1
NBRC - EXAM 2026/2027 | 100 VERIFIED Q&A
| DETAILED RATIONALES | NGN-ALIGNED |
PASS GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION I: RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTICS - Questions 1-20
Q1: Respiratory Assessment
The student is reviewing respiratory assessment. What is the first step in assessing a patient's
respiratory status?
A. Observe breathing pattern and respiratory effort
B. Obtain an arterial blood gas
C. Perform spirometry
D. Order a chest X-ray
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The first step is to observe the patient's breathing pattern, respiratory rate, effort, and
signs of distress before diagnostic tests. [100% CORRECT]
Q2: Normal Respiratory Rate
The student is reviewing vital signs. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A. 12-20 breaths/min
B. 8-12 breaths/min
C. 20-30 breaths/min
D. 30-40 breaths/min
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths/min; rates outside this range may
indicate respiratory dysfunction. [100% CORRECT]
Q3: Breath Sounds
The student is reviewing breath sounds. What do crackles indicate?
A. Fluid or secretions in the alveoli or small airways
B. Airway obstruction
C. Pleural inflammation
D. Normal lung sounds
Correct Answer: A
,2
Rationale: Crackles (rales) are discontinuous sounds caused by fluid or secretions in the alveoli or
small airways, often heard in pneumonia or heart failure. [100% CORRECT]
Q4: Wheezing
The student is reviewing breath sounds. What does wheezing indicate?
A. Narrowed airways, as in asthma or COPD
B. Fluid in the alveoli
C. Pleural inflammation
D. Normal lung sounds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Wheezing is a continuous, high-pitched sound caused by narrowed airways, commonly
heard in asthma and COPD. [100% CORRECT]
Q5: Stridor
The student is reviewing breath sounds. What does stridor indicate?
A. Upper airway obstruction
B. Lower airway obstruction
C. Fluid in the alveoli
D. Pleural inflammation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stridor is a high-pitched, inspiratory sound indicating upper airway obstruction (e.g.,
croup, epiglottitis, foreign body). [100% CORRECT]
Q6: Arterial Blood Gas
The student is reviewing ABGs. What does the PaO2 measure?
A. The partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in arterial blood
B. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide
C. The pH of arterial blood
D. The bicarbonate level
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: PaO2 measures the partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in arterial blood, reflecting
oxygenation. [100% CORRECT]
Q7: PaCO2
The student is reviewing ABGs. What does the PaCO2 measure?
, 3
A. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood
B. The partial pressure of oxygen
C. The pH of arterial blood
D. The bicarbonate level
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: PaCO2 measures the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, reflecting
ventilation. [100% CORRECT]
Q8: pH
The student is reviewing ABGs. What is the normal arterial pH range?
A. 7.35-7.45
B. 7.0-7.2
C. 7.5-7.8
D. 6.5-6.8
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Normal arterial pH is 7.35-7.45; values below 7.35 indicate acidosis, above 7.45 indicate
alkalosis. [100% CORRECT]
Q9: Bicarbonate
The student is reviewing ABGs. What does the bicarbonate (HCO3-) level reflect?
A. The metabolic component of acid-base balance
B. The respiratory component
C. Oxygenation
D. Ventilation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bicarbonate reflects the metabolic component of acid-base balance; normal is 22-26
mEq/L. [100% CORRECT]
Q10: Respiratory Acidosis
The student is reviewing acid-base balance. What are the signs of respiratory acidosis?
A. Hypoventilation, low pH, high PaCO2
B. Hyperventilation, high pH, low PaCO2
C. Low pH, low PaCO2
D. High pH, high PaCO2
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Respiratory acidosis occurs with hypoventilation, leading to low pH and elevated PaCO2.
[100% CORRECT]
NBRC - EXAM 2026/2027 | 100 VERIFIED Q&A
| DETAILED RATIONALES | NGN-ALIGNED |
PASS GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION I: RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTICS - Questions 1-20
Q1: Respiratory Assessment
The student is reviewing respiratory assessment. What is the first step in assessing a patient's
respiratory status?
A. Observe breathing pattern and respiratory effort
B. Obtain an arterial blood gas
C. Perform spirometry
D. Order a chest X-ray
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The first step is to observe the patient's breathing pattern, respiratory rate, effort, and
signs of distress before diagnostic tests. [100% CORRECT]
Q2: Normal Respiratory Rate
The student is reviewing vital signs. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A. 12-20 breaths/min
B. 8-12 breaths/min
C. 20-30 breaths/min
D. 30-40 breaths/min
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths/min; rates outside this range may
indicate respiratory dysfunction. [100% CORRECT]
Q3: Breath Sounds
The student is reviewing breath sounds. What do crackles indicate?
A. Fluid or secretions in the alveoli or small airways
B. Airway obstruction
C. Pleural inflammation
D. Normal lung sounds
Correct Answer: A
,2
Rationale: Crackles (rales) are discontinuous sounds caused by fluid or secretions in the alveoli or
small airways, often heard in pneumonia or heart failure. [100% CORRECT]
Q4: Wheezing
The student is reviewing breath sounds. What does wheezing indicate?
A. Narrowed airways, as in asthma or COPD
B. Fluid in the alveoli
C. Pleural inflammation
D. Normal lung sounds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Wheezing is a continuous, high-pitched sound caused by narrowed airways, commonly
heard in asthma and COPD. [100% CORRECT]
Q5: Stridor
The student is reviewing breath sounds. What does stridor indicate?
A. Upper airway obstruction
B. Lower airway obstruction
C. Fluid in the alveoli
D. Pleural inflammation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stridor is a high-pitched, inspiratory sound indicating upper airway obstruction (e.g.,
croup, epiglottitis, foreign body). [100% CORRECT]
Q6: Arterial Blood Gas
The student is reviewing ABGs. What does the PaO2 measure?
A. The partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in arterial blood
B. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide
C. The pH of arterial blood
D. The bicarbonate level
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: PaO2 measures the partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in arterial blood, reflecting
oxygenation. [100% CORRECT]
Q7: PaCO2
The student is reviewing ABGs. What does the PaCO2 measure?
, 3
A. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood
B. The partial pressure of oxygen
C. The pH of arterial blood
D. The bicarbonate level
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: PaCO2 measures the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, reflecting
ventilation. [100% CORRECT]
Q8: pH
The student is reviewing ABGs. What is the normal arterial pH range?
A. 7.35-7.45
B. 7.0-7.2
C. 7.5-7.8
D. 6.5-6.8
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Normal arterial pH is 7.35-7.45; values below 7.35 indicate acidosis, above 7.45 indicate
alkalosis. [100% CORRECT]
Q9: Bicarbonate
The student is reviewing ABGs. What does the bicarbonate (HCO3-) level reflect?
A. The metabolic component of acid-base balance
B. The respiratory component
C. Oxygenation
D. Ventilation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bicarbonate reflects the metabolic component of acid-base balance; normal is 22-26
mEq/L. [100% CORRECT]
Q10: Respiratory Acidosis
The student is reviewing acid-base balance. What are the signs of respiratory acidosis?
A. Hypoventilation, low pH, high PaCO2
B. Hyperventilation, high pH, low PaCO2
C. Low pH, low PaCO2
D. High pH, high PaCO2
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Respiratory acidosis occurs with hypoventilation, leading to low pH and elevated PaCO2.
[100% CORRECT]
