Lindsey Jones Practice Exam Qs w/ Explanations
1. A patient has undergone overnight oximetry. Data shows several episodes of O2 desaturation throughout
the night. The RTT would expect orders for which of the following kinds of testing:
a. V/Q scan
b. pulmonary function testing
c. polysomnography
d. 24-hour Holter monitoring - ansYour answer: C
Correct answer: C
The use of overnight oximetery is often used to detect O2 desaturation during the night that may be associated
with central or obstructive sleep apnea. Because data indicates some periodic desaturation, the practitioner
should suspect possible sleep apnea and should order diagnostic testing that will confirm or rule out the
suspicion.
A 14-year old patient with asthma is in the emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath. Two
treatments with Albuterol have been given, but the patient is still wheezing and peak flow measurements have
not changed. The respiratory therapist should recommend?
A. administering ipratropium bromide (Atrovent)
B. drawing arterial blood for gas analysis
C. administering cromolyn sodium (Intal)
D. ordering a chest radiograph - ansYour answer was : A
The correct answer is : A
Explanation :
When a patient is not responsive to a particular bronchodilator medication, it is appropriate to attempt
bronchodilation with a different medication. In this case, Atrovent is a good alternative medication because it is
also a short term rescue medication, like albuterol, but with a different mode of action.
,A 23-year old female patient in active child labor is receiving O2 by partial-rebreathing mask at 9/L/min. The
reservoir bag collapses completely during contractions due to the patient's deep rapid breaths. The RRT should
recommend:
a. increasing the flow to the mask
b. changing to a nasal cannula
c. changing to 100% NRB
d. coaching the patient to take smaller breaths - ansyour answer: C
correct answer: A
When the reservoir bag on a non-rebreather mask collapses completely with each breath, the problem is most
likely due to insufficient flow to the mask.
A 32-year-old male has a respiratory rate of 26/min and a tidal volume of 200 mL. Following sedation with a
benzodiazepine medication, respiratory rate drops to 10/min and tidal volume increases to 520 mL. The
respiratory therapist can accurately conclude that there was an increase in which of the following?
A. dead space ventilation
B. alveolar ventilation
C. pulmonary perfusion
D. minute ventilation - ansYour answer was : D
The correct answer is : B
Explanation :
As this patient receives sedation is obvious that their work of breathing decreases as evidenced by an
increasing tidal volume which results in a decreasing spontaneous respiratory rate. As tidal volume increases
and respiratory rate decreases, the effect is an increase in alveolar ventilation.
,A 34 week gestational age infant was born 20 minutes ago and had a five-minute APGAR score of 6. A chest
radiograph shows bilateral haziness and a reticulogranular pattern. Which of the following would be most
beneficial to the patient?
A. Echocardiography
B. Transillumination
C. Aerosolized bronchodilator therapy
D. Surfactant therapy - ansYour answer was : D
The correct answer is : D
Explanation :
An infant's chest x-ray that shows bilateral haziness is related to pulmonary immaturity. Fetal lung immaturity
is best remedied by the administration of surfactant.
A 39-year-old unconscious male is brought to the emergency room after a suspected suicide attempt. He was
found in his garage with the car running and the exhaust vented to the interior portion of the vehicle. Which of
the following should be examined immediately?
A. homocysteine level
B. COHb
C. MetHb
D. SpO2 - ansYour answer was : B
The correct answer is : B
Explanation :
When suspecting a patient has carbon monoxide poisoning, a COHb is the most appropriate data to rule in or
, rule out CO poisoning.
A 50-year-old male presents in the emergency department (ED) complaining of frequent vomiting. Arterial
blood gas results on room air show:
pH: 7.54
PaCO2: 41 torr
PaO2: 96 torr
HCO3: 30 mEq/L
BE: +6 mEq/L
Which of the following would account for this blood gas anomaly?
A. K+ 4.9 mEq/L
B. K+ 3.4 mEq/L
C. Hyperventilation
D. Cl- 110 mEq/L - ansYour answer was : C
The correct answer is : B
Explanation :
Carbon dioxide in this blood gas shows adequate ventilation. However, a pH of 7.54 is an indication of
alkalosis. Because the alkalosis cannot be attributed to an elevated CO2, it must be caused metabolically.
Observation of the bicarb shows an elevation. Of the options offered the most likely cause of this elevation is
the potassium of 3.4 mEq/L.
A 62-year-old male, six hours post CABG, experiences a sudden onset of tachypnea 3 hours after extubation.
Breath sounds are markedly decreased over the right lung field. Respiratory rate is 24/min, HR 110/min, BP
160/85 mm Hg, and SpO2 is 89% on 35% oxygen via air-entrainment mask. Which of the following should the
respiratory therapist recommend NEXT?
1. A patient has undergone overnight oximetry. Data shows several episodes of O2 desaturation throughout
the night. The RTT would expect orders for which of the following kinds of testing:
a. V/Q scan
b. pulmonary function testing
c. polysomnography
d. 24-hour Holter monitoring - ansYour answer: C
Correct answer: C
The use of overnight oximetery is often used to detect O2 desaturation during the night that may be associated
with central or obstructive sleep apnea. Because data indicates some periodic desaturation, the practitioner
should suspect possible sleep apnea and should order diagnostic testing that will confirm or rule out the
suspicion.
A 14-year old patient with asthma is in the emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath. Two
treatments with Albuterol have been given, but the patient is still wheezing and peak flow measurements have
not changed. The respiratory therapist should recommend?
A. administering ipratropium bromide (Atrovent)
B. drawing arterial blood for gas analysis
C. administering cromolyn sodium (Intal)
D. ordering a chest radiograph - ansYour answer was : A
The correct answer is : A
Explanation :
When a patient is not responsive to a particular bronchodilator medication, it is appropriate to attempt
bronchodilation with a different medication. In this case, Atrovent is a good alternative medication because it is
also a short term rescue medication, like albuterol, but with a different mode of action.
,A 23-year old female patient in active child labor is receiving O2 by partial-rebreathing mask at 9/L/min. The
reservoir bag collapses completely during contractions due to the patient's deep rapid breaths. The RRT should
recommend:
a. increasing the flow to the mask
b. changing to a nasal cannula
c. changing to 100% NRB
d. coaching the patient to take smaller breaths - ansyour answer: C
correct answer: A
When the reservoir bag on a non-rebreather mask collapses completely with each breath, the problem is most
likely due to insufficient flow to the mask.
A 32-year-old male has a respiratory rate of 26/min and a tidal volume of 200 mL. Following sedation with a
benzodiazepine medication, respiratory rate drops to 10/min and tidal volume increases to 520 mL. The
respiratory therapist can accurately conclude that there was an increase in which of the following?
A. dead space ventilation
B. alveolar ventilation
C. pulmonary perfusion
D. minute ventilation - ansYour answer was : D
The correct answer is : B
Explanation :
As this patient receives sedation is obvious that their work of breathing decreases as evidenced by an
increasing tidal volume which results in a decreasing spontaneous respiratory rate. As tidal volume increases
and respiratory rate decreases, the effect is an increase in alveolar ventilation.
,A 34 week gestational age infant was born 20 minutes ago and had a five-minute APGAR score of 6. A chest
radiograph shows bilateral haziness and a reticulogranular pattern. Which of the following would be most
beneficial to the patient?
A. Echocardiography
B. Transillumination
C. Aerosolized bronchodilator therapy
D. Surfactant therapy - ansYour answer was : D
The correct answer is : D
Explanation :
An infant's chest x-ray that shows bilateral haziness is related to pulmonary immaturity. Fetal lung immaturity
is best remedied by the administration of surfactant.
A 39-year-old unconscious male is brought to the emergency room after a suspected suicide attempt. He was
found in his garage with the car running and the exhaust vented to the interior portion of the vehicle. Which of
the following should be examined immediately?
A. homocysteine level
B. COHb
C. MetHb
D. SpO2 - ansYour answer was : B
The correct answer is : B
Explanation :
When suspecting a patient has carbon monoxide poisoning, a COHb is the most appropriate data to rule in or
, rule out CO poisoning.
A 50-year-old male presents in the emergency department (ED) complaining of frequent vomiting. Arterial
blood gas results on room air show:
pH: 7.54
PaCO2: 41 torr
PaO2: 96 torr
HCO3: 30 mEq/L
BE: +6 mEq/L
Which of the following would account for this blood gas anomaly?
A. K+ 4.9 mEq/L
B. K+ 3.4 mEq/L
C. Hyperventilation
D. Cl- 110 mEq/L - ansYour answer was : C
The correct answer is : B
Explanation :
Carbon dioxide in this blood gas shows adequate ventilation. However, a pH of 7.54 is an indication of
alkalosis. Because the alkalosis cannot be attributed to an elevated CO2, it must be caused metabolically.
Observation of the bicarb shows an elevation. Of the options offered the most likely cause of this elevation is
the potassium of 3.4 mEq/L.
A 62-year-old male, six hours post CABG, experiences a sudden onset of tachypnea 3 hours after extubation.
Breath sounds are markedly decreased over the right lung field. Respiratory rate is 24/min, HR 110/min, BP
160/85 mm Hg, and SpO2 is 89% on 35% oxygen via air-entrainment mask. Which of the following should the
respiratory therapist recommend NEXT?
