Page 1 of 120
NBRC TMC-CRT-RRT Version 3 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR –
JUST RELEASED
NBRC TMC/CRT/RRT Version 3 Exam
10-Line Exam Coverage
Patient assessment, history, physical examination, and clinical decision-making.
Arterial blood gases, acid-base interpretation, pulse oximetry, and laboratory data.
Oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy, humidity, airway clearance, and respiratory
medications.
Pulmonary function testing, bedside respiratory measurements, and diagnostic
interpretation.
Mechanical ventilation, ventilator modes, settings, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Noninvasive ventilation, invasive ventilation, weaning, and liberation from mechanical
support.
Neonatal and pediatric respiratory care, including oxygenation and ventilation.
Adult critical care, obstructive/restrictive disease, pneumonia, ARDS, and respiratory
failure.
Cardiopulmonary pharmacology, emergency care, airway management, and
resuscitation.
Equipment management, infection control, patient safety, ethics, and modification of
respiratory care plans.
250 Practice Questions
1. A patient with severe dyspnea has an oxygen saturation of 82% while breathing room air.
Which intervention should the respiratory therapist consider first?
A. Initiate appropriate supplemental oxygen
B. Perform pulmonary function testing
C. Administer a long-term corticosteroid
D. Begin chest physiotherapy
, Page 2 of 120
Answer: A
Rationale: Significant hypoxemia requires prompt correction with appropriate oxygen therapy
while the underlying cause is evaluated.
2. An arterial blood gas shows pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 58 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ 26 mEq/L. Which
interpretation is most appropriate?
A. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B. Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
C. Compensated respiratory alkalosis
D. Compensated metabolic alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The low pH indicates acidemia and elevated PaCO₂ identifies respiratory acidosis;
bicarbonate remains near normal.
3. A patient has a pH of 7.51, PaCO₂ of 29 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ of 24 mEq/L. What does this
indicate?
A. Acute respiratory alkalosis
B. Acute respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
, Page 3 of 120
Answer: A
Rationale: Alkalemia accompanied by a decreased PaCO₂ with normal bicarbonate indicates
acute respiratory alkalosis.
4. A patient has a pH of 7.30, PaCO₂ of 40 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ of 19 mEq/L. Which disorder is
present?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The low pH and decreased bicarbonate indicate metabolic acidosis.
5. A patient has a pH of 7.49, PaCO₂ of 42 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ of 31 mEq/L. Which interpretation
is correct?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
, Page 4 of 120
Answer: A
Rationale: Elevated pH with elevated bicarbonate and normal PaCO₂ indicates metabolic
alkalosis.
6. A patient with COPD has a chronic PaCO₂ of 55 mm Hg. Which renal response would be
expected?
A. Increased bicarbonate retention
B. Decreased bicarbonate retention
C. Increased hydrogen ion retention
D. Decreased renal compensation
Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic respiratory acidosis is compensated by renal retention of bicarbonate and
increased hydrogen ion excretion.
7. Which ABG finding most strongly indicates hypoxemia in an adult breathing room air?
A. PaO₂ 58 mm Hg
B. PaO₂ 100 mm Hg
C. PaO₂ 92 mm Hg
D. PaO₂ 110 mm Hg
NBRC TMC-CRT-RRT Version 3 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR –
JUST RELEASED
NBRC TMC/CRT/RRT Version 3 Exam
10-Line Exam Coverage
Patient assessment, history, physical examination, and clinical decision-making.
Arterial blood gases, acid-base interpretation, pulse oximetry, and laboratory data.
Oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy, humidity, airway clearance, and respiratory
medications.
Pulmonary function testing, bedside respiratory measurements, and diagnostic
interpretation.
Mechanical ventilation, ventilator modes, settings, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Noninvasive ventilation, invasive ventilation, weaning, and liberation from mechanical
support.
Neonatal and pediatric respiratory care, including oxygenation and ventilation.
Adult critical care, obstructive/restrictive disease, pneumonia, ARDS, and respiratory
failure.
Cardiopulmonary pharmacology, emergency care, airway management, and
resuscitation.
Equipment management, infection control, patient safety, ethics, and modification of
respiratory care plans.
250 Practice Questions
1. A patient with severe dyspnea has an oxygen saturation of 82% while breathing room air.
Which intervention should the respiratory therapist consider first?
A. Initiate appropriate supplemental oxygen
B. Perform pulmonary function testing
C. Administer a long-term corticosteroid
D. Begin chest physiotherapy
, Page 2 of 120
Answer: A
Rationale: Significant hypoxemia requires prompt correction with appropriate oxygen therapy
while the underlying cause is evaluated.
2. An arterial blood gas shows pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 58 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ 26 mEq/L. Which
interpretation is most appropriate?
A. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B. Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
C. Compensated respiratory alkalosis
D. Compensated metabolic alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The low pH indicates acidemia and elevated PaCO₂ identifies respiratory acidosis;
bicarbonate remains near normal.
3. A patient has a pH of 7.51, PaCO₂ of 29 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ of 24 mEq/L. What does this
indicate?
A. Acute respiratory alkalosis
B. Acute respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
, Page 3 of 120
Answer: A
Rationale: Alkalemia accompanied by a decreased PaCO₂ with normal bicarbonate indicates
acute respiratory alkalosis.
4. A patient has a pH of 7.30, PaCO₂ of 40 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ of 19 mEq/L. Which disorder is
present?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The low pH and decreased bicarbonate indicate metabolic acidosis.
5. A patient has a pH of 7.49, PaCO₂ of 42 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ of 31 mEq/L. Which interpretation
is correct?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
, Page 4 of 120
Answer: A
Rationale: Elevated pH with elevated bicarbonate and normal PaCO₂ indicates metabolic
alkalosis.
6. A patient with COPD has a chronic PaCO₂ of 55 mm Hg. Which renal response would be
expected?
A. Increased bicarbonate retention
B. Decreased bicarbonate retention
C. Increased hydrogen ion retention
D. Decreased renal compensation
Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic respiratory acidosis is compensated by renal retention of bicarbonate and
increased hydrogen ion excretion.
7. Which ABG finding most strongly indicates hypoxemia in an adult breathing room air?
A. PaO₂ 58 mm Hg
B. PaO₂ 100 mm Hg
C. PaO₂ 92 mm Hg
D. PaO₂ 110 mm Hg
