TMC PRACTICE EXAM 1
WITH CORRECT ANSWER
2026
A large volume jet nebulizer is operating at the 100% O2 setting with
an input flow of 12 L/min.What effect will changing the entrainment
port setting from 100 to 70% have on the system?
Select one:
A. the input liter flow will increase by 30%
B. the total output liter flow will decrease
C. the aerosol weight density will increase
D. the total output liter flow will increase - CORRECT ANSWER-
When the air-entrainment port of a large volume jet nebulizer is
opened, room air is entrained, and total flow through the system
increases (in direct proportion to the size of the opening). This
increased output flow increases total aerosol output per minute, but
actually lowers aerosol density.
The correct answer is: the total output liter flow will increase
A patient is receiving oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask set at 12
L/min. You notice that the mask's reservoir bag does not deflate at all
during inspiration. Which of the following is the most likely cause of
this problem?
Select one:
A. the patient is nose-breathing
B. the mask is too loose on the face
C. the flowmeter setting is too low
D. the patient is mouth-breathing - CORRECT ANSWER- You
know that a nonrebreathing O2 mask is operating properly when the
bag partially deflates as the patient inhales. Too low a flow (< 10
,L/min) would cause the bag collapse, not remain inflated. The most
likely cause for the bag not deflating is a large leak, which would allow
the patient to draw air from the room instead of O2 from the bag. This
would occur if the mask were too loose on the face or if the exhalation
valves were missing. Assuming no major leakage, a 'sticky' one-way
valve between the bag and mask also could prevent the patient from
easily drawing gas from the reservoir, and the bag would remain
inflated. Whether the patient breathes through the nose or mouth will
have no impact on bag inflation.
The correct answer is: the mask is too loose on the face
In order to assure a stable FIO2 under varying patient demands, an
oxygen delivery system must:
Select one:
A. provide all the gas needed by the patient during inspiration
B. have a reservoir system at least equal to the tidal volume
C. maintain flows at least equal to the patient's peak flows
D. automatically change its flow in response to patient demands -
CORRECT ANSWER- As long as a device provides all the
inspiratory gas needs of the patient, a stable FIO2 is assured. This
need can be met either by providing a volume of gas equal to the
inspired volume, or by matching the patient's inspiratory flow with an
equal flow of the prescribed mixture. Devices supplying all a patient's
inspired gas needs at a given FIO2 are called fixed-performance
delivery systems.
The correct answer is: provide all the gas needed by the patient during
inspiration
You note in the chart of a patient's who is receiving volume control
ventilation that the plateau pressure has been increasing over the last
6 hours, while the PEEP levels remains constant. Which of the
following would be the most likely cause of this change?
Select one:
,A. development of pulmonary edema
B. water accumulation in the ventilator circuit
C. partial obstruction of the endotracheal tube
D. development of bronchospasm - CORRECT ANSWER- An
increase in the plateau pressure relative to baseline (Pplat-PEEP)
indicates a decrease in the patient's lung and/or thoracic compliance.
Common causes of a decrease in lung compliance are pneumothorax,
pulmonary edema, atelectasis and ARDS. Partial obstruction of the ET
tube and development of bronchospasm would increase airway
resistance and thus increase PIP and the PIP-Pplat pressure
difference, but not affect Pplat.
The correct answer is: development of pulmonary edema
The difference between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and
intracranial pressure (ICP) is the:
Select one:
A. cerebral perfusion pressure
B. cerebral vascular resistance
C. blood-brain barrier pressure
D. jugular venous pressure - CORRECT ANSWER- The difference
between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracranial pressure
(ICP) is the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP); CPP = MAP - ICP. As
this equation makes clear, any factor that increases ICP and/or lowers
MAP will decrease CPP and thus potentially cause brain damage or
death. In general perfusion is adequate if the CPP can be maintained
between 60 to 100 mm Hg.
The correct answer is: cerebral perfusion pressure
Which of the following would provide the best bedside assessment of
the need for mechanical ventilation in a patient with Guillain-Barre
syndrome?
Select one:
A. FRC
, B. VC
C. airway resistance
D. TLC - CORRECT ANSWER- Guillain-Barre syndrome is a
restrictive neuromuscular disorder that results in hypoventilation.
Airway resistance measures are not useful in diagnosing restrictive
ventilatory impairments. Restrictive ventilatory impairments are
characterized by low lung volumes. Of the volumes listed, only the
vital capacity (VC) can be measured at bedside
The correct answer is: VC
The normal range of adult blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) is about:
Select one:
A. 80-100/40-70 mm Hg
B. 100-140/60-90 mm Hg
C. 120-140/90-100 mm Hg
D. 130-150/100-110 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER- Normal
systolic pressure range from 100 to 140 mm Hg, with an average of
120 mm Hg. Normal diastolic pressures range from 60 to 90 mm Hg,
with an average of 80 mm Hg. The blood pressure is recorded with
systolic listed over diastolic; i.e., 120/80 mm Hg.
The correct answer is: 100-140/60-90 mm Hg
A patient admitted to the ED exhibits wheezing and hypoxemia on
room air. Lab tests indicate a normal B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
level. Which of the following conclusion can you draw from these
findings?
Select one:
A. renal function likely is normal
B. a myocardial infarction is likely
C. congestive heart failure is unlikely
D. liver function likely is normal - CORRECT ANSWER- B-type
natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac neurohormone secreted from
membrane granules in the cardiac ventricles as a response to
WITH CORRECT ANSWER
2026
A large volume jet nebulizer is operating at the 100% O2 setting with
an input flow of 12 L/min.What effect will changing the entrainment
port setting from 100 to 70% have on the system?
Select one:
A. the input liter flow will increase by 30%
B. the total output liter flow will decrease
C. the aerosol weight density will increase
D. the total output liter flow will increase - CORRECT ANSWER-
When the air-entrainment port of a large volume jet nebulizer is
opened, room air is entrained, and total flow through the system
increases (in direct proportion to the size of the opening). This
increased output flow increases total aerosol output per minute, but
actually lowers aerosol density.
The correct answer is: the total output liter flow will increase
A patient is receiving oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask set at 12
L/min. You notice that the mask's reservoir bag does not deflate at all
during inspiration. Which of the following is the most likely cause of
this problem?
Select one:
A. the patient is nose-breathing
B. the mask is too loose on the face
C. the flowmeter setting is too low
D. the patient is mouth-breathing - CORRECT ANSWER- You
know that a nonrebreathing O2 mask is operating properly when the
bag partially deflates as the patient inhales. Too low a flow (< 10
,L/min) would cause the bag collapse, not remain inflated. The most
likely cause for the bag not deflating is a large leak, which would allow
the patient to draw air from the room instead of O2 from the bag. This
would occur if the mask were too loose on the face or if the exhalation
valves were missing. Assuming no major leakage, a 'sticky' one-way
valve between the bag and mask also could prevent the patient from
easily drawing gas from the reservoir, and the bag would remain
inflated. Whether the patient breathes through the nose or mouth will
have no impact on bag inflation.
The correct answer is: the mask is too loose on the face
In order to assure a stable FIO2 under varying patient demands, an
oxygen delivery system must:
Select one:
A. provide all the gas needed by the patient during inspiration
B. have a reservoir system at least equal to the tidal volume
C. maintain flows at least equal to the patient's peak flows
D. automatically change its flow in response to patient demands -
CORRECT ANSWER- As long as a device provides all the
inspiratory gas needs of the patient, a stable FIO2 is assured. This
need can be met either by providing a volume of gas equal to the
inspired volume, or by matching the patient's inspiratory flow with an
equal flow of the prescribed mixture. Devices supplying all a patient's
inspired gas needs at a given FIO2 are called fixed-performance
delivery systems.
The correct answer is: provide all the gas needed by the patient during
inspiration
You note in the chart of a patient's who is receiving volume control
ventilation that the plateau pressure has been increasing over the last
6 hours, while the PEEP levels remains constant. Which of the
following would be the most likely cause of this change?
Select one:
,A. development of pulmonary edema
B. water accumulation in the ventilator circuit
C. partial obstruction of the endotracheal tube
D. development of bronchospasm - CORRECT ANSWER- An
increase in the plateau pressure relative to baseline (Pplat-PEEP)
indicates a decrease in the patient's lung and/or thoracic compliance.
Common causes of a decrease in lung compliance are pneumothorax,
pulmonary edema, atelectasis and ARDS. Partial obstruction of the ET
tube and development of bronchospasm would increase airway
resistance and thus increase PIP and the PIP-Pplat pressure
difference, but not affect Pplat.
The correct answer is: development of pulmonary edema
The difference between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and
intracranial pressure (ICP) is the:
Select one:
A. cerebral perfusion pressure
B. cerebral vascular resistance
C. blood-brain barrier pressure
D. jugular venous pressure - CORRECT ANSWER- The difference
between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracranial pressure
(ICP) is the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP); CPP = MAP - ICP. As
this equation makes clear, any factor that increases ICP and/or lowers
MAP will decrease CPP and thus potentially cause brain damage or
death. In general perfusion is adequate if the CPP can be maintained
between 60 to 100 mm Hg.
The correct answer is: cerebral perfusion pressure
Which of the following would provide the best bedside assessment of
the need for mechanical ventilation in a patient with Guillain-Barre
syndrome?
Select one:
A. FRC
, B. VC
C. airway resistance
D. TLC - CORRECT ANSWER- Guillain-Barre syndrome is a
restrictive neuromuscular disorder that results in hypoventilation.
Airway resistance measures are not useful in diagnosing restrictive
ventilatory impairments. Restrictive ventilatory impairments are
characterized by low lung volumes. Of the volumes listed, only the
vital capacity (VC) can be measured at bedside
The correct answer is: VC
The normal range of adult blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) is about:
Select one:
A. 80-100/40-70 mm Hg
B. 100-140/60-90 mm Hg
C. 120-140/90-100 mm Hg
D. 130-150/100-110 mm Hg - CORRECT ANSWER- Normal
systolic pressure range from 100 to 140 mm Hg, with an average of
120 mm Hg. Normal diastolic pressures range from 60 to 90 mm Hg,
with an average of 80 mm Hg. The blood pressure is recorded with
systolic listed over diastolic; i.e., 120/80 mm Hg.
The correct answer is: 100-140/60-90 mm Hg
A patient admitted to the ED exhibits wheezing and hypoxemia on
room air. Lab tests indicate a normal B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
level. Which of the following conclusion can you draw from these
findings?
Select one:
A. renal function likely is normal
B. a myocardial infarction is likely
C. congestive heart failure is unlikely
D. liver function likely is normal - CORRECT ANSWER- B-type
natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac neurohormone secreted from
membrane granules in the cardiac ventricles as a response to
