1|Page
NBRC CSE EXAM 2026 – 200+ REAL CLINICAL
SIMULATION QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS |
RESPIRATORY THERAPY BOARD EXAM TEST BANK
Weakening and permanent enlargement of the air spaces distal to the
terminal bronchioles, often accompanied by hypertrophy of the goblet
cells and mucus glands. Characterized by dyspnea on exertion with
significant hypercapnea ......ANSWER......Emphysema/ Chronic
Bronchitis
What are 5 terms/phrases that are used to describe a patient with
COPD ......ANSWER......1. Chronic Ventilatory Failure
2. Chronic Hypercapnea
3. Increased lung compliance
4. Loss of elastic recoil
5. Chronic CO2 retention
What would the general appearance of someone with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis look like ......ANSWER......Barrel chested, Clubbing and
cyanosis
What would the respiratory pattern of someone with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis be ......ANSWER......Dyspnea, accessory muscle use,
pursed-lip breathing
,2|Page
What would the breath sounds of someone with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis sound like ......ANSWER......Diminished aeration with
bilateral expiratory wheeze
During patient assessment what would be a fast easy diagnostic test for
someone with COPD/ Chronic bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......Diagnostic
chest percussion - tympanic or hyper resonant
What would the cough of someone with COPD/ Chronic bronchiectasis
consist of ......ANSWER......Congested, Productive of thick sputum
What would be 3 diagnostic tests used to diagnose COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......1. Chest X-ray
2. ABG
3. PFT
What would the X-ray of someone with COPD/ Chronic bronchiectasis
look like ......ANSWER......Hyperlucency, hyperinflation, increased A-P
diameter, flattened diaphragm
What would be effected in a PFT for a patient with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......Decreased flows
What SpO2 do you want for a patient with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......88-92% (Treat with Low O2)
,3|Page
What kind of aerosolized bronchodilators can be used for patients with
COPD/ Chronic bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......SABA- Albuterol or
Levalbuterol
LABA- Salmeterol, formoterol (Must be given with corticosteroid-
budesonide, Fluticasone)
Anticholinergic- Ipratropium, Tiotropium
For an acute exacerbation of ventilatory failure in a patient with COPD/
Chronic bronchiectasis what should be done to support them
......ANSWER......NPPV
A chronic inflammatory, obstructive, non-contagious airway disease
with varying levels of severity, characterized by exacerbations of
wheezing and coughing ......ANSWER......Asthma
What would the general appearance of someone with an asthma
exacerbation look like ......ANSWER......Pursed-lip breathing, chest
tightness, increased A-P diameter during episode, Diaphoresis
What would the breathing pattern of someone with an asthma
exacerbation look like ......ANSWER......Accessory muscle usage,
Retractions (especially in children)
, 4|Page
What would diagnostic Chest percussion sound like in someone with an
asthma exacerbation ......ANSWER......Hyperresonant/tympanic note
What would breath sounds be in someone with an asthma exacerbation
......ANSWER......Diffuse wheeze, diminished breath sounds, prolonged
expiration
What would the vital signs be in someone with an asthma exacerbation
......ANSWER......Tachycardia, Tachypnea, pulsus paradoxus during
severe episode (Drop in BP when breathing in)
What 3 diagnostic tests would help diagnosis someone with asthma
......ANSWER......1. X-ray
2. ABG
3. PFT
What would the x-ray of someone with asthma look like
......ANSWER......During acute episode increased A-P diameter,
translucent (dark) lung fields, depressed or flattened diaphragms
What would the PFT of someone with asthma look like
......ANSWER......1. Spirometry shows reduced flow rates
2. Post bronchodilator spirometry increases FEV1 at least 12% and 200
ml
NBRC CSE EXAM 2026 – 200+ REAL CLINICAL
SIMULATION QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS |
RESPIRATORY THERAPY BOARD EXAM TEST BANK
Weakening and permanent enlargement of the air spaces distal to the
terminal bronchioles, often accompanied by hypertrophy of the goblet
cells and mucus glands. Characterized by dyspnea on exertion with
significant hypercapnea ......ANSWER......Emphysema/ Chronic
Bronchitis
What are 5 terms/phrases that are used to describe a patient with
COPD ......ANSWER......1. Chronic Ventilatory Failure
2. Chronic Hypercapnea
3. Increased lung compliance
4. Loss of elastic recoil
5. Chronic CO2 retention
What would the general appearance of someone with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis look like ......ANSWER......Barrel chested, Clubbing and
cyanosis
What would the respiratory pattern of someone with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis be ......ANSWER......Dyspnea, accessory muscle use,
pursed-lip breathing
,2|Page
What would the breath sounds of someone with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis sound like ......ANSWER......Diminished aeration with
bilateral expiratory wheeze
During patient assessment what would be a fast easy diagnostic test for
someone with COPD/ Chronic bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......Diagnostic
chest percussion - tympanic or hyper resonant
What would the cough of someone with COPD/ Chronic bronchiectasis
consist of ......ANSWER......Congested, Productive of thick sputum
What would be 3 diagnostic tests used to diagnose COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......1. Chest X-ray
2. ABG
3. PFT
What would the X-ray of someone with COPD/ Chronic bronchiectasis
look like ......ANSWER......Hyperlucency, hyperinflation, increased A-P
diameter, flattened diaphragm
What would be effected in a PFT for a patient with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......Decreased flows
What SpO2 do you want for a patient with COPD/ Chronic
bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......88-92% (Treat with Low O2)
,3|Page
What kind of aerosolized bronchodilators can be used for patients with
COPD/ Chronic bronchiectasis ......ANSWER......SABA- Albuterol or
Levalbuterol
LABA- Salmeterol, formoterol (Must be given with corticosteroid-
budesonide, Fluticasone)
Anticholinergic- Ipratropium, Tiotropium
For an acute exacerbation of ventilatory failure in a patient with COPD/
Chronic bronchiectasis what should be done to support them
......ANSWER......NPPV
A chronic inflammatory, obstructive, non-contagious airway disease
with varying levels of severity, characterized by exacerbations of
wheezing and coughing ......ANSWER......Asthma
What would the general appearance of someone with an asthma
exacerbation look like ......ANSWER......Pursed-lip breathing, chest
tightness, increased A-P diameter during episode, Diaphoresis
What would the breathing pattern of someone with an asthma
exacerbation look like ......ANSWER......Accessory muscle usage,
Retractions (especially in children)
, 4|Page
What would diagnostic Chest percussion sound like in someone with an
asthma exacerbation ......ANSWER......Hyperresonant/tympanic note
What would breath sounds be in someone with an asthma exacerbation
......ANSWER......Diffuse wheeze, diminished breath sounds, prolonged
expiration
What would the vital signs be in someone with an asthma exacerbation
......ANSWER......Tachycardia, Tachypnea, pulsus paradoxus during
severe episode (Drop in BP when breathing in)
What 3 diagnostic tests would help diagnosis someone with asthma
......ANSWER......1. X-ray
2. ABG
3. PFT
What would the x-ray of someone with asthma look like
......ANSWER......During acute episode increased A-P diameter,
translucent (dark) lung fields, depressed or flattened diaphragms
What would the PFT of someone with asthma look like
......ANSWER......1. Spirometry shows reduced flow rates
2. Post bronchodilator spirometry increases FEV1 at least 12% and 200
ml
