TMC Practice Exam [ACTUAL EXAM] LATEST VERSION
[QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS] WITH PRACTICE EXAM
DETAILED AND VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS- LATEST
UPDATE 2025 GRADED A
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. - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 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% - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 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?
A. cool mist aerosol treatment
B. aerosolized racemic epinephrine
C. manual ventilation with resuscitation bag and mask
D. reintubation - CORRECT ANSWER reintubation
Which of the following patients would most likely benefit from pressure support
ventilation?
A. An intubated patient with an absent respiratory drive.
B. A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min.
C. A patient with acute lung injury.
D. A patient who requires short-term post-operative ventilatory support. - CORRECT
ANSWER A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min.
A patient receiving mechanical ventilation has developed a temperature of 99.9° F with
purulent secretions over the last 12 hours. The respiratory therapist has also noted a
steady increase in peak inspiratory pressure. What initial recommendation should be
made to address these changes?
A. Initiate bronchial hygiene therapy.
,B. Obtain a sputum gram stain.
C. Administer IPV.
D. Insert a CASS tube. - CORRECT ANSWER Obtain a sputum gram stain.
Which of the following information may be obtained from a FVC maneuver during
bedside pulmonary function testing?
1. FEV1
2. PEFR
3. FRC
4. RV - CORRECT ANSWER 1 and 2 only
The respiratory therapist is providing patient education for a patient who is being
discharged home on aerosol therapy. The most important reason for the patient to
follow the recommended cleaning procedures using a vinegar/water solution is that this
solution will
A. sterilize the equipment.
B. retard bacterial growth.
C. kill all micro-organisms and spores.
D. extend the equipment life. - CORRECT ANSWER Retard bacterial growth
A patient who complains of dyspnea is noted to have a dry, non-productive cough. On
physical examination, breath sounds are diminished on the right, tactile fremitus is
decreased and there is dullness to percussion over the right lower lobe. The respiratory
therapist should suspect that the patient is suffering from
A. pneumonia.
B. pulmonary embolism.
C. pleural effusion.
D. bronchiolitis. - CORRECT ANSWER pleural effusion
Which of the following suction catheters would be appropriate to use for a patient with a
size 8.0 mm ID endotracheal tube?
A. 8 Fr
B. 10 Fr
C. 12 Fr
D. 14 Fr - CORRECT ANSWER 12 Fr
A patient who is receiving continuous mechanical ventilation is fighting the ventilator.
His breath sounds are markedly diminished on the left, there is dullness to percussion
on the left, and the trachea is shifted to the left. The most likely explanation for the
problem is that
A. the patient is disconnected from the ventilator.
, B. the patient is experiencing diffuse bronchospasm.
C. the endotracheal tube has slipped into the right main stem bronchus.
D. the patient has developed a left tension pneumothorax. - CORRECT ANSWER the
endotracheal tube has slipped into the right main stem bronchus
The respiratory therapist notes a developing hematoma after an arterial blood gas was
drawn from the right radial artery. The immediate response is to
A. notify the charge nurse.
B. apply a pressure dressing.
C. apply pressure to the site.
D. perform a modified Allen's test. - CORRECT ANSWER apply pressure to the site.
A patient's breathing pattern irregularly increases and decreases and is interspersed
with periods of apnea up to 1 minute. Which of the following conditions is the most likely
cause of this problem?
A. Diabetes insipidus
B. Renal failure
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Elevated intracranial pressure - CORRECT ANSWER Elevated intracranial
pressure
What value for the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is consistent with mild obstructive sleep
apnea?
A. Less than 5
B. 5 to 15
C. 16 to 30
D. Greater than 30 - CORRECT ANSWER 5 to 15
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
[QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS] WITH PRACTICE EXAM
DETAILED AND VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS- LATEST
UPDATE 2025 GRADED A
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. - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 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% - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER 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?
A. cool mist aerosol treatment
B. aerosolized racemic epinephrine
C. manual ventilation with resuscitation bag and mask
D. reintubation - CORRECT ANSWER reintubation
Which of the following patients would most likely benefit from pressure support
ventilation?
A. An intubated patient with an absent respiratory drive.
B. A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min.
C. A patient with acute lung injury.
D. A patient who requires short-term post-operative ventilatory support. - CORRECT
ANSWER A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min.
A patient receiving mechanical ventilation has developed a temperature of 99.9° F with
purulent secretions over the last 12 hours. The respiratory therapist has also noted a
steady increase in peak inspiratory pressure. What initial recommendation should be
made to address these changes?
A. Initiate bronchial hygiene therapy.
,B. Obtain a sputum gram stain.
C. Administer IPV.
D. Insert a CASS tube. - CORRECT ANSWER Obtain a sputum gram stain.
Which of the following information may be obtained from a FVC maneuver during
bedside pulmonary function testing?
1. FEV1
2. PEFR
3. FRC
4. RV - CORRECT ANSWER 1 and 2 only
The respiratory therapist is providing patient education for a patient who is being
discharged home on aerosol therapy. The most important reason for the patient to
follow the recommended cleaning procedures using a vinegar/water solution is that this
solution will
A. sterilize the equipment.
B. retard bacterial growth.
C. kill all micro-organisms and spores.
D. extend the equipment life. - CORRECT ANSWER Retard bacterial growth
A patient who complains of dyspnea is noted to have a dry, non-productive cough. On
physical examination, breath sounds are diminished on the right, tactile fremitus is
decreased and there is dullness to percussion over the right lower lobe. The respiratory
therapist should suspect that the patient is suffering from
A. pneumonia.
B. pulmonary embolism.
C. pleural effusion.
D. bronchiolitis. - CORRECT ANSWER pleural effusion
Which of the following suction catheters would be appropriate to use for a patient with a
size 8.0 mm ID endotracheal tube?
A. 8 Fr
B. 10 Fr
C. 12 Fr
D. 14 Fr - CORRECT ANSWER 12 Fr
A patient who is receiving continuous mechanical ventilation is fighting the ventilator.
His breath sounds are markedly diminished on the left, there is dullness to percussion
on the left, and the trachea is shifted to the left. The most likely explanation for the
problem is that
A. the patient is disconnected from the ventilator.
, B. the patient is experiencing diffuse bronchospasm.
C. the endotracheal tube has slipped into the right main stem bronchus.
D. the patient has developed a left tension pneumothorax. - CORRECT ANSWER the
endotracheal tube has slipped into the right main stem bronchus
The respiratory therapist notes a developing hematoma after an arterial blood gas was
drawn from the right radial artery. The immediate response is to
A. notify the charge nurse.
B. apply a pressure dressing.
C. apply pressure to the site.
D. perform a modified Allen's test. - CORRECT ANSWER apply pressure to the site.
A patient's breathing pattern irregularly increases and decreases and is interspersed
with periods of apnea up to 1 minute. Which of the following conditions is the most likely
cause of this problem?
A. Diabetes insipidus
B. Renal failure
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Elevated intracranial pressure - CORRECT ANSWER Elevated intracranial
pressure
What value for the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is consistent with mild obstructive sleep
apnea?
A. Less than 5
B. 5 to 15
C. 16 to 30
D. Greater than 30 - CORRECT ANSWER 5 to 15
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
