QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADYGRADED A+
2024-2025
A 48 year-old female is admitted to the ED with diaphoresis, jugular venous distension,
and 3+ pitting edema in the ankles. These findings are consistent with
A. liver failure.
B. pulmonary embolism.
C. heart failure.
D. electrolyte imbalances - ANSWER-Heart failure
A patient is admitted to the ED following a motor vehicle accident. On physical exam,
the respiratory therapist discovers that breath sounds are absent in the left chest with a
hyperresonant percussion note. The trachea is shifted to the right. The patient's heart
rate is 45/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg. What
action should the therapist recommend first?
A. Call for a STAT chest x-ray.
B. Insert a chest tube into the left chest.
C. Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space.
D. Activate the medical emergency team to intubate the patient. - ANSWER-Needle
aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space.
All of the following strategies are likely to decrease the likelihood of damage to the
tracheal mucosa EXCEPT
A. maintaining cuff pressures between 20 and 25 mm Hg.
B. using the minimal leak technique for inflation.
C. using a low-residual-volume, low-compliance cuff.
D. monitoring intracuff pressures. - ANSWER-monitoring intracuff pressures.
,A 52 year-old post-operative cholecystectomy patient's breath sounds become more
coarse upon completion of postural drainage with percussion. The respiratory therapist
should recommend
A. continuing the therapy until breath sounds improve.
B. administering dornase alpha.
C. administering albuterol therapy.
D. deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions. - ANSWER-deep breathing and
coughing to clear secretions.
A 65 kg spinal cord injured patient has developed atelectasis. His inspiratory capacity is
30% of his predicted value. What bronchial hygiene therapy would be most appropriate
initially?
A. IS / SMI
B. IPPB with normal saline
C. postural drainage and percussion
D. PEP therapy - ANSWER-IPPB with normal saline
A patient on VC ventilation has demonstrated auto-PEEP on ventilator graphics. Which
of the following controls, when adjusted independently, would increase expiratory time?
1. Tidal volume
2. Respiratory Rate
3. Inspiratory flow
4. Sensitivity - ANSWER-1, 2, and 3 only
Which of the following would be the most appropriate therapy for a dyspneic patient who
has crepitus with tracheal deviation to the left and absent breath sounds on the right?
A. Perform chest physiotherapy
B. Administer an IPPB treatment
C. Insert an endotracheal tube
D. Insert a chest tube - ANSWER-Insert a chest tube
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 - 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
D. Provide oxygen therapy and obtain a sputum sample for culture and sensitivity -
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 - 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
B. The patient's ventilation has increased
C. There is a clogged system diffuser
D. The flowmeter pressure is set too high - 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 - 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 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 - 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 - ANSWER-A. Her delivered volume will decrease
8. A 70-year-old male patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation in the
volume controlled A/C mode. After performing endotracheal suctioning, which of the
following would indicate the effective clearance of retained secretions?
A. An increased tidal volume
B. A decreased inspiratory time
C. A decreased plateau pressure
D. A decreased peak pressure - ANSWER-D. A decreased peak pressure
9. An adult patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation suddenly started showing
signs of tachypnea. Upon assessment, you note tracheal deviation to the right and
decreased breath sounds and hyperresonance on the left. Which of the following would
you recommend?
A. The patient needs suctioning
B. The patient needs a bronchoscopy
C. The insertion of a chest tube
D. The patient needs a thoracentesis - ANSWER-C. The insertion of a chest tube
10. A 57-year-old female patient with acute pulmonary edema is dyspneic and appears
to be wheezing. The resident physician has ordered an albuterol breathing treatment via
SVN. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Recommend acetylcysteine instead of albuterol
B. Perform the therapy with supplemental oxygen
C. Perform the treatment as ordered