1. A patient's sputum is purulent, green in appearance, has separated into layers,
and has a foul odor. What is the most likely cause?
A. Aspiration
B. Tuberculosis
C. Emphysema
D. Bronchiectasis - ANSWER D. Bronchiectasis
2. A patient in the ICU complains of light headedness, nausea, and chest pains. The
patient is diaphoretic and has a blood pressure of 90/60mmHg. What should the RT
recommend?
A. Lidocaine HCl
B. Cardioversion
C. Defibrillation
D. Epinephrine - ANSWER B. Cardioversion
3. A patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome has a vital capacity of 625mL. An RT
should recommend which of the following be performed FIRST?
A. MIP evaluation
B. Edrophonium Chloride (Tensilon) test
C. MVV test
D. EMG and nerve conduction study - ANSWER A. MIP
4. Which of the following beside pulmonary function testing results for a patient with
multiple sclerosis most strongly indicates the need for ventilatory assistance?
A. 5% decrease in peak expiratory flow
B. FEV1/FVC 85%
C. MIP of -23cmH2O
D. Vital Capacity of 5 mL/kg - ANSWER D. Vital capacity of 5mL/kg
5. A 23-year-old patient is in moderate respiratory distress while receiving oxygen.
ABG=7.42/ 31/ 38/ 20/ -3/ 71%
How should these results be interpreted? - ANSWER Chronic Respiratory Alkalosis
with severe hypoxemia
6. What is the patient's TLC?
Vital Capacity= 3.6L
FRC= 6.0 L
ERV = 1.0 - ANSWER 8.6
, 7. A COPD patient becomes hypotensive following a drug overdose. Following
intubation VC A/C ventilation should be initiated with which of the following oxygen
concentrations?
A. 0.21
B. 0.50
C. 0.70
D. 1.0 - ANSWER D. 1.0
8. A patient has been receiving VC ventilation for 24 hours. A respiratory therapist is
called to the bedside because the high pressure alarm is sounding with each breath.
What should the RT do first? - ANSWER Manually ventilate the patient
9. Just prior to removing the endotracheal tube, a respiratory therapist should do
what? - ANSWER Deflate the cuff
10. While preparing to assist with a chest tube insertion , an RT learns that
pleurodesis will follow. What equipment would the RT provide? - ANSWER
Hemostat and 3-way stopcock
11. What is the formula for dynamic compliance? - ANSWER VT/ (PIP-PEEP)
12. A 52-year-old patient with newly diagnosed OSA undergoes a CPAP titration
study. With a CPAP of 12cm H2O, the AHI is 3 and the lowest observed oxygen
saturation is 90%. The patient continues to snore, what should the RT do? -
ANSWER Increase the CPAP level
13. What is the target FiO2 range of nasal cannula in a patient with normal minute
ventilation? - ANSWER 0.24-0.40
14. An RT is called to the ED to assist with the intubation of an alert, agitated patient
in respiratory failure. 2 intubation attempts were unsuccessful. In addition to a
neuromuscular blockade, which of the following drugs will best facilitate intubation?
A. Propranolol HCl (Inderal)
B. Midazolam HCl (Versed)
C. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
D. Nitroprusside Sodium - ANSWER B. Midazolam HCl (Versed)
15. A 14 year old male who is 163cm /5ft4in tall and weighs 51kg/112lbs is brought
to the ED for suspected drug overdose. He is intubated receiving VC AC ventilation.
Mandatory Rate: 14
, Tidal Volume: 300mL
Inspiratory Flow: 20L/min
Pressure limit: 50cm H2O
The physician wants the RT to adjust the I:E from 1:1.2 to 1:3
What should the RT increase? - ANSWER The inspiratory flow
16.A 180-cm (5ft 11in) 75kg (165lb) male had a cardiac arrest and is admitted to the
ICU. The patient is apneic, receiving 100% O2 by a bag valve mask resuscitator, and
has an SpO2 of 94%. Which is the most appropriate ventilator setting?
1. SIMV/FiO2 1.0/Rate 10/VT 400/PEEP +3
2. SIMV/FiO2 0.40/Rate 12/VT 750/PEEP +5
3. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT 600/PEEP +5
4. AC/FiO2 0.40/Rate 10/VT 550/PEEP +3 - ANSWER 3. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT
600/PEEP +5
17. While instructing a 9-year-old with pneumonia in use of PEP therapy device a
respiratory therapist observes the child is consistently unable to keep the seal
around the mouthpiece. What should the RT recommend? - ANSWER Select a
mask rather than a mouthpiece
18.What can be used to confirm the correct endotracheal tube position? - ANSWER
CXR
Lung fields appear whiter on a chest radiograph when the imaging technique is
____________ - ANSWER Underexposed
A 71-year-old man who has a femur fracture had a chest CT angiogram due to
increased shortness of breath. An RT observes multiple pulmonary arterial thrombi.
SpO2 is 94% while receiving oxygen at 2L/min by nasal cannula. What should the
RT recommend? - ANSWER Intravenous heparin
A 49-year-old female with polyneuropathy has received mechanical ventilation for
74 days. For the past week the patient has been receiving an FiO2 of 0.28 by
tracheostomy collar for progressively longer periods of time. Data collected for the
weaning trial are:
30 Minutes:
HR=99/RR=22/SpO2=96%
and has a foul odor. What is the most likely cause?
A. Aspiration
B. Tuberculosis
C. Emphysema
D. Bronchiectasis - ANSWER D. Bronchiectasis
2. A patient in the ICU complains of light headedness, nausea, and chest pains. The
patient is diaphoretic and has a blood pressure of 90/60mmHg. What should the RT
recommend?
A. Lidocaine HCl
B. Cardioversion
C. Defibrillation
D. Epinephrine - ANSWER B. Cardioversion
3. A patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome has a vital capacity of 625mL. An RT
should recommend which of the following be performed FIRST?
A. MIP evaluation
B. Edrophonium Chloride (Tensilon) test
C. MVV test
D. EMG and nerve conduction study - ANSWER A. MIP
4. Which of the following beside pulmonary function testing results for a patient with
multiple sclerosis most strongly indicates the need for ventilatory assistance?
A. 5% decrease in peak expiratory flow
B. FEV1/FVC 85%
C. MIP of -23cmH2O
D. Vital Capacity of 5 mL/kg - ANSWER D. Vital capacity of 5mL/kg
5. A 23-year-old patient is in moderate respiratory distress while receiving oxygen.
ABG=7.42/ 31/ 38/ 20/ -3/ 71%
How should these results be interpreted? - ANSWER Chronic Respiratory Alkalosis
with severe hypoxemia
6. What is the patient's TLC?
Vital Capacity= 3.6L
FRC= 6.0 L
ERV = 1.0 - ANSWER 8.6
, 7. A COPD patient becomes hypotensive following a drug overdose. Following
intubation VC A/C ventilation should be initiated with which of the following oxygen
concentrations?
A. 0.21
B. 0.50
C. 0.70
D. 1.0 - ANSWER D. 1.0
8. A patient has been receiving VC ventilation for 24 hours. A respiratory therapist is
called to the bedside because the high pressure alarm is sounding with each breath.
What should the RT do first? - ANSWER Manually ventilate the patient
9. Just prior to removing the endotracheal tube, a respiratory therapist should do
what? - ANSWER Deflate the cuff
10. While preparing to assist with a chest tube insertion , an RT learns that
pleurodesis will follow. What equipment would the RT provide? - ANSWER
Hemostat and 3-way stopcock
11. What is the formula for dynamic compliance? - ANSWER VT/ (PIP-PEEP)
12. A 52-year-old patient with newly diagnosed OSA undergoes a CPAP titration
study. With a CPAP of 12cm H2O, the AHI is 3 and the lowest observed oxygen
saturation is 90%. The patient continues to snore, what should the RT do? -
ANSWER Increase the CPAP level
13. What is the target FiO2 range of nasal cannula in a patient with normal minute
ventilation? - ANSWER 0.24-0.40
14. An RT is called to the ED to assist with the intubation of an alert, agitated patient
in respiratory failure. 2 intubation attempts were unsuccessful. In addition to a
neuromuscular blockade, which of the following drugs will best facilitate intubation?
A. Propranolol HCl (Inderal)
B. Midazolam HCl (Versed)
C. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
D. Nitroprusside Sodium - ANSWER B. Midazolam HCl (Versed)
15. A 14 year old male who is 163cm /5ft4in tall and weighs 51kg/112lbs is brought
to the ED for suspected drug overdose. He is intubated receiving VC AC ventilation.
Mandatory Rate: 14
, Tidal Volume: 300mL
Inspiratory Flow: 20L/min
Pressure limit: 50cm H2O
The physician wants the RT to adjust the I:E from 1:1.2 to 1:3
What should the RT increase? - ANSWER The inspiratory flow
16.A 180-cm (5ft 11in) 75kg (165lb) male had a cardiac arrest and is admitted to the
ICU. The patient is apneic, receiving 100% O2 by a bag valve mask resuscitator, and
has an SpO2 of 94%. Which is the most appropriate ventilator setting?
1. SIMV/FiO2 1.0/Rate 10/VT 400/PEEP +3
2. SIMV/FiO2 0.40/Rate 12/VT 750/PEEP +5
3. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT 600/PEEP +5
4. AC/FiO2 0.40/Rate 10/VT 550/PEEP +3 - ANSWER 3. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT
600/PEEP +5
17. While instructing a 9-year-old with pneumonia in use of PEP therapy device a
respiratory therapist observes the child is consistently unable to keep the seal
around the mouthpiece. What should the RT recommend? - ANSWER Select a
mask rather than a mouthpiece
18.What can be used to confirm the correct endotracheal tube position? - ANSWER
CXR
Lung fields appear whiter on a chest radiograph when the imaging technique is
____________ - ANSWER Underexposed
A 71-year-old man who has a femur fracture had a chest CT angiogram due to
increased shortness of breath. An RT observes multiple pulmonary arterial thrombi.
SpO2 is 94% while receiving oxygen at 2L/min by nasal cannula. What should the
RT recommend? - ANSWER Intravenous heparin
A 49-year-old female with polyneuropathy has received mechanical ventilation for
74 days. For the past week the patient has been receiving an FiO2 of 0.28 by
tracheostomy collar for progressively longer periods of time. Data collected for the
weaning trial are:
30 Minutes:
HR=99/RR=22/SpO2=96%
