TMC SECURE COMPREHENSIVE THERAPY EXAM BANK COMPLETE
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Domain Approx. Page
Questions Reference
Section Patient Assessment 20 Page 1
1
Section Diagnostics 20 Page 2
2
Section Therapeutics 20 Page 3
3
Section Mechanical Ventilation 20 Page 4
4
Section Equipment, Infection 20 Page 5
5 Control & Physiology
SECTION 1: PATIENT ASSESSMENT (Questions 1–20)
1. A 55-year-old female presents with sudden onset of sharp chest
pain that worsens on deep inspiration. Her heart rate is 115 bpm, and
breath sounds are clear. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Pneumonia
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Pneumothorax
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden sharp chest pain worsening on inspiration (pleuritic)
combined with tachycardia strongly suggests a pulmonary embolism.
2. A patient with a history of asthma presents with audible wheezing
and accessory muscle use. What is the most appropriate initial
assessment finding to document?
A) Peak expiratory flow rate
B) Arterial blood gas
C) Chest X-ray
D) Sputum culture
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Peak expiratory flow rate provides an immediate, objective
measure of airway obstruction severity in asthma and guides initial
therapy.
3. A 70-year-old male with emphysema has a barrel chest. What
pathophysiological change does this indicate?
A) Increased residual volume
B) Decreased functional residual capacity
C) Increased vital capacity
D) Decreased total lung capacity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Barrel chest in emphysema is caused by air trapping, which
leads to increased residual volume and hyperinflation.
4. A patient is admitted with a suspected tension pneumothorax.
Which of the following clinical signs is most indicative of this
condition?
A) Tracheal deviation toward the affected side
,B) Tracheal deviation away from the affected side
C) Bradycardia
D) Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a tension pneumothorax, increasing pressure pushes the
mediastinum and trachea away from the affected side, causing severe
hemodynamic compromise.
5. A 45-year-old male presents with a productive cough, fever, and
pleuritic chest pain. Breath sounds reveal bronchial breath sounds
over the right lower lobe. What does this finding suggest?
A) Pleural effusion
B) Consolidation
C) Pneumothorax
D) Atelectasis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bronchial breath sounds heard in the peripheral lung fields
are a classic sign of lung consolidation, commonly seen in pneumonia.
6. A patient receiving oxygen therapy via a nasal cannula at 4 L/min
has an SpO2 of 92%. The patient complains of a headache and
confusion. What should the respiratory therapist suspect?
A) Oxygen toxicity
B) Hypercapnia
C) Hypoxemia
D) Carbon monoxide poisoning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In patients with chronic CO2 retention (like severe COPD),
high-flow oxygen can blunt the hypoxic drive, leading to hypercapnia,
presenting with headache and confusion.
, 7. A patient with a tracheostomy is being assessed. The therapist
hears a high-pitched whistling sound coming from the tracheostomy
site. What is the most likely cause?
A) Cuff leak
B) Tracheal stenosis
C) Mucus plug
D) Pneumothorax
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A high-pitched whistling sound from a tracheostomy often
indicates a partial airway obstruction, such as a mucus plug.
8. A 60-year-old female is 2 days post-abdominal surgery. She has
decreased breath sounds at the bases and a low-grade fever. What is
the most likely cause of her condition?
A) Pulmonary embolism
B) Atelectasis
C) Pneumonia
D) Pleural effusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Post-operative patients are at high risk for atelectasis due to
shallow breathing, anesthesia effects, and pain, leading to decreased
breath sounds at the bases.
9. A patient's chest X-ray reveals a flattened diaphragm and increased
anterior-posterior diameter. This is most consistent with:
A) Pneumonia
B) Pulmonary fibrosis
C) COPD
D) Pulmonary edema
Correct Answer: C
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Domain Approx. Page
Questions Reference
Section Patient Assessment 20 Page 1
1
Section Diagnostics 20 Page 2
2
Section Therapeutics 20 Page 3
3
Section Mechanical Ventilation 20 Page 4
4
Section Equipment, Infection 20 Page 5
5 Control & Physiology
SECTION 1: PATIENT ASSESSMENT (Questions 1–20)
1. A 55-year-old female presents with sudden onset of sharp chest
pain that worsens on deep inspiration. Her heart rate is 115 bpm, and
breath sounds are clear. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Pneumonia
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Pneumothorax
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden sharp chest pain worsening on inspiration (pleuritic)
combined with tachycardia strongly suggests a pulmonary embolism.
2. A patient with a history of asthma presents with audible wheezing
and accessory muscle use. What is the most appropriate initial
assessment finding to document?
A) Peak expiratory flow rate
B) Arterial blood gas
C) Chest X-ray
D) Sputum culture
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Peak expiratory flow rate provides an immediate, objective
measure of airway obstruction severity in asthma and guides initial
therapy.
3. A 70-year-old male with emphysema has a barrel chest. What
pathophysiological change does this indicate?
A) Increased residual volume
B) Decreased functional residual capacity
C) Increased vital capacity
D) Decreased total lung capacity
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Barrel chest in emphysema is caused by air trapping, which
leads to increased residual volume and hyperinflation.
4. A patient is admitted with a suspected tension pneumothorax.
Which of the following clinical signs is most indicative of this
condition?
A) Tracheal deviation toward the affected side
,B) Tracheal deviation away from the affected side
C) Bradycardia
D) Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a tension pneumothorax, increasing pressure pushes the
mediastinum and trachea away from the affected side, causing severe
hemodynamic compromise.
5. A 45-year-old male presents with a productive cough, fever, and
pleuritic chest pain. Breath sounds reveal bronchial breath sounds
over the right lower lobe. What does this finding suggest?
A) Pleural effusion
B) Consolidation
C) Pneumothorax
D) Atelectasis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bronchial breath sounds heard in the peripheral lung fields
are a classic sign of lung consolidation, commonly seen in pneumonia.
6. A patient receiving oxygen therapy via a nasal cannula at 4 L/min
has an SpO2 of 92%. The patient complains of a headache and
confusion. What should the respiratory therapist suspect?
A) Oxygen toxicity
B) Hypercapnia
C) Hypoxemia
D) Carbon monoxide poisoning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In patients with chronic CO2 retention (like severe COPD),
high-flow oxygen can blunt the hypoxic drive, leading to hypercapnia,
presenting with headache and confusion.
, 7. A patient with a tracheostomy is being assessed. The therapist
hears a high-pitched whistling sound coming from the tracheostomy
site. What is the most likely cause?
A) Cuff leak
B) Tracheal stenosis
C) Mucus plug
D) Pneumothorax
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A high-pitched whistling sound from a tracheostomy often
indicates a partial airway obstruction, such as a mucus plug.
8. A 60-year-old female is 2 days post-abdominal surgery. She has
decreased breath sounds at the bases and a low-grade fever. What is
the most likely cause of her condition?
A) Pulmonary embolism
B) Atelectasis
C) Pneumonia
D) Pleural effusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Post-operative patients are at high risk for atelectasis due to
shallow breathing, anesthesia effects, and pain, leading to decreased
breath sounds at the bases.
9. A patient's chest X-ray reveals a flattened diaphragm and increased
anterior-posterior diameter. This is most consistent with:
A) Pneumonia
B) Pulmonary fibrosis
C) COPD
D) Pulmonary edema
Correct Answer: C
