QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS (LATEST
UPDATE ALREADY RATED A+)
After a patient undergoes a thoracentesis, the respiratory therapist notes that the obtained
pleural fluid is clear with a slight straw color. This fluid is most likely the result of
- CORRECT ->>B. congestive heart failure.
Which of the following would be most important to evaluate for a patient who is entering a
smoking cessation program?
- CORRECT ->>B. Smoking history
The respiratory therapist is calibrating a spirometer and checking the volume with a 3.0-liter
super syringe. The volumes recorded are: 2.85 L, 2.8 L, and 2.8 L. Based upon the information
obtained which of the following is a correct statement?
- CORRECT ->>D. Spirometer may have a leak
Which of the following is an indication for high frequency jet ventilation?
- CORRECT ->>A. Bronchopleural fistula
A 43-year-old female patient has just undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy. The patient
arrives in the post anesthesia care unit obtunded with minimal response to painful stimulus.
What treatment should the respiratory therapist recommend for this patient?
- CORRECT ->>B. Insert oropharyngeal airway
A 44-week gestational age infant has just been delivered via C-section and is gasping,
grunting, and has tachycardia and tachypnea. At one minute his Apgar score is 4 and at 5
minutes the score is 5. The infant is most likely suffering from
- CORRECT ->>B. meconium aspiration.
What is the normal VD/VT ratio for a patient breathing room air?
- CORRECT ->>B. 20 - 40%
A heat moisture exchanger is indicated for humidification in which of the following situations?
- CORRECT ->>B. Transport to a tertiary care center.
All of the following could cause a patient's right-hemidiaphragm to be elevated, EXCEPT
- CORRECT ->>B. right side hyperlucency, absent vascular markings
A 64-year-old, 70 kg (154 lb) man with severe COPD is receiving independent (differential) lung
ventilation following thoracotomy and right lower lobectomy. Which of the following setting
combinations would be most appropriate for this patient?
,- CORRECT ->>B. Right lung 150 mL; left lung 550 mL
A patient in the intensive care unit has the following hemodynamic measurements:
CVP (mm Hg) 5 PAP (mm Hg) 29/8 PCWP (mm Hg) 8 BP (mm Hg) 130/70
Cardiac output (L/min) 5.1 Cardiac index (L/min/m2) 2.7
What is the pulse pressure?
- CORRECT ->>C. 60 mm Hg
A 2-year-old child with croup has been intubated for 4 days with a 4 mm ID uncuffed
endotracheal tube. Heated aerosol at an FIO2 of 0.30 has been delivered to the patient. The
physician asks the respiratory therapist to evaluate the patient for possible extubation. Which
of the following would most likely indicate that the patient is ready for extubation?
- CORRECT ->>D. Breath sounds are heard around the tube on auscultation.
A patient is seen in the Emergency Department for complaints of nausea and vomiting. A
nasogastric tube has been inserted and the patient is started on Lasix. Which of the following
should the respiratory therapist monitor?
- CORRECT ->>B. Serum electrolytes
While instructing a patient prior to a vital capacity maneuver, the respiratory therapist should
direct the patient to
- CORRECT ->>B. inhale to total lung capacity then exhale to residual volume.
A patient involved in an automobile accident is brought to the ED with tachypnea, tracheal
deviation to the right, splinting, asymmetrical chest movement, and decreased breath sounds
on the left side. The respiratory therapist should initially
- CORRECT ->>B. administer 100% oxygen via mask.
A 77-year-old male patient is admitted to the emergency room with shortness of breath, fine
basilar crackles, +2 pitting edema and a chest radiogram with a butterfly pattern.
These results are most consistent with which of the following?
- CORRECT ->>A. Pulmonary edema
Which of the following formulas will determine the total flow being delivered to a patient with a
28% venturi mask running at 6 L/min?
- CORRECT ->>D. total flow = 6 x 11
Fine crepitant crackles are most commonly associated with which of the following conditions?
- CORRECT ->>B. Pulmonary edema
A patient with end-stage pulmonary fibrosis is receiving oxygen at 2 L/min via a transtracheal
oxygen catheter. The patient experiences an increased work of breathing and shortness of
, breath. The respiratory therapist should
- CORRECT ->>D. flush the transtracheal device with isotonic saline.
During bedside monitoring the respiratory therapist notices a dampened waveform on the
arterial line graphic. To restore the graphic to normal, the therapist should first
- CORRECT ->>B. check the transducer dome for air bubbles.
An optimal PEEP study is initiated on a patient receiving mechanical ventilation. The
respiratory therapist first places the patient on a PEEP of 10 cm H2O for 20 minutes with no
adverse effects. The PEEP is increased to 15 cm H2O and the patient's heart rate rises
significantly with a severe fall in the blood pressure. Based upon the above information, the
therapist should conclude that the patient is suffering from
- CORRECT ->>B. hypovolemia.
A post-operative thoracotomy patient is receiving incentive spirometry therapy Q2H. Breath
sounds are diminished in the bases of the lungs with scattered crackles. The patient's
inspiratory capacity has decreased over the past 2 days. A chest radiograph indicates thin-
layered basilar densities. Which of the following has most likely occurred?
- CORRECT ->>A. Atelectasis
A patient is in full cardiopulmonary arrest and after several attempts, the patient is orally
intubated with a size 7 mm ID endotracheal tube. The nurse is unable to establish IV access.
The ECG monitor shows sinus bradycardia. Which of the following drugs should be
administered through the endotracheal tube?
- CORRECT ->>C. Atropine
The results of a patient's spirometry are recorded as follows:
Predicted Observed FVC (L) 3.5 2.1
FEV1 (L) 2.7 2.6
FRC (L) 2.5 1.7
TLC (L) 5.6 4.2
These results are indicative of
- CORRECT ->>B. sarcoidosis.
The respiratory therapist is in charge of transporting a patient with multiple traumas to a
regional trauma center in a fixed wing aircraft. Which of the following should the therapist be
most concerned about during the transport?
- CORRECT ->>A. Tissue oxygenation
Transcutaneous monitoring of PO2 values will correlate well with arterial blood gas PO2
values in which of the following situations?
1. Hypotension
2. Hypothermia