TMC Practice Exam B Kettering,
Questions & Answers. 100% Accurate.
After a patient undergoes a thoracentesis, the respiratory therapist notes that the obtained pleural fluid
is clear with a slight straw color. This
...
TMC Practice Exam B Kettering,
Questions & Answers. 100% Accurate.
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
A. empyema.
B. congestive heart failure.
C. lung carcinoma.
D. hemothorax. - ✔✔-B. congestive heart failure.
Which of the following would be most important to evaluate for a patient who is entering a smoking
cessation program?
A. Height
B. Smoking history
C. Weight
D. Diet - ✔✔-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?
A. Another syringe needs to be used
B. Spirometer is accurate
C. The plunger was advanced too slowly
D. Spirometer may have a leak - ✔✔-D. Spirometer may have a leak
Which of the following is an indication for high frequency jet ventilation?
A. Bronchopleural fistula
B. Wilson Mikity syndrome
C. Necrotizing lesion of right lung
D. Centrilobular emphysema - ✔✔-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?
A. Initiate assisted ventilation
B. Insert oropharyngeal airway
C. Obtain positron emission tomography
D. Initiate noninvasive capnography - ✔✔-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
A. transient tachypnea of the newborn.
B. meconium aspiration.
C. bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
D. apnea of prematurity. - ✔✔-B. meconium aspiration.
What is the normal VD/VT ratio for a patient breathing room air?
A. 5 - 15%
B. 20 - 40%
C. 45 - 55%
D. 65 - 75% - ✔✔-B. 20 - 40%
A heat moisture exchanger is indicated for humidification in which of the following situations?
A. Mechanical ventilation in a long-term care facility.
B. Transport to a tertiary care center.
C. Patient with tenacious secretions.
D. Delivery of aerosolized bronchodilators. - ✔✔-B. Transport to a tertiary care center.
All of the following could cause a patient's right-hemidiaphragm to be elevated, EXCEPT
A. right lower lobe atelectasis.
B. right side hyperlucency, absent vascular markings.
C. hepatomegaly.
D. right lower lobe consolidation with air bronchograms. - ✔✔-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?
A. Right lung 50 mL; left lung 650 mL
B. Right lung 150 mL; left lung 550 mL
C. Right lung 350 mL; left lung 350 mL
D. Right lung 550 mL; left lung 150 mL - ✔✔-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?
A. 15 mm Hg
B. 21 mm Hg
C. 60 mm Hg
D. 90 mm Hg - ✔✔-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?
A. The patient is making normal quiet ventilatory efforts.
B. A negative sputum culture and sensitivity has been reported.
C. The patient's ABG are within normal range.
D. Breath sounds are heard around the tube on auscultation. - ✔✔-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?
A. Cardiac enzymes
B. Serum electrolytes
C. Arterial blood gases
D. Cell hydration level - ✔✔-B. Serum electrolytes
While instructing a patient prior to a vital capacity maneuver, the respiratory therapist should direct the
patient to
A. exhale to residual volume and inhale to inspiratory capacity.
B. inhale to total lung capacity then exhale to residual volume.
C. exhale normally then inhale to total lung capacity.
D. inhale normally then exhale to functional residual capacity. - ✔✔-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
A. insert a chest tube.
B. administer 100% oxygen via mask.
C. perform endotracheal intubation.
D. initiate non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. - ✔✔-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?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema
C. Pneumothorax
D. Emphysema - ✔✔-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?
A. total flow = 6 x 2
B. total flow = 6 x 4
C. total flow = 6 x 5
D. total flow = 6 x 11 - ✔✔-D. total flow = 6 x 11
Fine crepitant crackles are most commonly associated with which of the following conditions?
A. Bronchitis
B. Pulmonary edema
C. Pneumonia
D. Foreign body aspiration - ✔✔-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
A. manually ventilate the patient with a resuscitation bag.
B. increase the flow to the transtracheal catheter to 6 L/min.
C. evaluate the SpO2 with a pulse oximeter.
D. flush the transtracheal device with isotonic saline. - ✔✔-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
A. verify the position of the transducer.
B. check the transducer dome for air bubbles.
C. flush the catheter with heparin solution.
D. attempt to draw blood from the arterial line. - ✔✔-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
A. peripheral vasoconstriction.
B. hypovolemia.
C. increased venous return.
D. increased SVR - ✔✔-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?
A. Atelectasis
B. Pneumonia
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Consolidation - ✔✔-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?
A. Lidocaine
B. Epinephrine
C. Atropine
D. Dobutamine - ✔✔-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
A. normal lung function.
B. sarcoidosis.
C. acute bronchitis.
D. cystic fibrosis. - ✔✔-B. sarcoidosis.
The respiratory therapist is in charge of transporting a patient with multiple trauma to a regional trauma
center in a fixed wing aircraft. Which of the following should the therapist be most concerned about
during the transport?
A. Tissue oxygenation
B. Pneumothorax
C. Pulmonary embolus
D. Humidification of the inspired gas - ✔✔-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
3. Pneumonia
A. 1 only
B. 3 only
C. 1 and 2 only
D. 2 and 3 only - ✔✔-B. 3 only
A patient is being ventilated in the intensive care unit. The following data is obtained:
Mode VC, SIMV
Mandatory rate 12 b/min
Total rate 18 b/min
VT 800 mL
FIO2 0.60
PIP 31 cm H2O
PEEP 10 cm H2O
pH 7.41
PaCO2 40 torr
PaO2 95 torr
SaO2 96%
HCO3- 23 mEq/L
BE +1 mEq/L
PECO2 30 torr
Hb 15 g/dL
What should the respiratory therapist report as the VD/VT ratio?
A. 15%
B. 25%
C. 40%
D. 50% - ✔✔-B. 25%
What is the air-to-oxygen ratio for an air entrainment device delivering 60% oxygen?
A. 1:1
B. 3:1
C. 4:1
D. 10:1 - ✔✔-A. 1:1
Following surgery to correct an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a 54-year-old female patient suddenly
develops intense substernal chest pain with severe dyspnea. The pain does not appear to be aggravated
by her respirations. Auscultation reveals bilateral, basilar, moist, crepitant rales. The patient appears
pale, cold and clammy. Which of the following should the respiratory therapist recommend for initial
assessment of this patient?
A. Serum electrolytes
B. Chest x-ray
C. Complete blood cell count
D. Electrocardiograph - ✔✔-D. Electrocardiograph
An adult patient is intubated with a 7.0 mm ID endotracheal tube. What size suction catheter should be
used to suction this patient?
A. 8 French
B. 10 French
C. 12 French
D. 14 French - ✔✔-B. 10 French
Which of the following would be the most appropriate test to evaluate partial vocal cord paralysis in a
patient complaining of difficulty swallowing?
A. SB nitrogen elimination
B. Maximum voluntary ventilation
C. Flow volume loop
D. Diffusing capacity - ✔✔-C. Flow volume loop
In order to reduce a patient's PaCO2 from 40 torr to 32 torr, all of the following could be increased
EXCEPT
A. tidal volume.
B. alveolar ventilation.
C. respiratory rate.
D. physiologic deadspace - ✔✔-D. physiologic deadspace
While examining the chest drainage system of a mechanically-ventilated patient following thoracotomy,
the respiratory therapist observes bubbling in the water-seal chamber during inspiration. This would
indicate
A. a leak in the chest drainage system.
B. air leaving the pleural space.
C. excessive pressure from the suction regulator.
D. inadequate water level in the water-seal chamber. - ✔✔-B. air leaving the pleural space.
A patient develops ascites and shortness of breath. Where is tissue edema most likely to show up first?
A. Ankles
B. Abdomen
C. Thorax
D. Hands - ✔✔-B. Abdomen
An acceptable level of PEEP therapy can be identified by all of the following EXCEPT
A. the lower inflection point of a volume-pressure loop graphic.
B. acceptable oxygenation without cardiovascular side effects.
C. increasing oxygenation with increasing plateau pressure.
D. increasing static compliance with acceptable oxygenation - ✔✔-C. increasing oxygenation with
increasing plateau pressure.
While suctioning a patient who is being mechanically ventilated, the respiratory therapist notes the
following ECG pattern on the monitor:
Suctioning is stopped and the patient is returned to the ventilator. Which of the following drugs should
the respiratory therapist recommend FIRST?
A. 100% oxygen
B. atropine
C. lidocaine
D. epinephrine - ✔✔-A. 100% oxygen
Adjusting the inspiratory flow during an IPPB treatment will result in a change in
A. respiratory rate.
B. peak pressure.
C. tidal volume.
D. inspiratory time - ✔✔-D. inspiratory time
A patient in the intensive care unit has the following hemodynamic measurements:
CVP 4 mm Hg
PAP 48/16 mm Hg
PCWP 8 mm Hg
MAP 92 mm Hg
Cardiac Output 5 L/min.
Cardiac Index 2.5 L/min/m2
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