TMC EXAM – SECURE
COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST
SAE EXAM BANK 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100%
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
GRADE A+
TMC SECURE COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST SAE EXAM - answer-EXAM COVERAGE -
TMC Secure Comprehensive Therapist SAE Exam
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 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.
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
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-C. using a low-residual-volume, low-
compliance cuff.
A 52 year-old post-operative cholecystectomy patient's breath sounds become more
coarse upon completion of postural drainage with percussion. The respiratory therapist
should recommend
A. continuing the therapy until breath sounds improve.
B. administering dornase alpha.
,C. administering albuterol therapy.
D. deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions. - answer-deep breathing and
coughing to clear secretions.
A 65 kg spinal cord injured patient has developed atelectasis. His inspiratory capacity is
30% of his predicted value. What bronchial hygiene therapy would be most appropriate
initially?
A. IS / SMI
B. IPPB with normal saline
C. postural drainage and percussion
D. PEP therapy - answer-IPPB with normal saline
A patient on VC ventilation has demonstrated auto-PEEP on ventilator graphics. Which
of the following controls, when adjusted independently, would increase expiratory time?
1. Tidal volume
2. Respiratory Rate
3. Inspiratory flow
4. Sensitivity - answer-1, 2, and 3 only
Which of the following would be the most appropriate therapy for a dyspneic patient
who has crepitus with tracheal deviation to the left and absent breath sounds on the
right?
A. Perform chest physiotherapy
B. Administer an IPPB treatment
C. Insert an endotracheal tube
, D. Insert a chest tube - answer-Insert a chest tube
A 55 year-old post cardiac surgery patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.50,
PaCO2 30 torr, PaO2 62 torr, HCO3 25 mEq/L, SaO2 92%, HB 14 g/dL, BE +2. Venous
blood gas results are pH 7.39, PvCO2 43 torr, PvO2 37 torr, and SvO2 66%. Calculate the
patient's C(a-v)O2.
A. 2.5 vol%
B. 4.0 vol%
C. 5.0 vol%
D. 5.5 vol% - answer-5.0 vol%
A patient on VC, SIMV with a VT of 500 mL has a PIP of 25 cm H2O, Pplat of 15 cm H2O
and PEEP of 5 cm H2O. What is the patient's static lung compliance
A. 25 mL/cm H2O
B. 35 mL/cm H2O
C. 45 mL/cm H2O
D. 50 mL/cm H2O - answer-50 mL/cm H2O
Immediately after extubation of a patient in the ICU, the respiratory therapist observes
increasing respiratory distress with intercostal retractions and marked stridor. The SpO2
on 40% oxygen is noted to be 86%. Which of the following would be most appropriate at
this time?
A. cool mist aerosol treatment
B. aerosolized racemic epinephrine
COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST
SAE EXAM BANK 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100%
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
GRADE A+
TMC SECURE COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST SAE EXAM - answer-EXAM COVERAGE -
TMC Secure Comprehensive Therapist SAE Exam
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 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.
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
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-C. using a low-residual-volume, low-
compliance cuff.
A 52 year-old post-operative cholecystectomy patient's breath sounds become more
coarse upon completion of postural drainage with percussion. The respiratory therapist
should recommend
A. continuing the therapy until breath sounds improve.
B. administering dornase alpha.
,C. administering albuterol therapy.
D. deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions. - answer-deep breathing and
coughing to clear secretions.
A 65 kg spinal cord injured patient has developed atelectasis. His inspiratory capacity is
30% of his predicted value. What bronchial hygiene therapy would be most appropriate
initially?
A. IS / SMI
B. IPPB with normal saline
C. postural drainage and percussion
D. PEP therapy - answer-IPPB with normal saline
A patient on VC ventilation has demonstrated auto-PEEP on ventilator graphics. Which
of the following controls, when adjusted independently, would increase expiratory time?
1. Tidal volume
2. Respiratory Rate
3. Inspiratory flow
4. Sensitivity - answer-1, 2, and 3 only
Which of the following would be the most appropriate therapy for a dyspneic patient
who has crepitus with tracheal deviation to the left and absent breath sounds on the
right?
A. Perform chest physiotherapy
B. Administer an IPPB treatment
C. Insert an endotracheal tube
, D. Insert a chest tube - answer-Insert a chest tube
A 55 year-old post cardiac surgery patient has the following ABG results: pH 7.50,
PaCO2 30 torr, PaO2 62 torr, HCO3 25 mEq/L, SaO2 92%, HB 14 g/dL, BE +2. Venous
blood gas results are pH 7.39, PvCO2 43 torr, PvO2 37 torr, and SvO2 66%. Calculate the
patient's C(a-v)O2.
A. 2.5 vol%
B. 4.0 vol%
C. 5.0 vol%
D. 5.5 vol% - answer-5.0 vol%
A patient on VC, SIMV with a VT of 500 mL has a PIP of 25 cm H2O, Pplat of 15 cm H2O
and PEEP of 5 cm H2O. What is the patient's static lung compliance
A. 25 mL/cm H2O
B. 35 mL/cm H2O
C. 45 mL/cm H2O
D. 50 mL/cm H2O - answer-50 mL/cm H2O
Immediately after extubation of a patient in the ICU, the respiratory therapist observes
increasing respiratory distress with intercostal retractions and marked stridor. The SpO2
on 40% oxygen is noted to be 86%. Which of the following would be most appropriate at
this time?
A. cool mist aerosol treatment
B. aerosolized racemic epinephrine
