AIR METHODS Critical Care
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace
2026-2027 Includes Frequently Tested Questions With
ELABORATED 100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!!
Current Update!!
1. What is the normal P(A-a)O2 range while breathing room air?
-25 to 50 mm Hg
-10 to 25 mm Hg
-Greater than 25 mm Hg
-Less than 10 mm Hg
- ANSWER 10 to 25 mm Hg
2. What is the most common cause of low mixed venous oxygen?
-Liver disease
-Cardiac disease
-Neuromuscular disease
-Vascular disease
- ANSWER Cardiac disease
3. Which of the following clinical signs is most often associated with hypoxemia
due to shunt?
-Diffuse wheezing
-"White" chest radiograph
-Stridor
-Loud P2
- ANSWER "White" chest radiograph
,4. Which of the following best describes the difference between V/Q mismatch
and shunt when supplemental oxygen is administered?
-Both will respond equally well.
-V/Q mismatch will respond well but shunt will not.
-V/Q mismatch will not respond but shunt will respond well.
-Neither will respond to the administration of supplemental oxygen.
- ANSWER V/Q mismatch will respond well but shunt will not.
5. Hypercapnic (type II) respiratory failure is a synonym for which one of the
following terms?
-Mismatching
-Shunt
-Diffusion impairment
-Ventilatory failure
- ANSWER Ventilatory failure
6. What is respiratory failure due to inadequate ventilation?
-Hypoxemic
-Hypercapnic
-Compensated
-Chronic
- ANSWER Hypercapnic
7. Which of the following best describes positive expiratory pressure (PEP)
therapy?
-Expiration against a fixed threshold resistance
-Inspiration against a variable flow resistance
-Inspiration against a fixed threshold resistance
-Expiration against a variable flow resistance
- ANSWER Expiration against a variable flow resistance
8. Which of the following are potential indications for positive airway pressure
therapies?
,1. Reduce air trapping in asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
2. Help mobilize retained secretions.
3. Prevent or reverse atelectasis.
4. Optimize bronchodilator delivery.
- ANSWER 1,2,3 and 4
9. What is the ideal patient position for directed coughing?
-Sitting with one shoulder rotated inward, the head and spine slightly flexed
-Prone, with the head and spine slightly flexed
-Supine, with knees slightly flexed and feet braced
-Supine, with forearms relaxed and feet supported
- ANSWER Sitting with one shoulder rotated inward, the head and spine
slightly flexed
10. Properly performed chest vibration is applied at what point?
-Throughout inspiration
-Throughout expiration
-At the end of expiration
-At the start of inspiration
- ANSWER Throughout expiration
11. While reviewing the chart of a patient receiving postural drainage therapy, you
notice that the patient tends to undergo mild desaturation during therapy (a drop
in SpO2 from 93% to 89% to 90%). Which of the following would you recommend
to manage this problem?
-Increase the patient's FiO2 during therapy.
-Discontinue the percussion and vibration only.
-Discontinue the postural drainage therapy entirely.
-Decrease the frequency of treatments.
- ANSWER Increase the patient's FiO2 during therapy.
12. If tolerated, a specified postural drainage position should be maintained for at
least how long?
, -20 to 30 min
-1 to 2 min
-10 to 20 min
-3 to 15 min
- ANSWER 3 to 15 min
13. A patient about to receive postural drainage and percussion is attached to an
electrocardiographic (ECG) monitor and is receiving both intravenous (IV)
solutions and O2 (through a nasal cannula). Which of the following actions would
be appropriate for this patient?
Turn off the ECG monitor, but keep the IV line and O2 going.
Inspect and adjust the equipment to ensure function during therapy.
Cancel the therapy because the patient cannot be repositioned.
Turn off the IV line, but keep the monitor on and the O2 going.
Inspect and adjust the equipment to ensure function during therapy.
Which of the following are hazards or complication of postural drainage therapy?
1. Cardiac arrhythmias
2. Increased intracranial pressure
3. Acute hypotension
4. Pulmonary barotraumas
- ANSWER 1,2 and 3 only
14. Which of the following best describes the application of gravity to achieve
specific clinical objectives in respiratory care?
-Postural drainage therapy
-Breathing exercises
-Hyperinflation therapy
-Directed coughing
- ANSWER Postural drainage therapy
15. In general, chest physical therapy can be expected to improve airway
clearance when a patient's sputum production exceeds what volume?
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace
2026-2027 Includes Frequently Tested Questions With
ELABORATED 100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!!
Current Update!!
1. What is the normal P(A-a)O2 range while breathing room air?
-25 to 50 mm Hg
-10 to 25 mm Hg
-Greater than 25 mm Hg
-Less than 10 mm Hg
- ANSWER 10 to 25 mm Hg
2. What is the most common cause of low mixed venous oxygen?
-Liver disease
-Cardiac disease
-Neuromuscular disease
-Vascular disease
- ANSWER Cardiac disease
3. Which of the following clinical signs is most often associated with hypoxemia
due to shunt?
-Diffuse wheezing
-"White" chest radiograph
-Stridor
-Loud P2
- ANSWER "White" chest radiograph
,4. Which of the following best describes the difference between V/Q mismatch
and shunt when supplemental oxygen is administered?
-Both will respond equally well.
-V/Q mismatch will respond well but shunt will not.
-V/Q mismatch will not respond but shunt will respond well.
-Neither will respond to the administration of supplemental oxygen.
- ANSWER V/Q mismatch will respond well but shunt will not.
5. Hypercapnic (type II) respiratory failure is a synonym for which one of the
following terms?
-Mismatching
-Shunt
-Diffusion impairment
-Ventilatory failure
- ANSWER Ventilatory failure
6. What is respiratory failure due to inadequate ventilation?
-Hypoxemic
-Hypercapnic
-Compensated
-Chronic
- ANSWER Hypercapnic
7. Which of the following best describes positive expiratory pressure (PEP)
therapy?
-Expiration against a fixed threshold resistance
-Inspiration against a variable flow resistance
-Inspiration against a fixed threshold resistance
-Expiration against a variable flow resistance
- ANSWER Expiration against a variable flow resistance
8. Which of the following are potential indications for positive airway pressure
therapies?
,1. Reduce air trapping in asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
2. Help mobilize retained secretions.
3. Prevent or reverse atelectasis.
4. Optimize bronchodilator delivery.
- ANSWER 1,2,3 and 4
9. What is the ideal patient position for directed coughing?
-Sitting with one shoulder rotated inward, the head and spine slightly flexed
-Prone, with the head and spine slightly flexed
-Supine, with knees slightly flexed and feet braced
-Supine, with forearms relaxed and feet supported
- ANSWER Sitting with one shoulder rotated inward, the head and spine
slightly flexed
10. Properly performed chest vibration is applied at what point?
-Throughout inspiration
-Throughout expiration
-At the end of expiration
-At the start of inspiration
- ANSWER Throughout expiration
11. While reviewing the chart of a patient receiving postural drainage therapy, you
notice that the patient tends to undergo mild desaturation during therapy (a drop
in SpO2 from 93% to 89% to 90%). Which of the following would you recommend
to manage this problem?
-Increase the patient's FiO2 during therapy.
-Discontinue the percussion and vibration only.
-Discontinue the postural drainage therapy entirely.
-Decrease the frequency of treatments.
- ANSWER Increase the patient's FiO2 during therapy.
12. If tolerated, a specified postural drainage position should be maintained for at
least how long?
, -20 to 30 min
-1 to 2 min
-10 to 20 min
-3 to 15 min
- ANSWER 3 to 15 min
13. A patient about to receive postural drainage and percussion is attached to an
electrocardiographic (ECG) monitor and is receiving both intravenous (IV)
solutions and O2 (through a nasal cannula). Which of the following actions would
be appropriate for this patient?
Turn off the ECG monitor, but keep the IV line and O2 going.
Inspect and adjust the equipment to ensure function during therapy.
Cancel the therapy because the patient cannot be repositioned.
Turn off the IV line, but keep the monitor on and the O2 going.
Inspect and adjust the equipment to ensure function during therapy.
Which of the following are hazards or complication of postural drainage therapy?
1. Cardiac arrhythmias
2. Increased intracranial pressure
3. Acute hypotension
4. Pulmonary barotraumas
- ANSWER 1,2 and 3 only
14. Which of the following best describes the application of gravity to achieve
specific clinical objectives in respiratory care?
-Postural drainage therapy
-Breathing exercises
-Hyperinflation therapy
-Directed coughing
- ANSWER Postural drainage therapy
15. In general, chest physical therapy can be expected to improve airway
clearance when a patient's sputum production exceeds what volume?
