TMC KETTERING CORE MAIN QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔A pulse oximeter provides an accurate indication of a patient's oxygenation status in
which of the following situations?
1. Polycythemia
2. Pulmonary hypertension
3. Congestive heart failure
4. Carbon monoxide poisoning
A. 1 & 4 only
B. 2 & 3 only
C. 1, 2, & 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3, & 4 - ✔✔C
✔✔What increase in FEV1 during post-bronchodilator spirometry is needed to confirm
reversibility of an obstructive pattern?
A. 10% and 100 mL
B. 12% and 200 mL
C. 15% and 100 mL
D. 20% and 200 mL - ✔✔B
✔✔A patient with a history of asthma presents to the ED in severe respiratory distress
with increased accessory muscle use. Vital signs are: heart rate 110/min, respiratory
rate 32/min and SpO2 of 88% on room air. Bilateral expiratory wheezes are heard on
auscultation. The respiratory therapist should recommend initiating
A. tiotropium.
B. budesonide.
C. salmeterol.
D. albuterol. - ✔✔D
, ✔✔A patient in the ICU is ventilated with PC, SIMV with a set inspiratory pressure of 62
cm H2O. The respiratory therapist notes that the patient's SpO2 is 92% and PETCO2 is
25 torr. The pressure-volume waveform reveals over-distension. The therapist should
A. decrease the respiratory rate.
B. decrease the PEEP.
C. increase the expiratory time.
D. decrease the inspiratory pressure. - ✔✔D
✔✔An adult patient with asthma is receiving a mixture of 70% helium and 30% oxygen
through a nonrebreathing mask with an oxygen flowmeter set at 10 L/min. What is the
actual flow being delivered to the mask?
A. 10 L/min
B. 13 L/min
C. 16 L/min
D. 18 L/min - ✔✔C
✔✔Which of the following should the respiratory therapist utilize in order to determine
the severity of respiratory distress in a newborn?
A. Transillumination
B. APGAR score
C. Ballard score
D. Silverman score - ✔✔D
✔✔While administering 3.5 mg of albuterol to a patient with asthma in the ICU, the
respiratory therapist notes that the patient's heart rate increases from 120 to 150
beats/minute. What is the appropriate modification for the next treatment for this
patient?
A. Reduce the dose of albuterol.
B. Discontinue the treatment.
C. Change to 3 puffs of beclomethasone dipropionate (Vanceril®).
D. Change to 0.63 mg of levalbuterol (Xopenex®). - ✔✔A
✔✔The respiratory therapist prepares to assist with the intubation of an adult male
patient. The anesthesia resident wishes to administer a neuromuscular blocker that has
a fast onset and short duration. Which of the following should the therapist recommend?
A. Ketamine
B. Vecuronium
C. Rocuronium
D. Succinylcholine - ✔✔D
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔A pulse oximeter provides an accurate indication of a patient's oxygenation status in
which of the following situations?
1. Polycythemia
2. Pulmonary hypertension
3. Congestive heart failure
4. Carbon monoxide poisoning
A. 1 & 4 only
B. 2 & 3 only
C. 1, 2, & 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3, & 4 - ✔✔C
✔✔What increase in FEV1 during post-bronchodilator spirometry is needed to confirm
reversibility of an obstructive pattern?
A. 10% and 100 mL
B. 12% and 200 mL
C. 15% and 100 mL
D. 20% and 200 mL - ✔✔B
✔✔A patient with a history of asthma presents to the ED in severe respiratory distress
with increased accessory muscle use. Vital signs are: heart rate 110/min, respiratory
rate 32/min and SpO2 of 88% on room air. Bilateral expiratory wheezes are heard on
auscultation. The respiratory therapist should recommend initiating
A. tiotropium.
B. budesonide.
C. salmeterol.
D. albuterol. - ✔✔D
, ✔✔A patient in the ICU is ventilated with PC, SIMV with a set inspiratory pressure of 62
cm H2O. The respiratory therapist notes that the patient's SpO2 is 92% and PETCO2 is
25 torr. The pressure-volume waveform reveals over-distension. The therapist should
A. decrease the respiratory rate.
B. decrease the PEEP.
C. increase the expiratory time.
D. decrease the inspiratory pressure. - ✔✔D
✔✔An adult patient with asthma is receiving a mixture of 70% helium and 30% oxygen
through a nonrebreathing mask with an oxygen flowmeter set at 10 L/min. What is the
actual flow being delivered to the mask?
A. 10 L/min
B. 13 L/min
C. 16 L/min
D. 18 L/min - ✔✔C
✔✔Which of the following should the respiratory therapist utilize in order to determine
the severity of respiratory distress in a newborn?
A. Transillumination
B. APGAR score
C. Ballard score
D. Silverman score - ✔✔D
✔✔While administering 3.5 mg of albuterol to a patient with asthma in the ICU, the
respiratory therapist notes that the patient's heart rate increases from 120 to 150
beats/minute. What is the appropriate modification for the next treatment for this
patient?
A. Reduce the dose of albuterol.
B. Discontinue the treatment.
C. Change to 3 puffs of beclomethasone dipropionate (Vanceril®).
D. Change to 0.63 mg of levalbuterol (Xopenex®). - ✔✔A
✔✔The respiratory therapist prepares to assist with the intubation of an adult male
patient. The anesthesia resident wishes to administer a neuromuscular blocker that has
a fast onset and short duration. Which of the following should the therapist recommend?
A. Ketamine
B. Vecuronium
C. Rocuronium
D. Succinylcholine - ✔✔D
