NBRC TMC Practice Exam Compendium
2026 Latest Edition
Question 1
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
Correct Answer: C. heart failure.
Question 2
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.
Correct Answer: C. Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space.
Question 3
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.
Correct Answer: C. using a low-residual-volume, low-compliance cuff.
Question 4
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.
Correct Answer: D. deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions.
Question 5
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.
Correct Answer: B. IPPB with normal saline
Question 6
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
A. 1, 2, and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3, and 4
Correct Answer: A. 1, 2, and 3 only
Question 7
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
Correct Answer: D. Insert a chest tube
Question 8
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%
Correct Answer: C. 5.0 vol%
, Question 9
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
Correct Answer: D. 50 mL/cm H2O
Question 10
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
C. manual ventilation with resuscitation bag and mask
D. reintubation
Correct Answer: D. reintubation
Question 11
A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min. Which of the following
patients would most likely benefit from pressure support ventilation?
A. An intubated patient with an absent respiratory drive.
B. A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min.
C. A patient with acute lung injury.
D. A patient who requires short-term post-operative ventilatory support.
Correct Answer: B. A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min.
2026 Latest Edition
Question 1
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
Correct Answer: C. heart failure.
Question 2
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.
Correct Answer: C. Needle aspirate the 2nd left intercostal space.
Question 3
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.
Correct Answer: C. using a low-residual-volume, low-compliance cuff.
Question 4
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.
Correct Answer: D. deep breathing and coughing to clear secretions.
Question 5
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.
Correct Answer: B. IPPB with normal saline
Question 6
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
A. 1, 2, and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3, and 4
Correct Answer: A. 1, 2, and 3 only
Question 7
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
Correct Answer: D. Insert a chest tube
Question 8
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%
Correct Answer: C. 5.0 vol%
, Question 9
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
Correct Answer: D. 50 mL/cm H2O
Question 10
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
C. manual ventilation with resuscitation bag and mask
D. reintubation
Correct Answer: D. reintubation
Question 11
A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min. Which of the following
patients would most likely benefit from pressure support ventilation?
A. An intubated patient with an absent respiratory drive.
B. A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min.
C. A patient with acute lung injury.
D. A patient who requires short-term post-operative ventilatory support.
Correct Answer: B. A patient on SIMV with a set rate of 12/min and total rate of 24/min.
