2026 TMC Practice Exam 160 Question
Actual Mock Board Exam with
Rationales Graded A
A patient's breathing pattern irregularly increases and decreases and is interspersed with periods of
apnea up to 1 minute. Which of the following conditions is the most likely cause of this problem?
A. Diabetes insipidus
B. Renal failure
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Elevated intracranial pressure
Elevated intracranial pressure
What value for the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is consistent with mild obstructive sleep apnea?
A. Less than 5
B. 5 to 15
C. 16 to 30
D. Greater than 30
5 to 15
While monitoring a newborn utilizing a transcutaneous monitor, you notice a change in PtcO2 from 60
to 142 torr and simultaneously the (PtcCO2) changes from 37 to 2 torr. What is the most likely
explanation for these changes?
A. Upper airway obstruction
B. Poor peripheral perfusion
C. Air leak around the sensor
D. Device is out of range
Air leak around the sensor
,A patient on the general medical ward is on a 28% air entrainment mask with the flowmeter set at 5
L/min. What is the total flow delivered to the patient?
A. 5 L/min
B. 55 L/min
C. 88 L/min
D. 140 L/min
55/Lmin
Which of the following measurements is most indicative of pulmonary edema?
A. Heart rate of 120/min
B. Blood pressure of 92/72 mm Hg
C. Pulmonary artery pressure of 25/10 mm Hg
D. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30 mm Hg
Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30 mm Hg
Sleep apnea can be defined as repeated episodes of complete cessation of airflow for
A. 5 seconds or longer.
B. 10 seconds or longer.
C. 15 seconds or longer.
D. 20 seconds or longer.
10 seconds or longer
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
Insert a chest tube
A 55 year-old post cardiac surgery patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.50, PaCO2 30 torr, PaO2
62 torr, HCO3 25 mEq/L, SaO2 92%, HB 14 g/dL, BE +2. Venous blood gas results are pH 7.39, PvCO2 43
torr, PvO2 37 torr, and SvO2 66%. Calculate the patient's C(a-v)O2.
A. 2.5 vol%
B. 4.0 vol%
C. 5.0 vol%
D. 5.5 vol%
5.0 vol%
A patient on VC, SIMV with a VT of 500 mL has a PIP of 25 cm H2O, Pplat of 15 cm H2O and PEEP of 5
cm H2O. What is the patient's static lung compliance
A. 25 mL/cm H2O
B. 35 mL/cm H2O
C. 45 mL/cm H2O
D. 50 mL/cm H2O
50 mL/cm H2O
Actual Mock Board Exam with
Rationales Graded A
A patient's breathing pattern irregularly increases and decreases and is interspersed with periods of
apnea up to 1 minute. Which of the following conditions is the most likely cause of this problem?
A. Diabetes insipidus
B. Renal failure
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Elevated intracranial pressure
Elevated intracranial pressure
What value for the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is consistent with mild obstructive sleep apnea?
A. Less than 5
B. 5 to 15
C. 16 to 30
D. Greater than 30
5 to 15
While monitoring a newborn utilizing a transcutaneous monitor, you notice a change in PtcO2 from 60
to 142 torr and simultaneously the (PtcCO2) changes from 37 to 2 torr. What is the most likely
explanation for these changes?
A. Upper airway obstruction
B. Poor peripheral perfusion
C. Air leak around the sensor
D. Device is out of range
Air leak around the sensor
,A patient on the general medical ward is on a 28% air entrainment mask with the flowmeter set at 5
L/min. What is the total flow delivered to the patient?
A. 5 L/min
B. 55 L/min
C. 88 L/min
D. 140 L/min
55/Lmin
Which of the following measurements is most indicative of pulmonary edema?
A. Heart rate of 120/min
B. Blood pressure of 92/72 mm Hg
C. Pulmonary artery pressure of 25/10 mm Hg
D. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30 mm Hg
Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 30 mm Hg
Sleep apnea can be defined as repeated episodes of complete cessation of airflow for
A. 5 seconds or longer.
B. 10 seconds or longer.
C. 15 seconds or longer.
D. 20 seconds or longer.
10 seconds or longer
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
Insert a chest tube
A 55 year-old post cardiac surgery patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.50, PaCO2 30 torr, PaO2
62 torr, HCO3 25 mEq/L, SaO2 92%, HB 14 g/dL, BE +2. Venous blood gas results are pH 7.39, PvCO2 43
torr, PvO2 37 torr, and SvO2 66%. Calculate the patient's C(a-v)O2.
A. 2.5 vol%
B. 4.0 vol%
C. 5.0 vol%
D. 5.5 vol%
5.0 vol%
A patient on VC, SIMV with a VT of 500 mL has a PIP of 25 cm H2O, Pplat of 15 cm H2O and PEEP of 5
cm H2O. What is the patient's static lung compliance
A. 25 mL/cm H2O
B. 35 mL/cm H2O
C. 45 mL/cm H2O
D. 50 mL/cm H2O
50 mL/cm H2O
