2025 TMC LATEST EXAM WITH 300 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS/ TMC EXAM 2025 PREP TEST BANK WITH
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS(BRAND NEW!)
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 - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-monitoring intracuff pressures.
A home care patient calls in the middle of the night and reports that the oxygen supply tubing will
not stay attached to her transtracheal catheter. The flow rate to the transtracheal catheter is set at
0.5 L/min. The patient has attempted to flush the catheter with saline and push a cleaning rod
through it without success. The respiratory therapist should instruct the patient to
A. tape the connection securely.
,B. increase the flow to the catheter.
C. decrease the flow to the catheter.
D. switch to a nasal cannula. - ANSWER-switch to a nasal cannula.
A patient with copious amounts of secretions has required nasotracheal suctioning for the past 36
hours and has now developed mild epistaxis. Which of the following should the respiratory therapist
recommend?
A. Insert a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) to facilitate suctioning.
B. Discontinue nasotracheal suctioning for 24 hours and reassess the patient.
C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway after bleeding has been controlled.
D. Insert an oral endotracheal tube to allow for better airway access. - ANSWER-Insert a
nasopharyngeal airway after bleeding has been controlled.
The most probable cause of air bronchograms and increased density on a chest x-ray is
A. pneumonia.
B. pulmonary edema.
C. pulmonary embolism.
D. pleural effusion. - ANSWER-pneumonia.
A post-operative patient is receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU at the following settings: VC,
A/C; VT 550 mL, respiratory rate 14/min, FIO2 0.50 and 10 cm H2O PEEP. Bedside monitoring results
demonstrate that the PvO2 is 35 mm Hg and the SpO2 is 90%. The patient is alert and oriented with
stable vital signs. Which of the following should the respiratory therapist recommend?
A. Decrease the PEEP.
B. Increase the FIO2.
C. Initiation diuretic therapy.
D. Continue to monitor closely. - ANSWER-Increase the FIO2.
The primary source of infection in the health care setting is
A. use of medical equipment for multiple patients.
B. poor handwashing techniques of personnel.
C. food and/or water intake by the patient.
,D. patient rooms not cleaned appropriately. - ANSWER-poor handwashing techniques of
personnel.
A 36 year-old patient is admitted to the ED with a temperature of 38.5° C and suspected pneumonia.
The patient has no history of pulmonary disease. Auscultation reveal medium crackles throughout
both lungs. Which of the following should be recommended for management of this patient?
A. Pre/post bronchodilator study
B. Ultrasonic nebulizer treatments
C. Manually assisted coughing
D. Regular coughing and deep breathing - ANSWER-Regular coughing and deep breathing
The respiratory therapist has obtained a blood gas sample from the patient's radial artery and
applied pressure to the site for 10 minutes. After removing any excess air from the syringe, the next
step for proper handling of the blood sample is
A. adding liquid heparin to the sample.
B. placing the syringe in an ice bath.
C. shaking the sample continuously.
D. applying a pressure bandage. - ANSWER-placing the syringe in an ice bath.
Which of the following findings is LEAST compatible with hyperlucency as seen on a chest x-ray?
A. Increased fremitus
B. Decreased intensity of breath sounds
C. Diminished diaphragmatic excursion
D. Hyperresonance to percussion - ANSWER-Increased fremitus
A spontaneous breathing trial was initiated on an intubated, awake, and alert 70 kg (154 lb) patient.
After 30 minutes on an FIO2 of 0.30, ABG results are as follows: pH 7.39, PaCO2 44 torr, PaO2 85 torr,
and HCO3- 24 mEq/L. The patient's vital signs have remained stable throughout the trial. Which of
the following is the most appropriate recommendation?
A. Maintain current therapy.
B. Initiate NPPV.
C. Add 5 cm H2O CPAP.
, D. Extubate the patient. - ANSWER-Extubate the patient.
After assisting with bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy on a mechanically ventilated patient, the
respiratory therapist notes the activation of a high pressure alarm. Peak inspiratory pressure has
increased from 32 cm H2O before the procedure to 45 cm H2O after the procedure. Possible causes
for the increased pressure include
1. bronchospasm.
2. pneumothorax.
3. pulmonary hemorrhage. - ANSWER-1, 2, and 3
A 52 year-old post-operative patient's chest radiograph demonstrates infiltrates in the posterior basal
segments of the lower lobes. Which of the following is the appropriate postural drainage position?
A. Head down, patient supine with a pillow under knees
B. Patient prone with a pillow under head, bed flat
C. Patient supine with a pillow under knees, bed flat
D. Head down, patient prone with a pillow under hips - ANSWER-Head down, patient prone with a
pillow under hips
A 72 year-old female post stem cell transplant patient in the ICU is complaining of difficulty breathing
and is noted to have diffuse fluffy infiltrates on chest X-ray. The B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) test
result demonstrates 700 pg/mL. What is the patient's possible condition?
A. severe heart failure
B. respiratory distress syndrome
C. severe renal failure
D. moderate heart failure - ANSWER-moderate heart failure
Following blunt chest trauma, a 35-year-old male is orally intubated and continuous mechanical
ventilation is initiated. Physical assessment of the neck and chest reveal a midline trachea and
significant reduction in thoracic expansion of the left chest. There are diminished breath sounds in
the left lung compared to the right lung. These findings most likely indicate which of the following?
A. flail chest on right thorax
B. right tension pneumothorax
C. endobronchial intubation
D. subcutaneous emphysema - ANSWER-endobronchial intubation
CORRECT ANSWERS/ TMC EXAM 2025 PREP TEST BANK WITH
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS(BRAND NEW!)
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 - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-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. - ANSWER-monitoring intracuff pressures.
A home care patient calls in the middle of the night and reports that the oxygen supply tubing will
not stay attached to her transtracheal catheter. The flow rate to the transtracheal catheter is set at
0.5 L/min. The patient has attempted to flush the catheter with saline and push a cleaning rod
through it without success. The respiratory therapist should instruct the patient to
A. tape the connection securely.
,B. increase the flow to the catheter.
C. decrease the flow to the catheter.
D. switch to a nasal cannula. - ANSWER-switch to a nasal cannula.
A patient with copious amounts of secretions has required nasotracheal suctioning for the past 36
hours and has now developed mild epistaxis. Which of the following should the respiratory therapist
recommend?
A. Insert a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) to facilitate suctioning.
B. Discontinue nasotracheal suctioning for 24 hours and reassess the patient.
C. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway after bleeding has been controlled.
D. Insert an oral endotracheal tube to allow for better airway access. - ANSWER-Insert a
nasopharyngeal airway after bleeding has been controlled.
The most probable cause of air bronchograms and increased density on a chest x-ray is
A. pneumonia.
B. pulmonary edema.
C. pulmonary embolism.
D. pleural effusion. - ANSWER-pneumonia.
A post-operative patient is receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU at the following settings: VC,
A/C; VT 550 mL, respiratory rate 14/min, FIO2 0.50 and 10 cm H2O PEEP. Bedside monitoring results
demonstrate that the PvO2 is 35 mm Hg and the SpO2 is 90%. The patient is alert and oriented with
stable vital signs. Which of the following should the respiratory therapist recommend?
A. Decrease the PEEP.
B. Increase the FIO2.
C. Initiation diuretic therapy.
D. Continue to monitor closely. - ANSWER-Increase the FIO2.
The primary source of infection in the health care setting is
A. use of medical equipment for multiple patients.
B. poor handwashing techniques of personnel.
C. food and/or water intake by the patient.
,D. patient rooms not cleaned appropriately. - ANSWER-poor handwashing techniques of
personnel.
A 36 year-old patient is admitted to the ED with a temperature of 38.5° C and suspected pneumonia.
The patient has no history of pulmonary disease. Auscultation reveal medium crackles throughout
both lungs. Which of the following should be recommended for management of this patient?
A. Pre/post bronchodilator study
B. Ultrasonic nebulizer treatments
C. Manually assisted coughing
D. Regular coughing and deep breathing - ANSWER-Regular coughing and deep breathing
The respiratory therapist has obtained a blood gas sample from the patient's radial artery and
applied pressure to the site for 10 minutes. After removing any excess air from the syringe, the next
step for proper handling of the blood sample is
A. adding liquid heparin to the sample.
B. placing the syringe in an ice bath.
C. shaking the sample continuously.
D. applying a pressure bandage. - ANSWER-placing the syringe in an ice bath.
Which of the following findings is LEAST compatible with hyperlucency as seen on a chest x-ray?
A. Increased fremitus
B. Decreased intensity of breath sounds
C. Diminished diaphragmatic excursion
D. Hyperresonance to percussion - ANSWER-Increased fremitus
A spontaneous breathing trial was initiated on an intubated, awake, and alert 70 kg (154 lb) patient.
After 30 minutes on an FIO2 of 0.30, ABG results are as follows: pH 7.39, PaCO2 44 torr, PaO2 85 torr,
and HCO3- 24 mEq/L. The patient's vital signs have remained stable throughout the trial. Which of
the following is the most appropriate recommendation?
A. Maintain current therapy.
B. Initiate NPPV.
C. Add 5 cm H2O CPAP.
, D. Extubate the patient. - ANSWER-Extubate the patient.
After assisting with bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy on a mechanically ventilated patient, the
respiratory therapist notes the activation of a high pressure alarm. Peak inspiratory pressure has
increased from 32 cm H2O before the procedure to 45 cm H2O after the procedure. Possible causes
for the increased pressure include
1. bronchospasm.
2. pneumothorax.
3. pulmonary hemorrhage. - ANSWER-1, 2, and 3
A 52 year-old post-operative patient's chest radiograph demonstrates infiltrates in the posterior basal
segments of the lower lobes. Which of the following is the appropriate postural drainage position?
A. Head down, patient supine with a pillow under knees
B. Patient prone with a pillow under head, bed flat
C. Patient supine with a pillow under knees, bed flat
D. Head down, patient prone with a pillow under hips - ANSWER-Head down, patient prone with a
pillow under hips
A 72 year-old female post stem cell transplant patient in the ICU is complaining of difficulty breathing
and is noted to have diffuse fluffy infiltrates on chest X-ray. The B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) test
result demonstrates 700 pg/mL. What is the patient's possible condition?
A. severe heart failure
B. respiratory distress syndrome
C. severe renal failure
D. moderate heart failure - ANSWER-moderate heart failure
Following blunt chest trauma, a 35-year-old male is orally intubated and continuous mechanical
ventilation is initiated. Physical assessment of the neck and chest reveal a midline trachea and
significant reduction in thoracic expansion of the left chest. There are diminished breath sounds in
the left lung compared to the right lung. These findings most likely indicate which of the following?
A. flail chest on right thorax
B. right tension pneumothorax
C. endobronchial intubation
D. subcutaneous emphysema - ANSWER-endobronchial intubation
