EXAM: TMC Practice Exam (Respiratory Therapy Zone)
with Certified Answers
1. During the assessment of a 64-year-old female patient, you note the following signs:
dyspnea, hypotension, and a tracheal shift to the right. The patient also has absent breath
sounds, reduced chest expansion, and a hyperresonant percussion note all on the left side.
These findings suggest which of the following?
A. A pleural effusion on the left side
B. A pneumothorax on the left side
C. Atelectasis on the left side
D. Consolidation on the left side Correct Answer-B. A pneumothorax on the left side
2. A 39-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with a fever and an
SpO2 of 87% on room air. Upon auscultation, rhonchi is heard and the patient has a
productive cough. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Intubate and provide mechanical ventilation with 40% oxygen
B. Provide noninvasive positive pressure ventilation using a full face mask
C. Implement postural drainage and percussion with directed coughing
, EXAM: TMC Practice Exam (Respiratory Therapy Zone)
with Certified Answers
D. Provide oxygen therapy and obtain a sputum sample for culture and sensitivity Correct
Answer-D. Provide oxygen therapy and obtain a sputum sample for culture and sensitivity
3. A 50-year-old male patient is intubated with a size 8 endotracheal tube and is receiving
volume-controlled A/C ventilation. Upon assessment, you note that the patient's cuff
pressure is measured at 38 cm H2O. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Withdraw the tube 1-2 cm and reassess the patient's breath sounds
B. Recommend reintubation with a smaller endotracheal tube
C. Lower the cuff pressure to < 30 cm H2O
D. Recommend ventilation via a tracheostomy instead Correct Answer-C. Lower the cuff
pressure to < 30 cm H2O
4. During the assessment of a 52-year-old female patient that is receiving oxygen via nasal
cannula at 4 L/min, you hear the bubble humidifier making a whistling noise. Which of the
following is the most likely cause of this finding?
A. There is an obstruction in the delivery tube
, EXAM: TMC Practice Exam (Respiratory Therapy Zone)
with Certified Answers
B. The patient's ventilation has increased
C. There is a clogged system diffuser
D. The flowmeter pressure is set too high Correct Answer-A. There is an obstruction in the
delivery tube
5. A pre and post bronchodilator test was ordered on a 48-year-old female patient. The forced
expiratory measurement that was obtained after the bronchodilator was given shows an
increase in the patient's FEV1 from 60% to 80% of the predicted value. This finding suggests
which of the following?
A. A fixed airway obstruction
B. A reversible airway obstruction
C. A normal diffusion capacity
D. A restrictive process Correct Answer-B. A reversible airway obstruction
6. A 58-year-old female patient is intubated and appears to be breathing asynchronously with
the ventilator. Her breath sounds are absent on the left side and the trachea appears to be
, EXAM: TMC Practice Exam (Respiratory Therapy Zone)
with Certified Answers
shifted to the left. The patient has a dull percussion note on the left side as well. Which of the
following is the most likely explanation of these findings?
A. A tracheoesophageal fistula has developed
B. A tension pneumothorax has developed on the left side
C. The endotracheal tube is in the right mainstem bronchus
D. The patient is experiencing diffuse bronchospasm Correct Answer-C. The endotracheal
tube is in the right mainstem bronchus
7. A 63-year-old female patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation in the
pressure controlled A/C mode. If the patient's compliance were to decrease, which of the
following would you expect to occur?
A. Her delivered volume will decrease
B. Her peak pressure will increase
C. Her inspiratory time will increase
D. Her PEEP level will decrease Correct Answer-A. Her delivered volume will decrease
with Certified Answers
1. During the assessment of a 64-year-old female patient, you note the following signs:
dyspnea, hypotension, and a tracheal shift to the right. The patient also has absent breath
sounds, reduced chest expansion, and a hyperresonant percussion note all on the left side.
These findings suggest which of the following?
A. A pleural effusion on the left side
B. A pneumothorax on the left side
C. Atelectasis on the left side
D. Consolidation on the left side Correct Answer-B. A pneumothorax on the left side
2. A 39-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with a fever and an
SpO2 of 87% on room air. Upon auscultation, rhonchi is heard and the patient has a
productive cough. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Intubate and provide mechanical ventilation with 40% oxygen
B. Provide noninvasive positive pressure ventilation using a full face mask
C. Implement postural drainage and percussion with directed coughing
, EXAM: TMC Practice Exam (Respiratory Therapy Zone)
with Certified Answers
D. Provide oxygen therapy and obtain a sputum sample for culture and sensitivity Correct
Answer-D. Provide oxygen therapy and obtain a sputum sample for culture and sensitivity
3. A 50-year-old male patient is intubated with a size 8 endotracheal tube and is receiving
volume-controlled A/C ventilation. Upon assessment, you note that the patient's cuff
pressure is measured at 38 cm H2O. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Withdraw the tube 1-2 cm and reassess the patient's breath sounds
B. Recommend reintubation with a smaller endotracheal tube
C. Lower the cuff pressure to < 30 cm H2O
D. Recommend ventilation via a tracheostomy instead Correct Answer-C. Lower the cuff
pressure to < 30 cm H2O
4. During the assessment of a 52-year-old female patient that is receiving oxygen via nasal
cannula at 4 L/min, you hear the bubble humidifier making a whistling noise. Which of the
following is the most likely cause of this finding?
A. There is an obstruction in the delivery tube
, EXAM: TMC Practice Exam (Respiratory Therapy Zone)
with Certified Answers
B. The patient's ventilation has increased
C. There is a clogged system diffuser
D. The flowmeter pressure is set too high Correct Answer-A. There is an obstruction in the
delivery tube
5. A pre and post bronchodilator test was ordered on a 48-year-old female patient. The forced
expiratory measurement that was obtained after the bronchodilator was given shows an
increase in the patient's FEV1 from 60% to 80% of the predicted value. This finding suggests
which of the following?
A. A fixed airway obstruction
B. A reversible airway obstruction
C. A normal diffusion capacity
D. A restrictive process Correct Answer-B. A reversible airway obstruction
6. A 58-year-old female patient is intubated and appears to be breathing asynchronously with
the ventilator. Her breath sounds are absent on the left side and the trachea appears to be
, EXAM: TMC Practice Exam (Respiratory Therapy Zone)
with Certified Answers
shifted to the left. The patient has a dull percussion note on the left side as well. Which of the
following is the most likely explanation of these findings?
A. A tracheoesophageal fistula has developed
B. A tension pneumothorax has developed on the left side
C. The endotracheal tube is in the right mainstem bronchus
D. The patient is experiencing diffuse bronchospasm Correct Answer-C. The endotracheal
tube is in the right mainstem bronchus
7. A 63-year-old female patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation in the
pressure controlled A/C mode. If the patient's compliance were to decrease, which of the
following would you expect to occur?
A. Her delivered volume will decrease
B. Her peak pressure will increase
C. Her inspiratory time will increase
D. Her PEEP level will decrease Correct Answer-A. Her delivered volume will decrease
