TMC EXAM A QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
2026
A 48-year-old female is admitted to the ED with diaphoresis, jugular venous
distension, and 3+ pitting edema in the ankles. These findings are consistent with
- ANS -heart failure
A patient is admitted to the ED following a motor vehicle accident. On physical
exam, the respiratory therapist discovers that breath sounds are absent in the left
chest with a hyperresonant percussion note. The trachea is shifted to the right.
The patient's heart rate is 45/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure
is 60/40 mm Hg. What action should the therapist recommend first? - ANS -
Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space
,All of the following strategies are likely to decrease the likelihood of damage to
the tracheal mucosa EXCEPT - ANS -using a low residual volume, low compliance
cuff
A 52 year-old post-operative cholecystectomy patient's breath sounds become
more coarse upon completion of postural drainage with percussion. The
respiratory therapist should recommend - ANS -deep breathing & coughing to
clear secretions
A 65 kg spinal cord injured patient develops atelectasis. His inspiratory capacity is
30% of his predicted value. What bronchial hygiene therapy would be most
appropriate initially? - ANS -IPPB
A healthy adult female can exhale what portion of her forced vital capacity in the
first second? - ANS -70%
,A patient on VC ventilation demonstrates auto-PEEP on ventilator graphics. Which
of the following controls, when adjusted independently, would increase
expiratory time?
1. Tidal volume
2. respiratory rate
3. inspiratory flow
4. sensitivity - ANS -1, 2, and 3 only
Which of the following would be the most appropriate therapy for a dyspneic
patient who has crepitus with tracheal deviation to the left and absent breath
sounds on the right? - ANS -insert a chest tube
Following cardiac surgery, a 55 year-old patient has the following ABG results: pH
7.50, PaCO2 30 torr, PaO2 62 torr, HCO3 25 mEq/L, SaO2 92%, HB 14 g/dL, BE +2.
Venous blood gas results are pH 7.39, PvCO2 43 torr, PvO2 37 torr, and SvO2 66%.
Calculate the patient's C(a-v)O2. - ANS -5.0 vol %
, A patient on VC, SIMV with a VT of 500 mL has a PIP of 25 cm H2O, Pplat of 15 cm
H2O and PEEP of 5 cm H2O. What is the patient's static lung compliance? - ANS -
50 mL/cm H2O
Immediately after extubation of a patient in the ICU, the respiratory therapist
observes increasing respiratory distress with intercostal retractions and marked
stridor. The SpO2 on 40% oxygen is noted to be 76%. Which of the following
would be most appropriate at this time? - ANS -Reintubation
Which of the following patients would most likely benefit from pressure support
ventilation? - ANS -A patient on SIMV with a mandatory rate of 12/min and total
rate of 24/min.
A patient receiving mechanical ventilation has developed a temperature of 99.9° F
with purulent secretions over the last 12 hours. The respiratory therapist has also
noted a steady increase in peak inspiratory pressure. What initial
recommendation should be made to address these changes? - ANS -obtain a
sputum gram stain
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
2026
A 48-year-old female is admitted to the ED with diaphoresis, jugular venous
distension, and 3+ pitting edema in the ankles. These findings are consistent with
- ANS -heart failure
A patient is admitted to the ED following a motor vehicle accident. On physical
exam, the respiratory therapist discovers that breath sounds are absent in the left
chest with a hyperresonant percussion note. The trachea is shifted to the right.
The patient's heart rate is 45/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure
is 60/40 mm Hg. What action should the therapist recommend first? - ANS -
Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space
,All of the following strategies are likely to decrease the likelihood of damage to
the tracheal mucosa EXCEPT - ANS -using a low residual volume, low compliance
cuff
A 52 year-old post-operative cholecystectomy patient's breath sounds become
more coarse upon completion of postural drainage with percussion. The
respiratory therapist should recommend - ANS -deep breathing & coughing to
clear secretions
A 65 kg spinal cord injured patient develops atelectasis. His inspiratory capacity is
30% of his predicted value. What bronchial hygiene therapy would be most
appropriate initially? - ANS -IPPB
A healthy adult female can exhale what portion of her forced vital capacity in the
first second? - ANS -70%
,A patient on VC ventilation demonstrates auto-PEEP on ventilator graphics. Which
of the following controls, when adjusted independently, would increase
expiratory time?
1. Tidal volume
2. respiratory rate
3. inspiratory flow
4. sensitivity - ANS -1, 2, and 3 only
Which of the following would be the most appropriate therapy for a dyspneic
patient who has crepitus with tracheal deviation to the left and absent breath
sounds on the right? - ANS -insert a chest tube
Following cardiac surgery, a 55 year-old patient has the following ABG results: pH
7.50, PaCO2 30 torr, PaO2 62 torr, HCO3 25 mEq/L, SaO2 92%, HB 14 g/dL, BE +2.
Venous blood gas results are pH 7.39, PvCO2 43 torr, PvO2 37 torr, and SvO2 66%.
Calculate the patient's C(a-v)O2. - ANS -5.0 vol %
, A patient on VC, SIMV with a VT of 500 mL has a PIP of 25 cm H2O, Pplat of 15 cm
H2O and PEEP of 5 cm H2O. What is the patient's static lung compliance? - ANS -
50 mL/cm H2O
Immediately after extubation of a patient in the ICU, the respiratory therapist
observes increasing respiratory distress with intercostal retractions and marked
stridor. The SpO2 on 40% oxygen is noted to be 76%. Which of the following
would be most appropriate at this time? - ANS -Reintubation
Which of the following patients would most likely benefit from pressure support
ventilation? - ANS -A patient on SIMV with a mandatory rate of 12/min and total
rate of 24/min.
A patient receiving mechanical ventilation has developed a temperature of 99.9° F
with purulent secretions over the last 12 hours. The respiratory therapist has also
noted a steady increase in peak inspiratory pressure. What initial
recommendation should be made to address these changes? - ANS -obtain a
sputum gram stain
