TMC NBRC PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
1. A patient's sputum is purulent, green in appearance, has separated into layers, and has a foul
odor. What is the most likely cause?
A. Aspiration
B. Tuberculosis
C. Emphysema
D. Bronchiectasis - ANS D. Bronchiectasis
2. A patient in the ICU complains of light headedness, nausea, and chest pains. The patient is
diaphoretic and has a blood pressure of 90/60mmHg. What should the RT recommend?
A. Lidocaine HCl
B. Cardioversion
C. Defibrillation
D. Epinephrine - ANS B. Cardioversion
3. A patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome has a vital capacity of 625mL. An RT should
recommend which of the following be performed FIRST?
A. MIP evaluation
B. Edrophonium Chloride (Tensilon) test
C. MVV test
D. EMG and nerve conduction study - ANS A. MIP
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 31
,4. Which of the following beside pulmonary function testing results for a patient with multiple
sclerosis most strongly indicates the need for ventilatory assistance?
A. 5% decrease in peak expiratory flow
B. FEV1/FVC 85%
C. MIP of -23cmH2O
D. Vital Capacity of 5 mL/kg - ANS D. Vital capacity of 5mL/kg
5. A 23-year-old patient is in moderate respiratory distress while receiving oxygen.
ABG=7.42/ 31/ 38/ 20/ -3/ 71%
How should these results be interpreted? - ANS Chronic Respiratory Alkalosis with severe
hypoxemia
6. What is the patient's TLC?
Vital Capacity= 3.6L
FRC= 6.0 L
ERV = 1.0 - ANS 8.6
7. A COPD patient becomes hypotensive following a drug overdose. Following intubation VC A/C
ventilation should be initiated with which of the following oxygen concentrations?
A. 0.21
B. 0.50
C. 0.70
D. 1.0 - ANS D. 1.0
8. A patient has been receiving VC ventilation for 24 hours. A respiratory therapist is called to
the bedside because the high pressure alarm is sounding with each breath. What should the RT
do first? - ANS Manually ventilate the patient
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,9. Just prior to removing the endotracheal tube, a respiratory therapist should do what? -
ANS Deflate the cuff
10. While preparing to assist with a chest tube insertion , an RT learns that pleurodesis will
follow. What equipment would the RT provide? - ANS Hemostat and 3-way stopcock
11. What is the formula for dynamic compliance? - ANS VT/ (PIP-PEEP)
12. A 52-year-old patient with newly diagnosed OSA undergoes a CPAP titration study. With a
CPAP of 12cm H2O, the AHI is 3 and the lowest observed oxygen saturation is 90%. The patient
continues to snore, what should the RT do? - ANS Increase the CPAP level
13. What is the target FiO2 range of nasal cannula in a patient with normal minute ventilation? -
ANS 0.24-0.40
14. An RT is called to the ED to assist with the intubation of an alert, agitated patient in
respiratory failure. 2 intubation attempts were unsuccessful. In addition to a neuromuscular
blockade, which of the following drugs will best facilitate intubation?
A. Propranolol HCl (Inderal)
B. Midazolam HCl (Versed)
C. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
D. Nitroprusside Sodium - ANS B. Midazolam HCl (Versed)
15. A 14 year old male who is 163cm /5ft4in tall and weighs 51kg/112lbs is brought to the ED
for suspected drug overdose. He is intubated receiving VC AC ventilation.
Mandatory Rate: 14
Tidal Volume: 300mL
Inspiratory Flow: 20L/min
Pressure limit: 50cm H2O
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, The physician wants the RT to adjust the I:E from 1:1.2 to 1:3
What should the RT increase? - ANS The inspiratory flow
16.A 180-cm (5ft 11in) 75kg (165lb) male had a cardiac arrest and is admitted to the ICU. The
patient is apneic, receiving 100% O2 by a bag valve mask resuscitator, and has an SpO2 of 94%.
Which is the most appropriate ventilator setting?
1. SIMV/FiO2 1.0/Rate 10/VT 400/PEEP +3
2. SIMV/FiO2 0.40/Rate 12/VT 750/PEEP +5
3. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT 600/PEEP +5
4. AC/FiO2 0.40/Rate 10/VT 550/PEEP +3 - ANS 3. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT 600/PEEP +5
17. While instructing a 9-year-old with pneumonia in use of PEP therapy device a respiratory
therapist observes the child is consistently unable to keep the seal around the mouthpiece.
What should the RT recommend? - ANS Select a mask rather than a mouthpiece
18.What can be used to confirm the correct endotracheal tube position? - ANS CXR
Lung fields appear whiter on a chest radiograph when the imaging technique is ____________ -
ANS Underexposed
A 71-year-old man who has a femur fracture had a chest CT angiogram due to increased
shortness of breath. An RT observes multiple pulmonary arterial thrombi. SpO2 is 94% while
receiving oxygen at 2L/min by nasal cannula. What should the RT recommend? -
ANS Intravenous heparin
A 49-year-old female with polyneuropathy has received mechanical ventilation for 74 days. For
the past week the patient has been receiving an FiO2 of 0.28 by tracheostomy collar for
progressively longer periods of time. Data collected for the weaning trial are:
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 31
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
1. A patient's sputum is purulent, green in appearance, has separated into layers, and has a foul
odor. What is the most likely cause?
A. Aspiration
B. Tuberculosis
C. Emphysema
D. Bronchiectasis - ANS D. Bronchiectasis
2. A patient in the ICU complains of light headedness, nausea, and chest pains. The patient is
diaphoretic and has a blood pressure of 90/60mmHg. What should the RT recommend?
A. Lidocaine HCl
B. Cardioversion
C. Defibrillation
D. Epinephrine - ANS B. Cardioversion
3. A patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome has a vital capacity of 625mL. An RT should
recommend which of the following be performed FIRST?
A. MIP evaluation
B. Edrophonium Chloride (Tensilon) test
C. MVV test
D. EMG and nerve conduction study - ANS A. MIP
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 31
,4. Which of the following beside pulmonary function testing results for a patient with multiple
sclerosis most strongly indicates the need for ventilatory assistance?
A. 5% decrease in peak expiratory flow
B. FEV1/FVC 85%
C. MIP of -23cmH2O
D. Vital Capacity of 5 mL/kg - ANS D. Vital capacity of 5mL/kg
5. A 23-year-old patient is in moderate respiratory distress while receiving oxygen.
ABG=7.42/ 31/ 38/ 20/ -3/ 71%
How should these results be interpreted? - ANS Chronic Respiratory Alkalosis with severe
hypoxemia
6. What is the patient's TLC?
Vital Capacity= 3.6L
FRC= 6.0 L
ERV = 1.0 - ANS 8.6
7. A COPD patient becomes hypotensive following a drug overdose. Following intubation VC A/C
ventilation should be initiated with which of the following oxygen concentrations?
A. 0.21
B. 0.50
C. 0.70
D. 1.0 - ANS D. 1.0
8. A patient has been receiving VC ventilation for 24 hours. A respiratory therapist is called to
the bedside because the high pressure alarm is sounding with each breath. What should the RT
do first? - ANS Manually ventilate the patient
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 31
,9. Just prior to removing the endotracheal tube, a respiratory therapist should do what? -
ANS Deflate the cuff
10. While preparing to assist with a chest tube insertion , an RT learns that pleurodesis will
follow. What equipment would the RT provide? - ANS Hemostat and 3-way stopcock
11. What is the formula for dynamic compliance? - ANS VT/ (PIP-PEEP)
12. A 52-year-old patient with newly diagnosed OSA undergoes a CPAP titration study. With a
CPAP of 12cm H2O, the AHI is 3 and the lowest observed oxygen saturation is 90%. The patient
continues to snore, what should the RT do? - ANS Increase the CPAP level
13. What is the target FiO2 range of nasal cannula in a patient with normal minute ventilation? -
ANS 0.24-0.40
14. An RT is called to the ED to assist with the intubation of an alert, agitated patient in
respiratory failure. 2 intubation attempts were unsuccessful. In addition to a neuromuscular
blockade, which of the following drugs will best facilitate intubation?
A. Propranolol HCl (Inderal)
B. Midazolam HCl (Versed)
C. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
D. Nitroprusside Sodium - ANS B. Midazolam HCl (Versed)
15. A 14 year old male who is 163cm /5ft4in tall and weighs 51kg/112lbs is brought to the ED
for suspected drug overdose. He is intubated receiving VC AC ventilation.
Mandatory Rate: 14
Tidal Volume: 300mL
Inspiratory Flow: 20L/min
Pressure limit: 50cm H2O
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 31
, The physician wants the RT to adjust the I:E from 1:1.2 to 1:3
What should the RT increase? - ANS The inspiratory flow
16.A 180-cm (5ft 11in) 75kg (165lb) male had a cardiac arrest and is admitted to the ICU. The
patient is apneic, receiving 100% O2 by a bag valve mask resuscitator, and has an SpO2 of 94%.
Which is the most appropriate ventilator setting?
1. SIMV/FiO2 1.0/Rate 10/VT 400/PEEP +3
2. SIMV/FiO2 0.40/Rate 12/VT 750/PEEP +5
3. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT 600/PEEP +5
4. AC/FiO2 0.40/Rate 10/VT 550/PEEP +3 - ANS 3. AC/ FiO2 1.0/Rate 12/VT 600/PEEP +5
17. While instructing a 9-year-old with pneumonia in use of PEP therapy device a respiratory
therapist observes the child is consistently unable to keep the seal around the mouthpiece.
What should the RT recommend? - ANS Select a mask rather than a mouthpiece
18.What can be used to confirm the correct endotracheal tube position? - ANS CXR
Lung fields appear whiter on a chest radiograph when the imaging technique is ____________ -
ANS Underexposed
A 71-year-old man who has a femur fracture had a chest CT angiogram due to increased
shortness of breath. An RT observes multiple pulmonary arterial thrombi. SpO2 is 94% while
receiving oxygen at 2L/min by nasal cannula. What should the RT recommend? -
ANS Intravenous heparin
A 49-year-old female with polyneuropathy has received mechanical ventilation for 74 days. For
the past week the patient has been receiving an FiO2 of 0.28 by tracheostomy collar for
progressively longer periods of time. Data collected for the weaning trial are:
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 31
