RT BOARD REVIEW EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
"flipped" T waves and elevation of S-T segments - ANSWER-myocardial ischemia and
infarction
in mixed venous oxygen saturation - ANSWER-A left-to-right cardiac shunt, due to a
leak in the septum wall of the heart, would be best indicated by an increase
perforation in the lung tissue - ANSWER-Excessive bubbling in the water seal
compartment, in addition to low return volume during mechanical ventilation indicates...
distal end of the pulmonary artery catheter - ANSWER-A respiratory therapist is
preparing to obtain a mixed venous sample for the purpose of PvO2 measurement.
From which of the following locations should the sample be taken?
Decreasing pulmonary compliance - ANSWER-6 am 9 am
Ppeak(cm H2O) 20 32
Pplat (cm H2O) 13 25
Set VT (L) 0.6 0.6
PEEP (cm H2O) 5 5
Which of the following is most consistent with these data?
ABG and alveolar oxygen tension - ANSWER-A respiratory therapist is considering a
patient's readiness to wean from mechanical ventilation. To determine the A-aDO2, the
therapist will need which of the following?
Examine the ventilator circuit for proper connections - ANSWER-During a pre-
operational test of the ventilator with a test lung, the respiratory therapist notes a return
tidal volume of 600 cc. Ventilator settings are:
Mode Assist/control
FIO2 0.50
Mandatory rate 10
VT 750 mL
What action should the therapist take?
disconnected thermistor line (If you have a low pressure or low exhaled volume
ventilator alarm, you must look for the problem that could cause that specific type of
alarm. For this question this was the most appropriate answer.) - ANSWER-While
monitoring a patient receiving mechanical ventilation, the respiratory therapist notices
the low-pressure and low exhaled volume alarms are sounding. What could be the
cause?
, a kink in the endotracheal tube, a herniated endotracheal tube cuff, Excess water in the
limbs of the circuit, would cause what type of alarm to sound - ANSWER-would cause a
high-pressure alarm
a fracture in the plastic wye, a leak or a disconnection or by the patient if he or she is
inhaling at a higher inspiratory demand than that being delivered by the ventilator -
ANSWER-A patient receiving positive pressure ventilation has a low-pressure alarm
sounding. what would be the cause?
provide manual ventilation
(The NBRC knows that in real life, when you hear a ventilator alarm, you're tempted to
cancel the alarm or attempt to immediately solve the problem. Our first action should be
to stabilize the ventilatory status of the patient, and then troubleshoot the problem.) -
ANSWER-The high pressure alarm is sounding on a patient receiving volume controlled
ventilation. The respiratory therapist should FIRST
Anectine (succinylcholine chloride) - ANSWER-Which of the following medications is
shown to have sufficient affect when facial muscle twitching is observed?
25/8 mmHg - ANSWER-Which of the following pressures is most consistent with a
normal pulmonary artery pressure (PAP)?
A. 25/8 mmHg
B. 120/80 mmHg
C. 12/8 mmHg
D. 25/4 mmHg
change to an 80%20% heliox mixture
(This patient is receiving 30% oxygen though a Heliox mixture. One look at the blood
gas shows a PaO2 of 110 mmHg. This over oxygenation state indicates a need to lower
supplemental oxygen. Changing to an 80-20% Heliox mixture is most appropriate.) -
ANSWER-A patient receiving heliox therapy at 70%/30% mixture by non-rebreathing
mask has the following arterial blood gas results:
pH 7.35
PaCO2 45 mmHg
PaO2 110 mmHg
HCO3- 24 mEq/L
BE 0 mEq/L
Which of the following actions is appropriate?
Place patient on non-rebreathing mask
(This patient has profound hypoxemia even with supplemental oxygen. It is evident that
a small increase in oxygen will not be sufficient. 100% oxygen by a non-rebreather
mask is the most appropriate option.) - ANSWER-A patient in the emergency room is
receiving oxygen by nasal cannula at 3 L/min. Blood gases reveal the following:
pH 7.53
PaCO2 30 mmHg
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
"flipped" T waves and elevation of S-T segments - ANSWER-myocardial ischemia and
infarction
in mixed venous oxygen saturation - ANSWER-A left-to-right cardiac shunt, due to a
leak in the septum wall of the heart, would be best indicated by an increase
perforation in the lung tissue - ANSWER-Excessive bubbling in the water seal
compartment, in addition to low return volume during mechanical ventilation indicates...
distal end of the pulmonary artery catheter - ANSWER-A respiratory therapist is
preparing to obtain a mixed venous sample for the purpose of PvO2 measurement.
From which of the following locations should the sample be taken?
Decreasing pulmonary compliance - ANSWER-6 am 9 am
Ppeak(cm H2O) 20 32
Pplat (cm H2O) 13 25
Set VT (L) 0.6 0.6
PEEP (cm H2O) 5 5
Which of the following is most consistent with these data?
ABG and alveolar oxygen tension - ANSWER-A respiratory therapist is considering a
patient's readiness to wean from mechanical ventilation. To determine the A-aDO2, the
therapist will need which of the following?
Examine the ventilator circuit for proper connections - ANSWER-During a pre-
operational test of the ventilator with a test lung, the respiratory therapist notes a return
tidal volume of 600 cc. Ventilator settings are:
Mode Assist/control
FIO2 0.50
Mandatory rate 10
VT 750 mL
What action should the therapist take?
disconnected thermistor line (If you have a low pressure or low exhaled volume
ventilator alarm, you must look for the problem that could cause that specific type of
alarm. For this question this was the most appropriate answer.) - ANSWER-While
monitoring a patient receiving mechanical ventilation, the respiratory therapist notices
the low-pressure and low exhaled volume alarms are sounding. What could be the
cause?
, a kink in the endotracheal tube, a herniated endotracheal tube cuff, Excess water in the
limbs of the circuit, would cause what type of alarm to sound - ANSWER-would cause a
high-pressure alarm
a fracture in the plastic wye, a leak or a disconnection or by the patient if he or she is
inhaling at a higher inspiratory demand than that being delivered by the ventilator -
ANSWER-A patient receiving positive pressure ventilation has a low-pressure alarm
sounding. what would be the cause?
provide manual ventilation
(The NBRC knows that in real life, when you hear a ventilator alarm, you're tempted to
cancel the alarm or attempt to immediately solve the problem. Our first action should be
to stabilize the ventilatory status of the patient, and then troubleshoot the problem.) -
ANSWER-The high pressure alarm is sounding on a patient receiving volume controlled
ventilation. The respiratory therapist should FIRST
Anectine (succinylcholine chloride) - ANSWER-Which of the following medications is
shown to have sufficient affect when facial muscle twitching is observed?
25/8 mmHg - ANSWER-Which of the following pressures is most consistent with a
normal pulmonary artery pressure (PAP)?
A. 25/8 mmHg
B. 120/80 mmHg
C. 12/8 mmHg
D. 25/4 mmHg
change to an 80%20% heliox mixture
(This patient is receiving 30% oxygen though a Heliox mixture. One look at the blood
gas shows a PaO2 of 110 mmHg. This over oxygenation state indicates a need to lower
supplemental oxygen. Changing to an 80-20% Heliox mixture is most appropriate.) -
ANSWER-A patient receiving heliox therapy at 70%/30% mixture by non-rebreathing
mask has the following arterial blood gas results:
pH 7.35
PaCO2 45 mmHg
PaO2 110 mmHg
HCO3- 24 mEq/L
BE 0 mEq/L
Which of the following actions is appropriate?
Place patient on non-rebreathing mask
(This patient has profound hypoxemia even with supplemental oxygen. It is evident that
a small increase in oxygen will not be sufficient. 100% oxygen by a non-rebreather
mask is the most appropriate option.) - ANSWER-A patient in the emergency room is
receiving oxygen by nasal cannula at 3 L/min. Blood gases reveal the following:
pH 7.53
PaCO2 30 mmHg
