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TMC PRACTICE EXAM 2026 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
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.
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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.
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.
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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
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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%
TMC PRACTICE EXAM 2026 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
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.
,2 | Page
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.
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.
,3 | Page
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
, 4 | Page
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%
