Page 1 of 71
TMC EXAM - SECURE COMPREHENSIVE
THERAPIST SAE EXAM | FREQUENTLY TESTED
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS |
BRAND NEW!
The TMC Secure Comprehensive Therapist Self-Assessment Examination (SAE)
evaluates the knowledge and clinical competencies required for respiratory therapists
preparing for advanced credentialing exams. The exam is administered by National
Board for Respiratory Care and focuses on comprehensive respiratory care principles.
Key topics include respiratory anatomy and physiology, patient assessment, and
interpretation of arterial blood gases (ABGs). The exam covers mechanical ventilation
management, airway care, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary function testing. Candidates
are tested on neonatal, pediatric, and adult respiratory care, including treatment of
conditions such as COPD, asthma, respiratory failure, and acute lung disorders.
Additional areas include pharmacology related to respiratory therapy, infection control,
emergency and critical care procedures, and patient monitoring techniques. The exam
emphasizes clinical decision-making, problem-solving, and application of evidence-
based respiratory care practices in diverse healthcare settings.
A 72-year-old female post stem cell transplant patient in the ICU
is complaining of difficulty breathing and is noted to have diffuse
fluffy infiltrates on chest X-ray. The B-type Natriuretic Peptide
(BNP) test result demonstrates 700 pg/mL. What is the patient's
possible condition?
A. severe heart failure
,Page 2 of 71
B. respiratory distress syndrome
C. severe renal failure
D. moderate heart failure - ✔✔✔ correct answer > A
A 75 kg (165 lb) patient with acute lung injury is being
mechanically ventilated at the following settings: VC, A/C; VT 300
mL, respiratory rate 16/min, FIO2 0.50 and PEEP +5 cm H2O. The
following arterial blood gas results are obtained: pH 7.30, PaCO2
58 torr, PaO2 79 torr, HCO3- 28 mEq/L. The patient's condition
should be described as
A. venous admixture.
B. ventilation/perfusion mismatching.
C. hypoventilation.
D. refractory hypoxemia. - ✔✔✔ correct answer > hypoventilation.
Following blunt chest trauma, a 35-year-old male is orally
intubated and continuous mechanical ventilation is initiated.
Physical assessment of the neck and chest reveal a midline
trachea and significant reduction in thoracic expansion of the left
chest. There are diminished breath sounds in the left lung
compared to the right lung. These findings most likely indicate
which of the following?
,Page 3 of 71
A. flail chest on right thorax
B. right tension pneumothorax
C. endobronchial intubation
D. subcutaneous emphysema - ✔✔✔ correct answer > endobronchial
intubation
A patient receiving pressure-controlled ventilation has acute
hypoventilation with an ETCO2 of 70 torr. His vital signs include:
heart rate 90/min, respiratory rate 18/min, SpO2 94%. Which of
the following change(s) will address the situation?
1. Increase the pressure limit
2. Increase the sensitivity
3. Increase the mandatory rate
4. Decrease the inspiratory time - ✔✔✔ correct answer > 1 and 3
A 60 year-old male has just been extubated following coronary
artery bypass grafting. His chest X-ray demonstrates platelike
infiltrates with scattered densities and he is noted to have
decreased chest expansion with an increased respiratory rate.
Which of the following treatments should be recommended for
this patient?
A. diuretics
, Page 4 of 71
B. antibiotics
C. lung expansion therapy
D. thoracentesis - ✔✔✔ correct answer > lung expansion therapy
A 42 year-old trauma patient in the ED has been intubated with a
6.5 mm oral endotracheal tube equipped with a high-residual-
volume, low-pressure cuff. The respiratory therapist notes that a
cuff pressure of 42 cm H2O is necessary to achieve a minimal
occluding volume. This would indicate that the
A. tube is not of the appropriate size.
B. pilot balloon and line are obstructed.
C. pressure manometer is defective.
D. cuff has herniated over the tip of the tube. - ✔✔✔ correct answer >
tube is not of the appropriate size.
A patient is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min and
has the following ABG results: pH 7.37, PaCO2 42 torr, PaO2 80,
HCO3 38 mEq/L. The most likely explanation for these results is
that
A. the sample was not iced properly.
B. there was excess heparin in the syringe.
TMC EXAM - SECURE COMPREHENSIVE
THERAPIST SAE EXAM | FREQUENTLY TESTED
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS |
BRAND NEW!
The TMC Secure Comprehensive Therapist Self-Assessment Examination (SAE)
evaluates the knowledge and clinical competencies required for respiratory therapists
preparing for advanced credentialing exams. The exam is administered by National
Board for Respiratory Care and focuses on comprehensive respiratory care principles.
Key topics include respiratory anatomy and physiology, patient assessment, and
interpretation of arterial blood gases (ABGs). The exam covers mechanical ventilation
management, airway care, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary function testing. Candidates
are tested on neonatal, pediatric, and adult respiratory care, including treatment of
conditions such as COPD, asthma, respiratory failure, and acute lung disorders.
Additional areas include pharmacology related to respiratory therapy, infection control,
emergency and critical care procedures, and patient monitoring techniques. The exam
emphasizes clinical decision-making, problem-solving, and application of evidence-
based respiratory care practices in diverse healthcare settings.
A 72-year-old female post stem cell transplant patient in the ICU
is complaining of difficulty breathing and is noted to have diffuse
fluffy infiltrates on chest X-ray. The B-type Natriuretic Peptide
(BNP) test result demonstrates 700 pg/mL. What is the patient's
possible condition?
A. severe heart failure
,Page 2 of 71
B. respiratory distress syndrome
C. severe renal failure
D. moderate heart failure - ✔✔✔ correct answer > A
A 75 kg (165 lb) patient with acute lung injury is being
mechanically ventilated at the following settings: VC, A/C; VT 300
mL, respiratory rate 16/min, FIO2 0.50 and PEEP +5 cm H2O. The
following arterial blood gas results are obtained: pH 7.30, PaCO2
58 torr, PaO2 79 torr, HCO3- 28 mEq/L. The patient's condition
should be described as
A. venous admixture.
B. ventilation/perfusion mismatching.
C. hypoventilation.
D. refractory hypoxemia. - ✔✔✔ correct answer > hypoventilation.
Following blunt chest trauma, a 35-year-old male is orally
intubated and continuous mechanical ventilation is initiated.
Physical assessment of the neck and chest reveal a midline
trachea and significant reduction in thoracic expansion of the left
chest. There are diminished breath sounds in the left lung
compared to the right lung. These findings most likely indicate
which of the following?
,Page 3 of 71
A. flail chest on right thorax
B. right tension pneumothorax
C. endobronchial intubation
D. subcutaneous emphysema - ✔✔✔ correct answer > endobronchial
intubation
A patient receiving pressure-controlled ventilation has acute
hypoventilation with an ETCO2 of 70 torr. His vital signs include:
heart rate 90/min, respiratory rate 18/min, SpO2 94%. Which of
the following change(s) will address the situation?
1. Increase the pressure limit
2. Increase the sensitivity
3. Increase the mandatory rate
4. Decrease the inspiratory time - ✔✔✔ correct answer > 1 and 3
A 60 year-old male has just been extubated following coronary
artery bypass grafting. His chest X-ray demonstrates platelike
infiltrates with scattered densities and he is noted to have
decreased chest expansion with an increased respiratory rate.
Which of the following treatments should be recommended for
this patient?
A. diuretics
, Page 4 of 71
B. antibiotics
C. lung expansion therapy
D. thoracentesis - ✔✔✔ correct answer > lung expansion therapy
A 42 year-old trauma patient in the ED has been intubated with a
6.5 mm oral endotracheal tube equipped with a high-residual-
volume, low-pressure cuff. The respiratory therapist notes that a
cuff pressure of 42 cm H2O is necessary to achieve a minimal
occluding volume. This would indicate that the
A. tube is not of the appropriate size.
B. pilot balloon and line are obstructed.
C. pressure manometer is defective.
D. cuff has herniated over the tip of the tube. - ✔✔✔ correct answer >
tube is not of the appropriate size.
A patient is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min and
has the following ABG results: pH 7.37, PaCO2 42 torr, PaO2 80,
HCO3 38 mEq/L. The most likely explanation for these results is
that
A. the sample was not iced properly.
B. there was excess heparin in the syringe.
