2026 Complete Prep | A+ Verified
• List 4 critical life functions -✓✓Ventilation Oxygenation Circulation Perfusion
• What life function is first priority? -✓✓Ventilation
• What assessments would determine how well a patient is ventilating? -✓✓-RR
-Vt
-Chest Movement
-Breath Sounds
-PaCo2
-EtCO2
• How would the therapist determine if a patient has a problem with oxygenation? -✓✓-
HR
-Color
-Sensorium
-PaO2/SpO2
• What information would help the therapist determine if a patient's circulation is
adequate? -✓✓-HR and Strength
-CO
• What changes may indicate if a patient doesn't have adequate perfusion? -✓✓-HR
-BP
-Sensorium
-Temperature
-Urine Output
-Hemodynamics
• Signs are -✓✓objective information - things you can see and measure
-color
-pulse
-edema
-vital signs
• symptoms are -✓✓subjective information - things patient tells you
-dyspnea
-pain level
-nausea
-muscle weakness
,• 5 items that are important to review in a patients medical record -✓✓1. Allergies
2. Signs/Symptoms
3. History
4. Advanced directives
5. HPI
• advanced directive -✓✓set of instructions documenting what Tx a patient wants if they
were unable to make medical decisions
• what are 4 types of advanced directives -✓✓1. living will - Tx patient wants if became
terminally ill; doesn't appoint someone else to make medical decisions
2. DNI order - do not intubate (can ventilate)
3. DNR order - do not resuscitate
4. durable power of attorney - health care proxy; only in affect when patient can't make
healthcare decisions
• A properly written order for respiratory care should include what 4 factors? -✓✓1. type
of treatment
2. frequency
3. medication/dosage
4. physician signature
• The respiratory therapist has just finished administering an aerosol treatment with
albuterol to a child with asthma. What should be included in documentation of the
treatment? -✓✓date, time, reactions, etc.
respiratory notes
• What is the normal value for urine output -✓✓40mL/hour (approx. 1 liter/day)
• What findings might indicate a patients fluid intake has exceeded his urine output? -
✓✓weight gain
electrolyte imbalance
increased hemodynamic pressures
decreased lung compliance
• Changes in what value can indicate hypovolemia? -✓✓CVP - less than 2
need fluid (IV) therapy
• Describe medication reconciliation -✓✓ensuring patients medication list is accurate
and up to date as possible. Must be done within first 24 hours of admission
• Semicomatose -✓✓responds to only painful stimuli
• lethargic/somnolent -✓✓sleepy
consider sleep apnea, excessive O2 therapy with COPD patients
, • Obtunded -✓✓drowsy
decreased cough/gag reflex
risk of aspiration
• when assessing a patients orientation to time place and person, what are some of the
factors that could affect the patients ability to cooperate? -✓✓language difficulties
influence of medication
hearing loss
fear/apprehension depression
• define activities of daily living -✓✓basic tasks of everyday life
• 6 criteria for ADL are based on -✓✓bathing
eating
dressing
toileting
transferring
urine/bowel continence
• ADL are evaluated using the - system -✓✓katz
• orthopnea -✓✓difficulty breathing lying down
think CHF
• general malaise -✓✓feeling unwell
electrolyte imbalance
• dyspnea -✓✓short of breath
• dysphagia -✓✓trouble swallowing
• what are 4 factors to consider when conducting a patient interview -✓✓ask open
ended questions
use simple language
use pictures or diagrams
identify patients with major problems
• Eupnea -✓✓normal breathing
• tachypnea -✓✓fast RR
conditions: fever, hypoxia, pain, CNS problems
• bradypnea -✓✓slow RR