During the administration of an IPPB treatment, the respiratory therapist notices the system
pressure drops after inspiration is initiated. Which of the following actions will best correct
this problem? - ANSWER increase the flow setting
A 21-year-old man arrives in the emergency department (ED) after rescue from a house fire.
Physical examination reveals burns on the upper chest and face, and marked edema of the
face and oropharynx. Results of an arterial blood gas sample obtained while the patient was
breathing air are as follows: pH 7.55 PaCO2 26 torr PaO2 105 torr HCO3 22 mEq/L BE 0
mEq/L Which of the following should the respiratory therapist recommend? - AN-
SWER intubate the patient
A patient in the ICU is receiving noninvasive positive pressure ventilation by mask with the
following settings and resultant arterial blood gas values with an FIO2 of 0.28: Inspiratory
positive airway pressure (IPAP)15 cm H2O Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP)5 cm
H2O Mandatory rate 12 pH 7.30 PaCO2 55 torr PaO2 65 torr HCO3 26 mEq/L BE +1 mEq/L
Which of the following should a respiratory therapist recommend to improve the patient?s
ventilatory status? - ANSWER increase IPAP to 20 cm H2O
An erratic pulse is palpated on a patient. Which of the following should the respiratory ther-
apist recommend to further evaluate this clinical presentation? - ANSWER ECG
A patient presents in the emergency department (ED) following a motor vehicle crash. Physi-
cal assessment and chest radiograph indicate significant air and fluid in the pleural space.
The FIRST action should be to: - ANSWER insert a chest tube and connect to suction
A 60-kg (132-lb.) patient is receiving volume-controlled ventilation. The respiratory therapist
is asked to increase the tidal volume from 500 to 700 mL. Which of the following ventilator
1
, alarm settings should be changed? I. low exhaled tidal volume II. high pressure limit III. high
minute volume IV. low respiratory rate - ANSWER I. low exhaled tidal volume
II. high pressure limit
IV:low RR
A patient with emphysema is receiving mechanical ventilation and has acutely begun wheez-
ing. The patient weights 75 kg (165 lb), pulse is 95/min, and blood pressure is 110/70 mm
Hg. Pertinent data are as follows: Mode SIMV FIO2 0.50 Mandatory rate 10 VT 600 mL pH
7.47 PaCO2 34 torr PaO2 46 torr HCO3 24 mEq/L BE +1 mEq/L Which of the following should
the respiratory therapist recommend? - ANSWER administer aerosolized albuterol
The respiratory therapist is ventilating a patient with a self-inflating bag-valve resuscitation
device. Following each compression, the bag refills slowly permitting no more than one
breath every 10 seconds. To correct this problem, the therapist should: - ANSWER in-
spect the intake valve for proper function
A patient has been in the ICU for 3 weeks receiving aggressive therapy for COPD and right
heart failure. The ECG now shows flattened T-waves. To plan for future treatment, the respir-
atory therapist should recommend - ANSWER evaluating serum electrolytes
A patient with chronic bronchitis is admitted to the ICU with pneumonia. The patient is pro-
ducing moderate amounts of thick, yellow sputum and has tachypnea. Antibiotic and bron-
chial hygiene therapy are initiated. After 3 days, which of the following secretion characteris-
tics would indicate the care is being effective? - ANSWER minimal and clear
A patient requiring continuous oxygen a 3 L/min wants to maintain a very active lifestyle.
Which of the following would be the best oxygen delivery system for the respiratory thera-
pist to recommend? - ANSWER A liquid system
When reviewing therapy for a home care patient who has COPD, the respiratory therapist
notices every time the patient performs his daily peak flow measurement, it consistently
reads 100 L/min. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial action for the thera-
pist to take? - ANSWER recheck the patient peak flow with a new peak flowmeter
2
pressure drops after inspiration is initiated. Which of the following actions will best correct
this problem? - ANSWER increase the flow setting
A 21-year-old man arrives in the emergency department (ED) after rescue from a house fire.
Physical examination reveals burns on the upper chest and face, and marked edema of the
face and oropharynx. Results of an arterial blood gas sample obtained while the patient was
breathing air are as follows: pH 7.55 PaCO2 26 torr PaO2 105 torr HCO3 22 mEq/L BE 0
mEq/L Which of the following should the respiratory therapist recommend? - AN-
SWER intubate the patient
A patient in the ICU is receiving noninvasive positive pressure ventilation by mask with the
following settings and resultant arterial blood gas values with an FIO2 of 0.28: Inspiratory
positive airway pressure (IPAP)15 cm H2O Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP)5 cm
H2O Mandatory rate 12 pH 7.30 PaCO2 55 torr PaO2 65 torr HCO3 26 mEq/L BE +1 mEq/L
Which of the following should a respiratory therapist recommend to improve the patient?s
ventilatory status? - ANSWER increase IPAP to 20 cm H2O
An erratic pulse is palpated on a patient. Which of the following should the respiratory ther-
apist recommend to further evaluate this clinical presentation? - ANSWER ECG
A patient presents in the emergency department (ED) following a motor vehicle crash. Physi-
cal assessment and chest radiograph indicate significant air and fluid in the pleural space.
The FIRST action should be to: - ANSWER insert a chest tube and connect to suction
A 60-kg (132-lb.) patient is receiving volume-controlled ventilation. The respiratory therapist
is asked to increase the tidal volume from 500 to 700 mL. Which of the following ventilator
1
, alarm settings should be changed? I. low exhaled tidal volume II. high pressure limit III. high
minute volume IV. low respiratory rate - ANSWER I. low exhaled tidal volume
II. high pressure limit
IV:low RR
A patient with emphysema is receiving mechanical ventilation and has acutely begun wheez-
ing. The patient weights 75 kg (165 lb), pulse is 95/min, and blood pressure is 110/70 mm
Hg. Pertinent data are as follows: Mode SIMV FIO2 0.50 Mandatory rate 10 VT 600 mL pH
7.47 PaCO2 34 torr PaO2 46 torr HCO3 24 mEq/L BE +1 mEq/L Which of the following should
the respiratory therapist recommend? - ANSWER administer aerosolized albuterol
The respiratory therapist is ventilating a patient with a self-inflating bag-valve resuscitation
device. Following each compression, the bag refills slowly permitting no more than one
breath every 10 seconds. To correct this problem, the therapist should: - ANSWER in-
spect the intake valve for proper function
A patient has been in the ICU for 3 weeks receiving aggressive therapy for COPD and right
heart failure. The ECG now shows flattened T-waves. To plan for future treatment, the respir-
atory therapist should recommend - ANSWER evaluating serum electrolytes
A patient with chronic bronchitis is admitted to the ICU with pneumonia. The patient is pro-
ducing moderate amounts of thick, yellow sputum and has tachypnea. Antibiotic and bron-
chial hygiene therapy are initiated. After 3 days, which of the following secretion characteris-
tics would indicate the care is being effective? - ANSWER minimal and clear
A patient requiring continuous oxygen a 3 L/min wants to maintain a very active lifestyle.
Which of the following would be the best oxygen delivery system for the respiratory thera-
pist to recommend? - ANSWER A liquid system
When reviewing therapy for a home care patient who has COPD, the respiratory therapist
notices every time the patient performs his daily peak flow measurement, it consistently
reads 100 L/min. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial action for the thera-
pist to take? - ANSWER recheck the patient peak flow with a new peak flowmeter
2
