NBRC TMC Mock Exam Study Guide – RESP 320 Respiratory Therapy – ABG Analysis, Oxygen Therapy & Mechanical Ventilation (120 Questions)

This document contains 120 exam-style questions with verified answers designed to help students and respiratory therapy professionals prepare for the NBRC TMC (Therapist Multiple-Choice) examination. The material reviews essential respiratory care topics including oxygen therapy devices, arterial blood gas interpretation, humidification and aerosol therapy, airway management, mechanical ventilation, and cardiopulmonary assessment. Presented in a structured question-and-answer format, the guide provides targeted preparation for candidates studying for respiratory therapy board examinations and clinical competency assessments. The study guide begins with oxygen therapy calculations and delivery systems, which are fundamental topics for respiratory therapists. Questions review oxygen cylinder duration calculations using the E-cylinder conversion factor, proper use of oxygen delivery devices such as nasal cannulas, simple masks, non-rebreathing masks, and air-entrainment masks, and appropriate oxygen flow adjustments when reservoir bags collapse during inspiration. The material also addresses treatment recommendations for conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, where high-concentration oxygen delivered through a non-rebreathing mask is often required. Another major section focuses on arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretation and oxygenation assessment. Students review ABG values including pH, PaCO₂, PaO₂, bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), and oxygen saturation, and learn to evaluate acid-base disorders such as metabolic alkalosis and respiratory alkalosis. The study guide also includes calculations for determining total arterial oxygen content (CaO₂) using hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation values. These calculations help clinicians evaluate oxygen transport and tissue perfusion in critically ill patients. The guide also examines humidification and aerosol therapy, which are critical components of respiratory care. Respiratory therapists must ensure that inhaled gases contain sufficient humidity to prevent drying and thickening of airway secretions. The document explains humidity levels such as 44 mg H₂O/L, which corresponds to fully saturated gas at body temperature. It also compares different humidification devices including heated humidifiers, heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs), bubble humidifiers, and heated wick humidifiers, which can provide high water vapor output for mechanically ventilated patients. Another important section reviews airway management and intubation procedures. Topics include proper endotracheal tube placement verification, cuff pressure management, suction catheter selection, and complications associated with airway devices. For example, maintaining intracuff pressures between 20–30 cm H₂O helps prevent air leaks while minimizing the risk of tracheal mucosal damage. The guide also discusses airway management tools such as Magill forceps, which are commonly used during nasotracheal intubation, and supraglottic airway devices such as the King airway, which may be used in difficult airway situations. The document also reviews clinical respiratory assessment techniques used by respiratory therapists. These include evaluation of capillary refill to assess peripheral perfusion, chest palpation to identify changes in tactile fremitus, and observation of abnormal respiratory patterns such as tachypnea, orthopnea, or paradoxical chest movement. Clinical signs such as pedal edema and jugular venous distention may indicate right-sided heart failure or pulmonary hypertension, which are often associated with chronic lung diseases such as emphysema. Another section addresses mechanical ventilation monitoring and troubleshooting. Respiratory therapists must interpret ventilator alarms, assess airway resistance, and evaluate patient-ventilator synchrony. The material explains how ventilator waveforms such as the flow-time waveform can help identify auto-PEEP (intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure). Calculations for static lung compliance are also included, helping clinicians evaluate lung elasticity and ventilator settings during volume-controlled ventilation. The study guide also examines procedures and complications related to bronchoscopy and chest tube placement. Bronchoscopy may lead to complications such as pneumothorax, pulmonary hemorrhage, bronchospasm, or hypoxemia, requiring careful monitoring of ventilator pressures and oxygenation. The guide also reviews chest tube placement for pneumothorax, noting that tubes are commonly inserted at the second intercostal space along the midclavicular line to evacuate air from the pleural cavity. In addition, the document includes questions related to cardiac biomarkers and cardiovascular assessment relevant to respiratory care practice. For example, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is used to evaluate congestive heart failure, while elevated CK-MB levels may indicate acute myocardial infarction. Respiratory therapists often monitor these markers to differentiate cardiac causes of dyspnea from primary pulmonary conditions. The material in this study guide aligns with major respiratory therapy textbooks and board exam preparation resources such as Egan’s Fundamentals of Respiratory Care by Robert M. Kacmarek, James K. Stoller, and Albert J. Heuer, which is widely used in respiratory therapy programs and NBRC exam preparation. These resources cover the same core competencies required for respiratory therapy certification exams, including oxygen therapy, airway management, ventilator management, and cardiopulmonary diagnostics. This document may be particularly useful for students enrolled in courses such as: RESP 320 – Respiratory Care Principles RESP 340 – Mechanical Ventilation and Airway Management RESP 350 – Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics and ABG Analysis MED 420 – Critical Care Respiratory Therapy NBRC TMC – Therapist Multiple-Choice Certification Preparation It is relevant for learners and professionals including: Respiratory therapy students preparing for board exams Candidates studying for the NBRC TMC examination Healthcare students reviewing oxygen therapy and ventilator management Respiratory therapists preparing for clinical competency exams Critical care professionals reviewing cardiopulmonary assessment and airway management Because the material is structured as exam-style questions covering oxygen therapy, ABG interpretation, humidification therapy, airway management, and mechanical ventilation, it serves as a comprehensive resource for NBRC TMC exam preparation, respiratory therapy certification study, and critical care respiratory review. 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