1
TMC PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026
A respiratory therapist is calibrating a thermal conductivity helium analyzer. What
should the analyzer read when exposed to room air?
A. 100%
B. 79%
C. 21%
D. 0% - correct-answer -0%
A patient who has significant decreases in airflow during sleep but does not have
a complete cessation of breathing is having what type of episodes?
A. Obstructive sleep apnea
B. Dyspnea
C. Hypopnea
D. Central sleep apnea - correct-answer -Hypopnea
A patient admitted to the ED is noted to have pulse and blood pressure variations
with respirations. This is most indicative of
A. cardiac tamponade.
B. severe pneumonia.
C. congestive heart failure.
D. large pleural effusion. - correct-answer -cardiac tamponade.
, 2
Which of the following short-acting beta agonists can be delivered via aerosol
therapy?
A. levalbuterol (Xopenex®)
B. tiotropium (Spiriva®)
C. dornase alpha (Pulmozyme®)
D. salmeterol (Serevent®) - correct-answer -levalbuterol (Xopenex®)
The respiratory therapist instructs a patient to take a maximal inspiration
followed by a maximal exhalation without force. Which of the following values are
being measured?
A. expiratory reserve volume
B. residual volume
C. functional residual capacity
D. slow vital capacity - correct-answer -slow vital capacity
The respiratory therapist is preparing to administer inhaled nitric oxide to a
neonate with respiratory distress syndrome. The most appropriate initial dose of
iNO for this patient is
A. 5 ppm.
B. 10 ppm.
C. 15 ppm.
D. 20 ppm. - correct-answer -20 ppm
The respiratory therapist is working with a patient with COPD in a smoking
cessation program. The patient complains of recent weight gain. The therapist
should explain that this is not unusual and is a result of
, 3
A. an increasing feeling of loss of self-control.
B. over-reliance on nicotine replacement therapy.
C. a need for a prescription for lorazepam.
D. a decrease in the patient's metabolism. - correct-answer -a decrease in the
patient's metabolism.
A 50 kg (110 lb) patient is being mechanically ventilated with the following
settings: VC, A/C, VT 400 mL, respiratory rate 14/min, FIO2 0.60 and 10 cm H2O
PEEP. The chest radiograph demonstrates diffuse bilateral radiopacity. ABG
results are: pH 7.36, PaCO2 47 torr, PaO2 50 torr, and HCO3- 28 mEq/L. The
respiratory therapist should increase the
A. PEEP.
B. FIO2.
C. expiratory time.
D. respiratory rate. - correct-answer -PEEP
Adverse effects of inhaled NO include all of the following EXCEPT
A. methemoglobinemia.
B. aplastic anemia.
C. rebound pulmonary hypertension.
D. nitrogen dioxide toxicity. - correct-answer -aplastic anemia.
All of the following are goals of bronchial hygiene therapy EXCEPT
A. reverse the underlying disease process.
B. improve mobilization of retained secretions.
C. improve pulmonary gas exchange.
D. reduce the work of breathing. - correct-answer -reverse the underlying disease
process.
, 4
Which of the following values should the respiratory therapist report as indicative
of pulmonary embolism in a patient with acute dyspnea?
A. QS/QT of 10%
B. VD/VT of 60%
C. CL of 60 mL/cm H2O
D. RAW of 2.4 cm H2O/L/sec - correct-answer -VD/VT of 60%
A 70-kg (154 lb) patient with emphysema is receiving mechanical ventilation.
Current ventilator settings are as follows: VC, SIMV; VT 550 mL, respiratory rate
12/min, FIO2 0.30. The patient is awake and alert and does not appear to be in
any distress. The total respiratory rate is 14/min. ABG results are as follows: pH
7.35, PaCO2 58 torr; PaO2 65 torr; HCO3 30 mEq/L. His SpO2 is 94% and MIP is -
30 cm H2O. This patient is most likely
A. ready for a spontaneous breathing trial.
B. in an acute exacerbation.
C. oversedated.
D. in need of PEEP therapy. - correct-answer -ready for a spontaneous breathing
trial.
A 36 year-old fireman was trapped and subsequently rescued from the collapse of
a burning building. Which of the following devices would be appropriate to
accurately assess his oxygenation status?
A. capnograph
B. pulse oximeter
C. blood gas analyzer
D. hemoximeter - correct-answer -hemoximeter
TMC PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026
A respiratory therapist is calibrating a thermal conductivity helium analyzer. What
should the analyzer read when exposed to room air?
A. 100%
B. 79%
C. 21%
D. 0% - correct-answer -0%
A patient who has significant decreases in airflow during sleep but does not have
a complete cessation of breathing is having what type of episodes?
A. Obstructive sleep apnea
B. Dyspnea
C. Hypopnea
D. Central sleep apnea - correct-answer -Hypopnea
A patient admitted to the ED is noted to have pulse and blood pressure variations
with respirations. This is most indicative of
A. cardiac tamponade.
B. severe pneumonia.
C. congestive heart failure.
D. large pleural effusion. - correct-answer -cardiac tamponade.
, 2
Which of the following short-acting beta agonists can be delivered via aerosol
therapy?
A. levalbuterol (Xopenex®)
B. tiotropium (Spiriva®)
C. dornase alpha (Pulmozyme®)
D. salmeterol (Serevent®) - correct-answer -levalbuterol (Xopenex®)
The respiratory therapist instructs a patient to take a maximal inspiration
followed by a maximal exhalation without force. Which of the following values are
being measured?
A. expiratory reserve volume
B. residual volume
C. functional residual capacity
D. slow vital capacity - correct-answer -slow vital capacity
The respiratory therapist is preparing to administer inhaled nitric oxide to a
neonate with respiratory distress syndrome. The most appropriate initial dose of
iNO for this patient is
A. 5 ppm.
B. 10 ppm.
C. 15 ppm.
D. 20 ppm. - correct-answer -20 ppm
The respiratory therapist is working with a patient with COPD in a smoking
cessation program. The patient complains of recent weight gain. The therapist
should explain that this is not unusual and is a result of
, 3
A. an increasing feeling of loss of self-control.
B. over-reliance on nicotine replacement therapy.
C. a need for a prescription for lorazepam.
D. a decrease in the patient's metabolism. - correct-answer -a decrease in the
patient's metabolism.
A 50 kg (110 lb) patient is being mechanically ventilated with the following
settings: VC, A/C, VT 400 mL, respiratory rate 14/min, FIO2 0.60 and 10 cm H2O
PEEP. The chest radiograph demonstrates diffuse bilateral radiopacity. ABG
results are: pH 7.36, PaCO2 47 torr, PaO2 50 torr, and HCO3- 28 mEq/L. The
respiratory therapist should increase the
A. PEEP.
B. FIO2.
C. expiratory time.
D. respiratory rate. - correct-answer -PEEP
Adverse effects of inhaled NO include all of the following EXCEPT
A. methemoglobinemia.
B. aplastic anemia.
C. rebound pulmonary hypertension.
D. nitrogen dioxide toxicity. - correct-answer -aplastic anemia.
All of the following are goals of bronchial hygiene therapy EXCEPT
A. reverse the underlying disease process.
B. improve mobilization of retained secretions.
C. improve pulmonary gas exchange.
D. reduce the work of breathing. - correct-answer -reverse the underlying disease
process.
, 4
Which of the following values should the respiratory therapist report as indicative
of pulmonary embolism in a patient with acute dyspnea?
A. QS/QT of 10%
B. VD/VT of 60%
C. CL of 60 mL/cm H2O
D. RAW of 2.4 cm H2O/L/sec - correct-answer -VD/VT of 60%
A 70-kg (154 lb) patient with emphysema is receiving mechanical ventilation.
Current ventilator settings are as follows: VC, SIMV; VT 550 mL, respiratory rate
12/min, FIO2 0.30. The patient is awake and alert and does not appear to be in
any distress. The total respiratory rate is 14/min. ABG results are as follows: pH
7.35, PaCO2 58 torr; PaO2 65 torr; HCO3 30 mEq/L. His SpO2 is 94% and MIP is -
30 cm H2O. This patient is most likely
A. ready for a spontaneous breathing trial.
B. in an acute exacerbation.
C. oversedated.
D. in need of PEEP therapy. - correct-answer -ready for a spontaneous breathing
trial.
A 36 year-old fireman was trapped and subsequently rescued from the collapse of
a burning building. Which of the following devices would be appropriate to
accurately assess his oxygenation status?
A. capnograph
B. pulse oximeter
C. blood gas analyzer
D. hemoximeter - correct-answer -hemoximeter
