TESTPREP - AIRWAY & BREATHING
110+ (2025-2026 A+ Graded) Exam-Style Questions | Verified Solutions | Complete Answer Key
Question 1
A 56-year-old man has labored, shallow breathing at a rate of 28 breaths/min. He is responsive to pain only.
Correct!
You should:
A) suction his oropharynx and insert an oropharyngeal airway.
B) ventilate him with a bag-valve-mask device at a rate of 30 breaths/min.
C) place him on his side and administer oxygen via nonrebreathing mask.
D) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisting his ventilations.
D) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisting his ventilations.
This patient in this scenario is not breathing adequately. He is responsive to pain only, and his
respirations are rapid, labored, and shallow. You should insert a
nasopharyngeal airway, which is better tolerated in patients who are semiconscious and have a gag
reflex, and assist his ventilations with a bag-valve-mask
device. When assisting a patient's breathing, you should squeeze the bag-valve-mask device to
ensure that he or she receives 10 to 12 adequate breaths per
minute. Do not hyperventilate the patient, as this increases the risks of vomiting and aspiration.
Hyperventilation also increases intra thoracic pressure,
which may impair venous return to the heart (preload} and cause a decrease in cardiac output.
Oxygen via nonrebreathing mask is appropriate for patients
who are breathing adequately, but are suspected of being hypoxic. The recovery position (patient is
placed on his or her side) is appropriate for unresponsive,
uninjured patients with adequate breathing.
, Question 2
A patient overdosed on several drugs and is unresponsive with shallow breathing and facial cyanosis. As you
Correct!
continue your assessment, the
patient suddenly vomits. You should:
A) suction his oropharynx at once.
B) turn the patient onto his side.
C) insert an oropharyngeal airway.
D) begin assisting his ventilations.
B) turn the patient onto his side.
The patient's airway must be clear of foreign bodies or secretions before it can be assessed or
managed. If the patient begins to vomit, he must first be rolled
onto his side to allow for drainage of the vomitus. Use suction to remove secretions after you have
positioned him on his side. After the airway is clear, you
should insert an appropriate airway adjunct (oral or nasal airway) and ensure adequate ventilation
and oxygenation. In this patient, this involves assisting his
ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device.
Question 3
The method by which you administer supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient depends MOSTLY on
Correct!
the:
A) presence or absence of cyanosis.
B) patient's level of consciousness and heart rate.
C) suspected underlying cause of the hypoxemia.
D) severity of hypoxemia and adequacy of breathing.
D) severity of hypoxemia and adequacy of breathing.
All hypoxemic patients, whatever the cause of their condition, should be treated with supplemental
oxygen. The method of oxygen delivery depends on the
severity of the hypoxemia and the adequacy of the patient's breathing. For example, a hypoxemic
patient who is breathing adequately (eg, normal rate,
adequate tidal volume) should receive oxygen via nasal cannula or nonrebreathing mask, depending
on the severity of the hypoxemia. However, if the patient
is breathing inadequately (eg, fast or slow rate, shallow breathing [reduced tidal volume]), he or she
may require ventilation assistance with a bag-valve-mask
device. The absence of cyanosis does not rule out hypoxia; cyanosis is a later sign and indicates
significant hemoglobin desaturation. A patient's level of
consciousness and heart rate can give you clues as to the severity of his or her hypoxemia; a
decreased level of consciousness and a rapid, weak pulse rate
are signs of significant hypoxemia.
, Question 4
Assessment of a 40-year-old patient reveals respiratory distress, tachycardia, audible expiratory wheezing,
Correct!
and an oxygen saturation of 88%.
The EMT should suspect:
A) fluid in the lower airways.
B) diffuse bronchoconstriction.
C) swelling in the laryngeal area.
D) infection of the lower airway.
B) diffuse bronchoconstriction.
Wheezing is a whistling sound that indicates constriction of the bronchioles in the lungs. It is
commonly heard on exhalation, but may also occur during
inhalation and exhalation. Wheezing occurs with asthma or bronchiolitis. Fluid in the lower airways
produces breath sounds such as rales (crackles) or
rhonchi. Laryngeal swelling would produce stridor, a high-pitched sound heard during inhalation.
Infection of the lower airway, such as pneumonia, would be
expected to present with a fever, productive cough, and diminished breath sounds over an isolated
lung field.
Question 5
If the level of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood increases:
Correct!
A) a reduction in tidal volume will occur.
B) the respiratory rate and depth increase.
C) the respiratory rate slows significantly.
D) the respiratory rate and depth decrease.
B) the respiratory rate and depth increase.
Special receptors, called chemoreceptors, sense the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the
arterial blood. The central chemoreceptors are located in the
brain; the peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the aorta and carotid arteries. The level of carbon
dioxide in the arterial blood stimulates the healthy
patient to breathe (primary respiratory drive). If the carbon dioxide level rises above normal, the
chemoreceptors send messages to respiratory centers in the
brain, resulting in an increase in respiratory rate and depth (tidal volume). Conversely, if the level of
carbon dioxide is too low, respiratory rate and depth
decrease accordingly.
, Question 6
An unresponsive patient has an end-tidal carbon dioxide level of70 mm Hg. From this, you should conclude
Correct!
that the patient is:
A) hypercarbic and breathing adequately.
B) hypocarbic and breathing adequately.
C) hypercarbic and breathing inadequately.
D) hypocarbic and breathing inadequately.
C) hypercarbic and breathing inadequately.
End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide present in the
patient's exhaled air. A normal value is 35 to 45 mm Hg. A value
less than 35 mm Hg indicates hypocarbia (low CO2 content), whereas a level greater than 45 mm Hg
indicates hypercarbia (high CO2 content). If a patient is
not breathing adequately, you would expect his or her ETC02 to increase because a failing respiratory
system cannot remove adequate carbon dioxide from
the body. By contrast, a patient who is breathing too fast (ie, hyperventilation) would be expected to
have a low ETC02 because he or she is eliminating too
much carbon dioxide.
Question 7
Which of the following clinical find ings is common with emphysema, but not congestive heart fa ilure?
Correct!
A) Pursed-lip breathing
B) Abdominal distention
C) Distended jugular veins
D) Pink, frothy sputum
A) Pursed-lip breathing
Emphysema is characterized by progressive alveolar dysfunction and destruction caused by a loss of
pulmonary surfactant, a compound that allows the
alveoli to expand and recoil. Without surfactant, alveolar surface tension increases, resulting in air
trapping in the lungs (this causes the barrel-shaped chest
commonly seens in patients with advanced emphysema). In an effort to generate positive-end
expiratory pressure (PEEP), the patient with emphysema
exhales through pursed-lips; this generates resistance against the alveoli, which may force them open
and facilitate air removal. Pursed lip breathing is not
typically observed in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) because alveolar dysfunction is not
the underlying cause of the disease. In CHF, fluid backs
up in the lungs (left heart failure) or the systemic circulation (right heart failure) secondary to poor
cardiac contractility. Signs of left heart failure include
respiratory distress, inability to lie flat (orthopnea), coughing up pink frothy sputum, and wet lung
sound (ie, crackles). Signs of right heart failure include
jugular vein distention, abdominal distention, and peripheral edema.
110+ (2025-2026 A+ Graded) Exam-Style Questions | Verified Solutions | Complete Answer Key
Question 1
A 56-year-old man has labored, shallow breathing at a rate of 28 breaths/min. He is responsive to pain only.
Correct!
You should:
A) suction his oropharynx and insert an oropharyngeal airway.
B) ventilate him with a bag-valve-mask device at a rate of 30 breaths/min.
C) place him on his side and administer oxygen via nonrebreathing mask.
D) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisting his ventilations.
D) insert a nasopharyngeal airway and begin assisting his ventilations.
This patient in this scenario is not breathing adequately. He is responsive to pain only, and his
respirations are rapid, labored, and shallow. You should insert a
nasopharyngeal airway, which is better tolerated in patients who are semiconscious and have a gag
reflex, and assist his ventilations with a bag-valve-mask
device. When assisting a patient's breathing, you should squeeze the bag-valve-mask device to
ensure that he or she receives 10 to 12 adequate breaths per
minute. Do not hyperventilate the patient, as this increases the risks of vomiting and aspiration.
Hyperventilation also increases intra thoracic pressure,
which may impair venous return to the heart (preload} and cause a decrease in cardiac output.
Oxygen via nonrebreathing mask is appropriate for patients
who are breathing adequately, but are suspected of being hypoxic. The recovery position (patient is
placed on his or her side) is appropriate for unresponsive,
uninjured patients with adequate breathing.
, Question 2
A patient overdosed on several drugs and is unresponsive with shallow breathing and facial cyanosis. As you
Correct!
continue your assessment, the
patient suddenly vomits. You should:
A) suction his oropharynx at once.
B) turn the patient onto his side.
C) insert an oropharyngeal airway.
D) begin assisting his ventilations.
B) turn the patient onto his side.
The patient's airway must be clear of foreign bodies or secretions before it can be assessed or
managed. If the patient begins to vomit, he must first be rolled
onto his side to allow for drainage of the vomitus. Use suction to remove secretions after you have
positioned him on his side. After the airway is clear, you
should insert an appropriate airway adjunct (oral or nasal airway) and ensure adequate ventilation
and oxygenation. In this patient, this involves assisting his
ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device.
Question 3
The method by which you administer supplemental oxygen to a hypoxemic patient depends MOSTLY on
Correct!
the:
A) presence or absence of cyanosis.
B) patient's level of consciousness and heart rate.
C) suspected underlying cause of the hypoxemia.
D) severity of hypoxemia and adequacy of breathing.
D) severity of hypoxemia and adequacy of breathing.
All hypoxemic patients, whatever the cause of their condition, should be treated with supplemental
oxygen. The method of oxygen delivery depends on the
severity of the hypoxemia and the adequacy of the patient's breathing. For example, a hypoxemic
patient who is breathing adequately (eg, normal rate,
adequate tidal volume) should receive oxygen via nasal cannula or nonrebreathing mask, depending
on the severity of the hypoxemia. However, if the patient
is breathing inadequately (eg, fast or slow rate, shallow breathing [reduced tidal volume]), he or she
may require ventilation assistance with a bag-valve-mask
device. The absence of cyanosis does not rule out hypoxia; cyanosis is a later sign and indicates
significant hemoglobin desaturation. A patient's level of
consciousness and heart rate can give you clues as to the severity of his or her hypoxemia; a
decreased level of consciousness and a rapid, weak pulse rate
are signs of significant hypoxemia.
, Question 4
Assessment of a 40-year-old patient reveals respiratory distress, tachycardia, audible expiratory wheezing,
Correct!
and an oxygen saturation of 88%.
The EMT should suspect:
A) fluid in the lower airways.
B) diffuse bronchoconstriction.
C) swelling in the laryngeal area.
D) infection of the lower airway.
B) diffuse bronchoconstriction.
Wheezing is a whistling sound that indicates constriction of the bronchioles in the lungs. It is
commonly heard on exhalation, but may also occur during
inhalation and exhalation. Wheezing occurs with asthma or bronchiolitis. Fluid in the lower airways
produces breath sounds such as rales (crackles) or
rhonchi. Laryngeal swelling would produce stridor, a high-pitched sound heard during inhalation.
Infection of the lower airway, such as pneumonia, would be
expected to present with a fever, productive cough, and diminished breath sounds over an isolated
lung field.
Question 5
If the level of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood increases:
Correct!
A) a reduction in tidal volume will occur.
B) the respiratory rate and depth increase.
C) the respiratory rate slows significantly.
D) the respiratory rate and depth decrease.
B) the respiratory rate and depth increase.
Special receptors, called chemoreceptors, sense the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the
arterial blood. The central chemoreceptors are located in the
brain; the peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the aorta and carotid arteries. The level of carbon
dioxide in the arterial blood stimulates the healthy
patient to breathe (primary respiratory drive). If the carbon dioxide level rises above normal, the
chemoreceptors send messages to respiratory centers in the
brain, resulting in an increase in respiratory rate and depth (tidal volume). Conversely, if the level of
carbon dioxide is too low, respiratory rate and depth
decrease accordingly.
, Question 6
An unresponsive patient has an end-tidal carbon dioxide level of70 mm Hg. From this, you should conclude
Correct!
that the patient is:
A) hypercarbic and breathing adequately.
B) hypocarbic and breathing adequately.
C) hypercarbic and breathing inadequately.
D) hypocarbic and breathing inadequately.
C) hypercarbic and breathing inadequately.
End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide present in the
patient's exhaled air. A normal value is 35 to 45 mm Hg. A value
less than 35 mm Hg indicates hypocarbia (low CO2 content), whereas a level greater than 45 mm Hg
indicates hypercarbia (high CO2 content). If a patient is
not breathing adequately, you would expect his or her ETC02 to increase because a failing respiratory
system cannot remove adequate carbon dioxide from
the body. By contrast, a patient who is breathing too fast (ie, hyperventilation) would be expected to
have a low ETC02 because he or she is eliminating too
much carbon dioxide.
Question 7
Which of the following clinical find ings is common with emphysema, but not congestive heart fa ilure?
Correct!
A) Pursed-lip breathing
B) Abdominal distention
C) Distended jugular veins
D) Pink, frothy sputum
A) Pursed-lip breathing
Emphysema is characterized by progressive alveolar dysfunction and destruction caused by a loss of
pulmonary surfactant, a compound that allows the
alveoli to expand and recoil. Without surfactant, alveolar surface tension increases, resulting in air
trapping in the lungs (this causes the barrel-shaped chest
commonly seens in patients with advanced emphysema). In an effort to generate positive-end
expiratory pressure (PEEP), the patient with emphysema
exhales through pursed-lips; this generates resistance against the alveoli, which may force them open
and facilitate air removal. Pursed lip breathing is not
typically observed in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) because alveolar dysfunction is not
the underlying cause of the disease. In CHF, fluid backs
up in the lungs (left heart failure) or the systemic circulation (right heart failure) secondary to poor
cardiac contractility. Signs of left heart failure include
respiratory distress, inability to lie flat (orthopnea), coughing up pink frothy sputum, and wet lung
sound (ie, crackles). Signs of right heart failure include
jugular vein distention, abdominal distention, and peripheral edema.
