ILLINOIS RESPIRATORY THERAPIST EXAM PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
CORE DOMAINS*
- Patient Data Evaluation and Clinical Assessment
*- Medical Device Management and Troubleshooting*
*- Infection Control and Quality Assurance*
*- Airway Management and Artificial Airway Care*
*- Oxygenation and Ventilation Support*
*- Pharmacological Interventions and Specialty Gases*
*- Emergency Response and High-Risk Situations*
*- Ethical Practice and Professional Standards*
INTRODUCTION*
This practice examination is designed to prepare respiratory therapy candidates for the Illinois Respiratory
Therapist licensing examination, which utilizes the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Certified
Respiratory Therapist (CRT) examination. The assessment evaluates essential knowledge and clinical skills
required for entry-level respiratory care practitioners, including patient data evaluation, clinical assessment
procedures, device troubleshooting, airway management, oxygenation and ventilation support, medication
administration, and infection control protocols. The examination consists of multiple-choice and scenario-
based questions that emphasize real-world clinical application, critical thinking, and professional decision-
making in diverse healthcare settings. Questions assess recall, application, and analysis cognitive levels
across adult, pediatric, and neonatal patient populations.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
,Question 1
A respiratory therapist is assessing a patient with COPD who presents with increased dyspnea, productive
cough with yellow sputum, and wheezing bilaterally. The patient's SpO2 is 88% on room air. Which
intervention should the therapist recommend FIRST?
A. Intubation and mechanical ventilation
B. High-flow nasal cannula at 60 L/min
C. Controlled oxygen therapy to maintain SpO2 88-92%
D. Noninvasive ventilation immediately
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: In COPD patients, oxygen should be titrated carefully to maintain SpO2 between 88-92% to
avoid suppressing the hypoxic drive and causing CO2 retention. Controlled oxygen therapy is the initial
intervention before considering more invasive options.
Question 2
Which of the following is the most appropriate method for confirming endotracheal tube placement?
A. Chest auscultation alone
B. Capnography with chest X-ray confirmation
C. Observation of chest rise only
D. Pulse oximetry improvement
🟢 Correct answer: B
,🔴 RATIONALE: Capnography is the gold standard for confirming endotracheal tube placement, providing
immediate detection of CO2. Chest X-ray confirms proper tube depth (2-4 cm above carina). Auscultation and
chest rise alone are insufficient as primary confirmation methods.
Question 3
A patient on mechanical ventilation in AC/VC mode has the following settings: VT 500 mL, F 12/min, FiO2
40%, PEEP 5 cmH2O. The arterial blood gas shows: pH 7.28, PaCO2 52 mmHg, PaO2 78 mmHg, HCO3 24
mEq/L. What adjustment should the therapist recommend?
A. Increase FiO2 to 50%
B. Increase respiratory rate to 14/min
C. Decrease PEEP to 3 cmH2O
D. Decrease tidal volume to 400 mL
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: The ABG shows respiratory acidosis (pH 7.28, PaCO2 52 mmHg) indicating hypoventilation.
Increasing the respiratory rate will increase minute ventilation and decrease PaCO2. The PaO2 is acceptable, so
FiO2 adjustment is not needed.
Question 4
Which infection control practice is MOST critical when suctioning a patient through an endotracheal tube?
, A. Using sterile technique for closed suction system
B. Wearing only a gown
C. Suctioning for 30 seconds continuously
D. Using the largest catheter available
🟢 Correct answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Sterile technique prevents ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Closed suction systems
maintain PEEP and reduce contamination risk. Suctioning should be limited to 10-15 seconds, and catheter size
should not exceed half the ET tube internal diameter.
Question 5
A neonatal patient with Respiratory Distress Syndrome requires surfactant therapy. Which administration
method is correct?
A. Nebulized through mask
B. Endotracheal instillation directly into airway
C. Intravenous injection
D. Oral administration
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Surfactant must be administered via endotracheal instillation to reach the alveoli where it
reduces surface tension. Nebulization is ineffective for surfactant delivery, and it is not given IV or orally.
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
CORE DOMAINS*
- Patient Data Evaluation and Clinical Assessment
*- Medical Device Management and Troubleshooting*
*- Infection Control and Quality Assurance*
*- Airway Management and Artificial Airway Care*
*- Oxygenation and Ventilation Support*
*- Pharmacological Interventions and Specialty Gases*
*- Emergency Response and High-Risk Situations*
*- Ethical Practice and Professional Standards*
INTRODUCTION*
This practice examination is designed to prepare respiratory therapy candidates for the Illinois Respiratory
Therapist licensing examination, which utilizes the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Certified
Respiratory Therapist (CRT) examination. The assessment evaluates essential knowledge and clinical skills
required for entry-level respiratory care practitioners, including patient data evaluation, clinical assessment
procedures, device troubleshooting, airway management, oxygenation and ventilation support, medication
administration, and infection control protocols. The examination consists of multiple-choice and scenario-
based questions that emphasize real-world clinical application, critical thinking, and professional decision-
making in diverse healthcare settings. Questions assess recall, application, and analysis cognitive levels
across adult, pediatric, and neonatal patient populations.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
,Question 1
A respiratory therapist is assessing a patient with COPD who presents with increased dyspnea, productive
cough with yellow sputum, and wheezing bilaterally. The patient's SpO2 is 88% on room air. Which
intervention should the therapist recommend FIRST?
A. Intubation and mechanical ventilation
B. High-flow nasal cannula at 60 L/min
C. Controlled oxygen therapy to maintain SpO2 88-92%
D. Noninvasive ventilation immediately
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: In COPD patients, oxygen should be titrated carefully to maintain SpO2 between 88-92% to
avoid suppressing the hypoxic drive and causing CO2 retention. Controlled oxygen therapy is the initial
intervention before considering more invasive options.
Question 2
Which of the following is the most appropriate method for confirming endotracheal tube placement?
A. Chest auscultation alone
B. Capnography with chest X-ray confirmation
C. Observation of chest rise only
D. Pulse oximetry improvement
🟢 Correct answer: B
,🔴 RATIONALE: Capnography is the gold standard for confirming endotracheal tube placement, providing
immediate detection of CO2. Chest X-ray confirms proper tube depth (2-4 cm above carina). Auscultation and
chest rise alone are insufficient as primary confirmation methods.
Question 3
A patient on mechanical ventilation in AC/VC mode has the following settings: VT 500 mL, F 12/min, FiO2
40%, PEEP 5 cmH2O. The arterial blood gas shows: pH 7.28, PaCO2 52 mmHg, PaO2 78 mmHg, HCO3 24
mEq/L. What adjustment should the therapist recommend?
A. Increase FiO2 to 50%
B. Increase respiratory rate to 14/min
C. Decrease PEEP to 3 cmH2O
D. Decrease tidal volume to 400 mL
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: The ABG shows respiratory acidosis (pH 7.28, PaCO2 52 mmHg) indicating hypoventilation.
Increasing the respiratory rate will increase minute ventilation and decrease PaCO2. The PaO2 is acceptable, so
FiO2 adjustment is not needed.
Question 4
Which infection control practice is MOST critical when suctioning a patient through an endotracheal tube?
, A. Using sterile technique for closed suction system
B. Wearing only a gown
C. Suctioning for 30 seconds continuously
D. Using the largest catheter available
🟢 Correct answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Sterile technique prevents ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Closed suction systems
maintain PEEP and reduce contamination risk. Suctioning should be limited to 10-15 seconds, and catheter size
should not exceed half the ET tube internal diameter.
Question 5
A neonatal patient with Respiratory Distress Syndrome requires surfactant therapy. Which administration
method is correct?
A. Nebulized through mask
B. Endotracheal instillation directly into airway
C. Intravenous injection
D. Oral administration
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Surfactant must be administered via endotracheal instillation to reach the alveoli where it
reduces surface tension. Nebulization is ineffective for surfactant delivery, and it is not given IV or orally.
