TMC Exam Questions & Answers. Predictor
EXAM Latest Update 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.
The respiratory therapist has been asked to measure Auto-PEEP on a patient
receiving mechanical ventilation. In order to do this, the therapist should
A. initiate an inspiratory hold just after the next ventilator-delivered breath.
B. initiate an expiratory hold just prior to the next ventilator-delivered breath.
C. subtract Pplat from Pdyn.
D. subtract set PEEP from the measured Pplat. - Answer-initiate an expiratory
hold just prior to the next ventilator-delivered breath.
,A patient who suffered trauma in an ATV accident is being monitored in the ICU. A
pulmonary artery catheter has been placed and the following data is available:
PvO2 46 torr
PCWP 19 mm Hg
PAP (mean) 10 mm Hg
CVP 12 cm H2O
Cardiac Output 3L/min
The respiratory therapist should recommend
1. IV fluid challenge
2. positive inotropic agent
3. inhaled nitric oxide
4. diuretic therapy - Answer-2 and 4
What is the primary advantage of volume-controlled ventilation as compared to
pressure-controlled ventilation?
A. VC limits and controls PIP.
B. VC provides a constant minute ventilation.
C. VC ensures better patient-ventilator synchrony.
D. VC delivers a decelerating flow pattern. - Answer-VC provides a constant
minute ventilation.
, Bronchial breath sounds heard over the lung periphery indicate
A. narrowed airways.
B. obstructed bronchi.
C. lung consolidation.
D. pulmonary edema. - Answer-lung consolidation.
During a pre-operative evaluation, bedside spirometry results are as follows: FVC
88% of predicted, FEV1 85% of predicted, FEV1/FVC 82% of predicted and FEF25-
75 81% of predicted. How should the respiratory therapist interpret these results?
A. a mild restrictive disorder
B. a mild obstructive disorder
C. normal lung function
D. mixed obstructive/restrictive disorder - Answer-normal lung function
A 55 year-old male patient is being evaluated for pulmonary rehabilitation. During
a cycle ergometer cardiopulmonary stress procedure, the patient has a heart rate
of 100/min and a respiratory rate of 20/min. He suddenly begins to complain of
chest pain and severe shortness of breath. The respiratory therapist should
A. reduce the speed of the bike.
B. administer supplemental oxygen.
C. gradually reduce the workload and monitor closely.
EXAM Latest Update 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.
The respiratory therapist has been asked to measure Auto-PEEP on a patient
receiving mechanical ventilation. In order to do this, the therapist should
A. initiate an inspiratory hold just after the next ventilator-delivered breath.
B. initiate an expiratory hold just prior to the next ventilator-delivered breath.
C. subtract Pplat from Pdyn.
D. subtract set PEEP from the measured Pplat. - Answer-initiate an expiratory
hold just prior to the next ventilator-delivered breath.
,A patient who suffered trauma in an ATV accident is being monitored in the ICU. A
pulmonary artery catheter has been placed and the following data is available:
PvO2 46 torr
PCWP 19 mm Hg
PAP (mean) 10 mm Hg
CVP 12 cm H2O
Cardiac Output 3L/min
The respiratory therapist should recommend
1. IV fluid challenge
2. positive inotropic agent
3. inhaled nitric oxide
4. diuretic therapy - Answer-2 and 4
What is the primary advantage of volume-controlled ventilation as compared to
pressure-controlled ventilation?
A. VC limits and controls PIP.
B. VC provides a constant minute ventilation.
C. VC ensures better patient-ventilator synchrony.
D. VC delivers a decelerating flow pattern. - Answer-VC provides a constant
minute ventilation.
, Bronchial breath sounds heard over the lung periphery indicate
A. narrowed airways.
B. obstructed bronchi.
C. lung consolidation.
D. pulmonary edema. - Answer-lung consolidation.
During a pre-operative evaluation, bedside spirometry results are as follows: FVC
88% of predicted, FEV1 85% of predicted, FEV1/FVC 82% of predicted and FEF25-
75 81% of predicted. How should the respiratory therapist interpret these results?
A. a mild restrictive disorder
B. a mild obstructive disorder
C. normal lung function
D. mixed obstructive/restrictive disorder - Answer-normal lung function
A 55 year-old male patient is being evaluated for pulmonary rehabilitation. During
a cycle ergometer cardiopulmonary stress procedure, the patient has a heart rate
of 100/min and a respiratory rate of 20/min. He suddenly begins to complain of
chest pain and severe shortness of breath. The respiratory therapist should
A. reduce the speed of the bike.
B. administer supplemental oxygen.
C. gradually reduce the workload and monitor closely.
