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SECURE COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST
MULTIPLE CHOICE SAE ACTUAL EXAM
PREPARATION NEWEST 2025 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS FULLY VERIFIED BRAND NEW
VERSION HIGH YIELD STUDY GUIDE ACTUAL
UPDATED PRACTICE QUESTIONS EXAM
PREPARATION GRADED A+
On the basis of these data, which of the following should the respiratory therapist
recommend?
A. Increase the VT to 650 mL
B. Increase the FiO2 to 0.40
C. Increase the ventilator rate to 8/min
D. Change to assist-control mode at a rate of 15/min - ANSWER-C, This patient's increased
PaCO2 level indicates hypoventilation, which can be reversed by increasing the minute
ventilation. This can be accomplished by increasing the ventilator rate or VT, both of
which are choices. We must assume the patient is being weaned from the ventilator
based on the low ventilator rate (SIMV rate of 4). Weaning is accomplished as we
reduce the ventilator rate and allow the patient to breathe more on his or her own. If the
patient's PaCO2 begins to increase during weaning, we increase the rate, not the VT.
The ventilator VT is at the maximum level of 8 mL/kg based on the patient's weight of 75
kg (8 x 75 = 600), therefore increasing the ventilator rate is the most acceptable choice.
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The following data have been collected on a patient receiving continuous
mechanical ventilation:
1:00pm 3:00pm
Delivered VT 600 600
Peak airway pressure 44 52
Static airway pressure 25 33
Inspiratory flow 40 40
PEEP 5 5
Which of the following is the best interpretation of these data?
A)The peak airway pressure increased as a result of increased airway resistance.
B)The peak airway pressure increased as a result of decreased lung compliance.
C)The patient's lung compliance is improving.
D)The patient's dynamic compliance is increasing. - ANSWER-B. Notice that
while peak inspiratory pressure increased, the static airway pressure increased
as well. Static pressure closely resembles alveolar pressure. An increasing static
pressure is a sign that it is taking more pressure to ventilate the lung; therefore,
lung compliance is decreasing. In this question, if the PIP would have increased
with no increase in the static pressure, then choice A would have been the
correct answer. When airway resistance increases because of airway secretions,
water in the ventilator tubing, or bronchospasm, PIP increases, but static
pressure remains unchanged.
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Static pressure closely resembles alveolar pressure. An increasing static pressure is a
sign that it is taking more pressure to ventilate the lung; therefore, lung ? - ANSWER-
compliance is decreasing.
if the PIP would have increased with no increase in the static pressure, what
would be the cause ? - ANSWER-When airway resistance increases because of
airway secretions, water in the ventilator tubing, or bronchospasm, PIP
increases, but static pressure remains unchanged.
Tracheal secretions tend to dry out in an intubated patient when inspired air has
which of the following characteristics?
A. A water vapor pressure of 47 mm Hg B. 50 mg of particulate water/L of gas
C. An absolute humidity of 24 mg/L of gas
D. 44 mg of particulate water/L of gas - ANSWER-. C, When air that is not fully
saturated at body temperature is delivered to an intubated patient, a humidity deficit
exists and secretions get thicker because of lack of inspired water. The inspired air
must contain 44 mg H2O per liter of gas or exert a water vapor pressure of 47 mm
Hg to be fully saturated at body temperature. (Analysis)
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It is important to monitor plateau pressure in a patient receiving mechanical
ventilation because it best reflects
A. Lung compliance
B. PaO2
C. PaCO2
D. ICP - ANSWER-A, Lung compliance is determined by dividing the VT by the plateau
pressure.
The respiratory therapist palpates no pulse on a patient, but the ECG monitor shows
QRS complexes on the tracing. The therapist should
A. Get a stat ABG
B. Recommend defibrillation at 250 J
C. Begin cardiac compressions
D. Recommend cardioversion at 120 J - ANSWER-C, Regardless of what the ECG monitor
is recording, if the patient has no pulse, compressions must be started immediately. An
example of this rare situation is electromechanical dissociation (EMD), also referred to
as pulseless electrical activity (PEA), in which the ECG monitor does not reflect the
actual mechanical activity of the heart. (Analysis)
Regardless of what the ECG monitor is recording, if the patient has no pulse,
compressions must be started immediately. An example of this rare situation is
SECURE COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST
MULTIPLE CHOICE SAE ACTUAL EXAM
PREPARATION NEWEST 2025 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS FULLY VERIFIED BRAND NEW
VERSION HIGH YIELD STUDY GUIDE ACTUAL
UPDATED PRACTICE QUESTIONS EXAM
PREPARATION GRADED A+
On the basis of these data, which of the following should the respiratory therapist
recommend?
A. Increase the VT to 650 mL
B. Increase the FiO2 to 0.40
C. Increase the ventilator rate to 8/min
D. Change to assist-control mode at a rate of 15/min - ANSWER-C, This patient's increased
PaCO2 level indicates hypoventilation, which can be reversed by increasing the minute
ventilation. This can be accomplished by increasing the ventilator rate or VT, both of
which are choices. We must assume the patient is being weaned from the ventilator
based on the low ventilator rate (SIMV rate of 4). Weaning is accomplished as we
reduce the ventilator rate and allow the patient to breathe more on his or her own. If the
patient's PaCO2 begins to increase during weaning, we increase the rate, not the VT.
The ventilator VT is at the maximum level of 8 mL/kg based on the patient's weight of 75
kg (8 x 75 = 600), therefore increasing the ventilator rate is the most acceptable choice.
,2 | Page
The following data have been collected on a patient receiving continuous
mechanical ventilation:
1:00pm 3:00pm
Delivered VT 600 600
Peak airway pressure 44 52
Static airway pressure 25 33
Inspiratory flow 40 40
PEEP 5 5
Which of the following is the best interpretation of these data?
A)The peak airway pressure increased as a result of increased airway resistance.
B)The peak airway pressure increased as a result of decreased lung compliance.
C)The patient's lung compliance is improving.
D)The patient's dynamic compliance is increasing. - ANSWER-B. Notice that
while peak inspiratory pressure increased, the static airway pressure increased
as well. Static pressure closely resembles alveolar pressure. An increasing static
pressure is a sign that it is taking more pressure to ventilate the lung; therefore,
lung compliance is decreasing. In this question, if the PIP would have increased
with no increase in the static pressure, then choice A would have been the
correct answer. When airway resistance increases because of airway secretions,
water in the ventilator tubing, or bronchospasm, PIP increases, but static
pressure remains unchanged.
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Static pressure closely resembles alveolar pressure. An increasing static pressure is a
sign that it is taking more pressure to ventilate the lung; therefore, lung ? - ANSWER-
compliance is decreasing.
if the PIP would have increased with no increase in the static pressure, what
would be the cause ? - ANSWER-When airway resistance increases because of
airway secretions, water in the ventilator tubing, or bronchospasm, PIP
increases, but static pressure remains unchanged.
Tracheal secretions tend to dry out in an intubated patient when inspired air has
which of the following characteristics?
A. A water vapor pressure of 47 mm Hg B. 50 mg of particulate water/L of gas
C. An absolute humidity of 24 mg/L of gas
D. 44 mg of particulate water/L of gas - ANSWER-. C, When air that is not fully
saturated at body temperature is delivered to an intubated patient, a humidity deficit
exists and secretions get thicker because of lack of inspired water. The inspired air
must contain 44 mg H2O per liter of gas or exert a water vapor pressure of 47 mm
Hg to be fully saturated at body temperature. (Analysis)
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It is important to monitor plateau pressure in a patient receiving mechanical
ventilation because it best reflects
A. Lung compliance
B. PaO2
C. PaCO2
D. ICP - ANSWER-A, Lung compliance is determined by dividing the VT by the plateau
pressure.
The respiratory therapist palpates no pulse on a patient, but the ECG monitor shows
QRS complexes on the tracing. The therapist should
A. Get a stat ABG
B. Recommend defibrillation at 250 J
C. Begin cardiac compressions
D. Recommend cardioversion at 120 J - ANSWER-C, Regardless of what the ECG monitor
is recording, if the patient has no pulse, compressions must be started immediately. An
example of this rare situation is electromechanical dissociation (EMD), also referred to
as pulseless electrical activity (PEA), in which the ECG monitor does not reflect the
actual mechanical activity of the heart. (Analysis)
Regardless of what the ECG monitor is recording, if the patient has no pulse,
compressions must be started immediately. An example of this rare situation is
