Kettering TMC Exam Practice (2026) – 300 Practice Questions & Answers for Respiratory Therapist TMC Board Exam Prep Review Guaranteed pass (INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF)

Kettering TMC Exam Practice (2026) –
300 Practice Questions & Answers for
Respiratory Therapist TMC Board
Exam Prep Review Guaranteed pass
(INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF)

1. A patient is admitted to the ED following a motor vehicle accident.
On physical exam, breath sounds are absent in the left chest with a
hyperresonant percussion note. The trachea is shifted to the right.
What action should the therapist recommend first?

 A. Needle decompression of the left chest
 B. Administer a bronchodilator
 C. Obtain a chest X-ray
 D. Intubate the patient
Answer: A. This presentation indicates a tension pneumothorax, which
requires immediate needle decompression.

2. Fine crepitant crackles are most commonly associated with which of
the following conditions?

 A. Bronchiectasis
 B. Congestive heart failure
 C. Pneumonia
 D. Croup
Answer: B. Fine crackles are a classic finding in pulmonary edema
associated with CHF.

3. Which of the following measurements is most indicative of
congestive heart failure?

, A. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30 mmHg
Answer: An elevated PCWP > 18 mmHg indicates left heart failure or fluid
overload.

4. A physician requests that an affected lung be ventilated at a lower
pressure than the normal lung. What should the therapist recommend?

 A. Cricothyroidotomy
 B. Esophageal combi-tube
 C. Transtracheal catheter
 D. Double-lumen endobronchial tube
Answer: D. A double-lumen ETT allows for independent ventilation of each
lung.

5. A patient's blood pressure from an arterial line is higher than from a
sphygmomanometer. This is most likely due to:

 A. Non-compliant tubing
 B. The transducer placed too low
 C. Patient lying flat
 D. Air bubbles in the transducer dome
Answer: B. A transducer placed below the level of the heart will read falsely
high.

6. A 19-year-old obtunded patient with sonorous breathing and coarse
rhonchi after a suspected overdose. What should be done FIRST?

 A. Obtain a sputum specimen
 B. Obtain an ABG
 C. Measure peak expiratory flow
 D. Determine the Glasgow Coma Scale
Answer: B. An ABG is needed to assess ventilation and acid-base status.

7. While inspecting a chest tube drainage system, you note bubbling in
the water seal chamber during inspiration. This should be reported as:

 A. A persistent bronchopleural fistula

, B. A resolved pneumothorax
 C. Back-pressure from suction
 D. Normal water seal function
Answer: A. Continuous bubbling indicates an air leak (bronchopleural
fistula).

8. A healthy adult female can exhale what portion of her forced vital
capacity in the first second?

 A. 50%
 B. 70%
 C. 80%
 D. 90%
Answer: B. Normal FEV1/FVC ratio is approximately 70-75%.

9. What is the most appropriate ventilator setting for a 180cm, 75kg
male who is apneic, receiving 100% O2, and has an SpO2 of 94%?

 A. SIMV/FiO2 1.0/Rate 10/VT 400/PEEP +5
 B. SIMV/FiO2 0.40/Rate 12/VT 750/PEEP +5
 C. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT 600/PEEP +5
 D. AC/FiO2 0.40/Rate 10/VT 550/PEEP +3
Answer: C. Assist-Control ventilation with full support is appropriate for an
apneic patient.

10. A 9-year-old with pneumonia cannot keep a seal around a PEP
mouthpiece. What should the RT do?

 A. Select a mask rather than a mouthpiece
Answer: A mask can help achieve an adequate seal.

11. What can be used to confirm the correct endotracheal tube
position?

 A. CXR
Answer: A chest X-ray is used to confirm ETT position.

, 12. A lung field appears whiter on a chest radiograph when the
imaging technique is ____________.

 A. Underexposed
Answer: Underexposure makes the lung fields appear whiter.

13. A patient with multiple pulmonary arterial thrombi has an SpO2 of
94% on 2L/min. What therapy should be recommended?

 A. Intravenous heparin
Answer: Anticoagulation like heparin is the standard treatment for
pulmonary embolism.

14. To determine the etiology of a pleural effusion, what should an RT
recommend?

 A. Thoracentesis
Answer: Thoracentesis allows for fluid analysis.

15. After a 3% saline nebulizer treatment, a patient complains of
shortness of breath. What should the RT do?

 A. Discontinue therapy
Answer: Therapy should be discontinued if the patient experiences adverse
effects.

16. Prior to performing an apnea test for brain death, what should the
RT confirm?

 A. Body temperature greater than 36C (96.8F)
Answer: The patient must be normothermic for the test to be valid.

17. A patient with cystic fibrosis begins coughing up blood during
vibratory PEP. What should the RT do?

 A. Hold the therapy and inform the physician about the hemoptysis
Answer: Therapy should be held and the physician notified.