are as follows: FVC 88% of predicted, FEV1 85%
of predicted, FEV1/FVC 82% of predicted and FEF25-75
81% of predicted. How should the respiratory therapist
interpret these results?
A. a mild restrictive disorder
