RRT TMC EXAM QUESTIONS &
DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS
The patient's lung has an air leak - correct answer ✔✔You are called to the emergency
department to help care for a patient who was in a vehicle accident and has chest injuries
including broken ribs. Crepitations are felt while palpitating the patient's neck. What is most
likely the cause of this?
complete airway obstruction - correct answer ✔✔During capnography monitoring of a
mechanically ventilated patient, you note that the end-tidal PCO2 (PetCO2) has dropped to 0
mm Hg. This finding may indicate:
Reversible airway obstruction - correct answer ✔✔A forced expiratory measurement obtained
after the administration of a bronchodilator shows an increase in FEV1 from 60% to 80% of
predicted. This indicates a:
inserting an esophageal-tracheal combitube - correct answer ✔✔An unconscious apneic patient
with a full stomach cannot be orally intubated in the emergency room. Which of the following
would your recommend be?
patients size and clinical condition - correct answer ✔✔While establishing initial ventilatory
support settings for a new patient, the most important consideration is the:
apply 5-10 cm H20 pressure support - correct answer ✔✔You are trying to wean an alert
intubated patient off full ventilatory support using the CPAP protocol with 40% O2. Early in the
initial effort her respiratory rate increases from 24 to 30/min and you start to observe some use
of her accessory muscles while breathing. Which of the following would be your first action at
this time?
,Fever (hyperthermia) - correct answer ✔✔A male patient has a lower than normal mixed
venous O2 content. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
70 minutes - correct answer ✔✔What is the approximate duration of flow of an oxygen E-
cylinder at 1000 psi running at 4 L/min?
increase the suction pressure to -120 mm Hg - correct answer ✔✔While using a Yankauer
device to suction an adult patient, you are unable to remove thick secretions. The regulator
attached to the oropharyngeal suctioning device displays a reading of -70 mm Hg. Which of the
following actions should you take at this time?
a missing lead - correct answer ✔✔While setting up a 12-lead EKG on a patient, you are unable
obtain any electrical signal. The batteries are fully charged and the device was able to power-on.
The most likely cause of this problem is which of the following?
angiography - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following imaging procedures is used to evaluate
the arteries for abnormalities such as aneurysm, atherosclerosis, embolism, occlusion, stenosis,
thrombosis, trauma, or vasculitis?
has smoked within the prior 12-24 hours - correct answer ✔✔You obtain an expired carbon
monoxide (CO) reading of 18 ppm on a COPD patient participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation
program. Based on this finding, you can conclude that the patient:
decrease in O2 saturation from 91% to 82% - correct answer ✔✔While monitoring a patient
during a spontaneous breathing trial, which of the following observations would cause you to
stop the trial and return the patient to ventilatory support?
increased ventilation - correct answer ✔✔Your patient is receiving volume control A/C
ventilation. She has become increasingly agitated and the end-tidal CO2 has decreased from 38
to 27 torr over the last 3 hours. Which of the following is most likely the cause?
, 3500 mL - correct answer ✔✔A normal vital capacity for a female patient who is five feet three
inches tall and weighs fifty kilograms would be approximately:
the sensitivity - correct answer ✔✔An asthmatic patient is struggling to initiate inspiration on a
ventilator operating in the assist-control mode. Which of the following ventilator settings would
you first check in order to resolve of this problem?
atrial fibrillation - correct answer ✔✔On inspection of a patient's EKG strip, you note that there
are no identifiable P waves; rapid irregular undulations of the isoelectric line; and an irregular
ventricular rhythm. In addition, the precordial cardiac rate is greater than the peripheral pulse
rate. What is the most likely problem?
Vital Capacity (VC) - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is the best bedside
measurement for assessing the integrated function of the respiratory muscles and mechanical
properties of the lungs and thorax?
Sinus Tachycardia - correct answer ✔✔While inspecting an EKG rhythm strip from an adult
patient, you note the following: rate of 148; regular rhythm; normal P waves, P-R intervals, and
QRS complexes. What is most likely the problem?
whether the patient is stable on low FiO2s and PEEP - correct answer ✔✔Which of the
following is a prerequisite for discharging a ventilator-dependent patient to the homecare
setting?
a large volume (3 L) calibration syringe - correct answer ✔✔You would need which of the
following equipment in order to calibrate a portable bedside spirometer?
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) - correct answer ✔✔A physician orders a blind
bronchoalveolar lavage procedure for a patient in intensive care unit. What is the most likely
potential diagnosis that the doctor is trying to confirm with this procedure?
DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS
The patient's lung has an air leak - correct answer ✔✔You are called to the emergency
department to help care for a patient who was in a vehicle accident and has chest injuries
including broken ribs. Crepitations are felt while palpitating the patient's neck. What is most
likely the cause of this?
complete airway obstruction - correct answer ✔✔During capnography monitoring of a
mechanically ventilated patient, you note that the end-tidal PCO2 (PetCO2) has dropped to 0
mm Hg. This finding may indicate:
Reversible airway obstruction - correct answer ✔✔A forced expiratory measurement obtained
after the administration of a bronchodilator shows an increase in FEV1 from 60% to 80% of
predicted. This indicates a:
inserting an esophageal-tracheal combitube - correct answer ✔✔An unconscious apneic patient
with a full stomach cannot be orally intubated in the emergency room. Which of the following
would your recommend be?
patients size and clinical condition - correct answer ✔✔While establishing initial ventilatory
support settings for a new patient, the most important consideration is the:
apply 5-10 cm H20 pressure support - correct answer ✔✔You are trying to wean an alert
intubated patient off full ventilatory support using the CPAP protocol with 40% O2. Early in the
initial effort her respiratory rate increases from 24 to 30/min and you start to observe some use
of her accessory muscles while breathing. Which of the following would be your first action at
this time?
,Fever (hyperthermia) - correct answer ✔✔A male patient has a lower than normal mixed
venous O2 content. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
70 minutes - correct answer ✔✔What is the approximate duration of flow of an oxygen E-
cylinder at 1000 psi running at 4 L/min?
increase the suction pressure to -120 mm Hg - correct answer ✔✔While using a Yankauer
device to suction an adult patient, you are unable to remove thick secretions. The regulator
attached to the oropharyngeal suctioning device displays a reading of -70 mm Hg. Which of the
following actions should you take at this time?
a missing lead - correct answer ✔✔While setting up a 12-lead EKG on a patient, you are unable
obtain any electrical signal. The batteries are fully charged and the device was able to power-on.
The most likely cause of this problem is which of the following?
angiography - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following imaging procedures is used to evaluate
the arteries for abnormalities such as aneurysm, atherosclerosis, embolism, occlusion, stenosis,
thrombosis, trauma, or vasculitis?
has smoked within the prior 12-24 hours - correct answer ✔✔You obtain an expired carbon
monoxide (CO) reading of 18 ppm on a COPD patient participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation
program. Based on this finding, you can conclude that the patient:
decrease in O2 saturation from 91% to 82% - correct answer ✔✔While monitoring a patient
during a spontaneous breathing trial, which of the following observations would cause you to
stop the trial and return the patient to ventilatory support?
increased ventilation - correct answer ✔✔Your patient is receiving volume control A/C
ventilation. She has become increasingly agitated and the end-tidal CO2 has decreased from 38
to 27 torr over the last 3 hours. Which of the following is most likely the cause?
, 3500 mL - correct answer ✔✔A normal vital capacity for a female patient who is five feet three
inches tall and weighs fifty kilograms would be approximately:
the sensitivity - correct answer ✔✔An asthmatic patient is struggling to initiate inspiration on a
ventilator operating in the assist-control mode. Which of the following ventilator settings would
you first check in order to resolve of this problem?
atrial fibrillation - correct answer ✔✔On inspection of a patient's EKG strip, you note that there
are no identifiable P waves; rapid irregular undulations of the isoelectric line; and an irregular
ventricular rhythm. In addition, the precordial cardiac rate is greater than the peripheral pulse
rate. What is the most likely problem?
Vital Capacity (VC) - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is the best bedside
measurement for assessing the integrated function of the respiratory muscles and mechanical
properties of the lungs and thorax?
Sinus Tachycardia - correct answer ✔✔While inspecting an EKG rhythm strip from an adult
patient, you note the following: rate of 148; regular rhythm; normal P waves, P-R intervals, and
QRS complexes. What is most likely the problem?
whether the patient is stable on low FiO2s and PEEP - correct answer ✔✔Which of the
following is a prerequisite for discharging a ventilator-dependent patient to the homecare
setting?
a large volume (3 L) calibration syringe - correct answer ✔✔You would need which of the
following equipment in order to calibrate a portable bedside spirometer?
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) - correct answer ✔✔A physician orders a blind
bronchoalveolar lavage procedure for a patient in intensive care unit. What is the most likely
potential diagnosis that the doctor is trying to confirm with this procedure?
