, Question 1
A respiratory therapist licensed in Indiana is asked by a physician to administer
a medication via continuous infusion that is not expressly listed in the
respiratory care scope of practice but is within the therapist's advanced
training. According to the Indiana Respiratory Care Practice Act, which of the
following is the most appropriate action?
A. Administer the medication under the physician's direct order, as
physician delegation expands scope.
B. Refuse to administer the medication unless the Indiana Respiratory
Care Board has issued a declaratory statement or rule explicitly
permitting it.
C. Administer the medication after documenting the physician's order and
notifying the Board within 24 hours.
D. Administer the medication only if a registered nurse supervises the
procedure.
Correct Answer: B - Refuse to administer the medication unless
the Indiana Respiratory Care Board has issued a declaratory
statement or rule explicitly permitting it.
RATIONALE
Indiana's practice act defines scope; unlisted acts require Board
clarification via declaratory statement or rule. Physician delegation
cannot expand statutory scope. Options A, C, and D incorrectly
assume delegation or notification validates an unauthorized act.
Question 2
Which of the following best describes the due process protections afforded to
an Indiana respiratory care license holder during a disciplinary proceeding
before the Board?
A. The licensee is entitled to an informal hearing without counsel, and the
Board's decision is final and non-appealable.
Page 2
, B. The licensee must be given notice, an opportunity to be heard, and the
right to judicial review under the Indiana Administrative Orders and
Procedures Act.
C. The licensee may only appeal to the governor's office, as the Board is
an executive agency.
D. The licensee has no right to confront witnesses because administrative
hearings are not courts of law.
Correct Answer: B - The licensee must be given notice, an
opportunity to be heard, and the right to judicial review under
the Indiana Administrative Orders and Procedures Act.
RATIONALE
Indiana's Administrative Orders and Procedures Act (IC 4-21.5)
guarantees notice, hearing, and judicial review. Options A, C, and D
misstate administrative due process and appellate rights.
Question 3
Under Indiana law, which of the following situations constitutes mandatory
reporting to the Indiana Respiratory Care Board?
A. A therapist suspects a colleague is impaired by alcohol but has not
observed direct patient harm.
B. A therapist witnesses a colleague practicing with an expired license.
C. A therapist learns a colleague was arrested for a misdemeanor
unrelated to practice.
D. A therapist disagrees with a colleague's clinical judgment but no harm
occurred.
Correct Answer: B - A therapist witnesses a colleague practicing
with an expired license.
Page 3
, RATIONALE
Indiana mandates reporting of unlicensed practice or license
expiration. Impairment without harm may be reportable under
impairment statutes, but the clearest mandatory report is expired
license. Arrests unrelated to practice and clinical disagreements are
not mandatory reports.
Question 4
A respiratory therapist employed by an Indiana hospital is asked to perform a
procedure that is permitted by hospital policy but explicitly prohibited by the
Indiana Respiratory Care Practice Act. Which principle governs the therapist's
action?
A. Hospital policy supersedes state law because the hospital is accredited
by The Joint Commission.
B. State law preempts conflicting hospital policy; the therapist must
follow the Practice Act.
C. The therapist may follow hospital policy if a supervisor provides
written authorization.
D. The therapist may perform the procedure if it is within the national
scope of practice for respiratory therapists.
Correct Answer: B - State law preempts conflicting hospital
policy; the therapist must follow the Practice Act.
RATIONALE
State licensure law preempts institutional policy. Hospital policy
cannot authorize an act prohibited by statute. Supervisor authorization
or national standards do not override Indiana law.
Question 5
Which of the following best illustrates the principle of informed consent as
applied to respiratory care in Indiana?
Page 4
A respiratory therapist licensed in Indiana is asked by a physician to administer
a medication via continuous infusion that is not expressly listed in the
respiratory care scope of practice but is within the therapist's advanced
training. According to the Indiana Respiratory Care Practice Act, which of the
following is the most appropriate action?
A. Administer the medication under the physician's direct order, as
physician delegation expands scope.
B. Refuse to administer the medication unless the Indiana Respiratory
Care Board has issued a declaratory statement or rule explicitly
permitting it.
C. Administer the medication after documenting the physician's order and
notifying the Board within 24 hours.
D. Administer the medication only if a registered nurse supervises the
procedure.
Correct Answer: B - Refuse to administer the medication unless
the Indiana Respiratory Care Board has issued a declaratory
statement or rule explicitly permitting it.
RATIONALE
Indiana's practice act defines scope; unlisted acts require Board
clarification via declaratory statement or rule. Physician delegation
cannot expand statutory scope. Options A, C, and D incorrectly
assume delegation or notification validates an unauthorized act.
Question 2
Which of the following best describes the due process protections afforded to
an Indiana respiratory care license holder during a disciplinary proceeding
before the Board?
A. The licensee is entitled to an informal hearing without counsel, and the
Board's decision is final and non-appealable.
Page 2
, B. The licensee must be given notice, an opportunity to be heard, and the
right to judicial review under the Indiana Administrative Orders and
Procedures Act.
C. The licensee may only appeal to the governor's office, as the Board is
an executive agency.
D. The licensee has no right to confront witnesses because administrative
hearings are not courts of law.
Correct Answer: B - The licensee must be given notice, an
opportunity to be heard, and the right to judicial review under
the Indiana Administrative Orders and Procedures Act.
RATIONALE
Indiana's Administrative Orders and Procedures Act (IC 4-21.5)
guarantees notice, hearing, and judicial review. Options A, C, and D
misstate administrative due process and appellate rights.
Question 3
Under Indiana law, which of the following situations constitutes mandatory
reporting to the Indiana Respiratory Care Board?
A. A therapist suspects a colleague is impaired by alcohol but has not
observed direct patient harm.
B. A therapist witnesses a colleague practicing with an expired license.
C. A therapist learns a colleague was arrested for a misdemeanor
unrelated to practice.
D. A therapist disagrees with a colleague's clinical judgment but no harm
occurred.
Correct Answer: B - A therapist witnesses a colleague practicing
with an expired license.
Page 3
, RATIONALE
Indiana mandates reporting of unlicensed practice or license
expiration. Impairment without harm may be reportable under
impairment statutes, but the clearest mandatory report is expired
license. Arrests unrelated to practice and clinical disagreements are
not mandatory reports.
Question 4
A respiratory therapist employed by an Indiana hospital is asked to perform a
procedure that is permitted by hospital policy but explicitly prohibited by the
Indiana Respiratory Care Practice Act. Which principle governs the therapist's
action?
A. Hospital policy supersedes state law because the hospital is accredited
by The Joint Commission.
B. State law preempts conflicting hospital policy; the therapist must
follow the Practice Act.
C. The therapist may follow hospital policy if a supervisor provides
written authorization.
D. The therapist may perform the procedure if it is within the national
scope of practice for respiratory therapists.
Correct Answer: B - State law preempts conflicting hospital
policy; the therapist must follow the Practice Act.
RATIONALE
State licensure law preempts institutional policy. Hospital policy
cannot authorize an act prohibited by statute. Supervisor authorization
or national standards do not override Indiana law.
Question 5
Which of the following best illustrates the principle of informed consent as
applied to respiratory care in Indiana?
Page 4
