TMC Exam C
1). A. manual dexterity
Ans: The respiratory therapist should evaluate which of the following to develop a
teaching plan for a patient who will be using a small volume nebulizer at home?
a. manual dexterity
b. highest grade level achieved in school
c. spousal support
d. English speaking proficiency
2). D. bronchoscopy
Ans: Which of the following would be most beneficial in resolving microatelectasis?
a. chest tubes
b. percutaneous ventilation
c. thoracentesis
d. bronchoscopy
3). B. oropharyngeal airway
Ans: A 45 year-old patient is recovering in the intensive care unit after undergoing a
surgical procedure to repair a hernia. The patient remains unconscious. To prevent soft
tissue obstruction, the respiratory therapist should recommend a(n)
a. double-lumen endobronchial tube
b. oropharyngeal airway
c. bite block
d. nasopharyngeal airway
4). D. run 2 only
Ans: Quality control material has published values for pH of 7.20, PO2 of 65 mmHg.
Documentation indicates the range of pH is 0.5% and is 3% for PO2. Machine results are
as follows:
Run 1: pH 7.19, PO2 64
Run 2: pH 7.10, PO2 69
Run 3: pH 7.21, PO2 65
Which quality control run(s) indicate the machine is out of control?
a. Run 1 and 2
b. Run 2 and 3
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, c. Run 3 only
d. Run 2 only
5). A. abg and alveolar oxygen tension
Ans: A respiratory therapist is considering a patient's readiness to wean from
mechanical ventilation. To determine the A-aDO2, the therapist will need which of the
following?
a. ABG and alveolar oxygen tension
b. VD/VT and PAO2
c. CaO2 and PAO2
d. VD/VT and ABG
6). C. heliox therapy
Ans: A patient with increased airway resistance from a fixed upper airway obstruction
would benefit most from which of the following?
a. bronchodilator therapy
b. epinephrine
c. heliox therapy
d. aerosolized atropine
7). D. inspiratory muscle strength
Ans: Evaluating MIP (maximum inspiratory pressure) is most useful in evaluating
which of the following?
a. presence of a restrictive pulmonary defect
b. effectiveness of cough
c. presence of obstructive pulmonary defect
d. inspiratory muscle strength
8). B. excess water in the tubing
Ans: An air-entrainment jet nebulizer is set at 50%. The respiratory therapist analyzes
the oxygen coming from the end of the tubing and finds it is 60%. Which of the following
most likely explains this finding?
a. poorly calibrate analyzer
b. excess water in the tubing
c. low flow through the jet orifice
d. leak in the tubing
9). A. examine the ventilator circuit for proper connections
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, Ans: During a preoperational test of the ventilator with a test lung, the respiratory
therapist notes a return tidal volume of 600 cc. Ventilator settings are:
Mode: Assist/control
FiO2: 0.50
Mandatory rate: 10
VT: 750 mL
What action should the therapist take?
a. examine the ventilator circuit for proper connections
b. obtain a larger test lung
c. increase the set tidal volume to 900 mL
d. obtain a smaller test lung
10). D. change the fuel cell
Ans: During the preoperational test of the ventilator, the respiratory therapist notices
the galvanic analyzer on the ventilator is reading erroneously low. Which of the following
can the respiratory therapist do to correct the problem?
a. replace the analyzer batteries
b. replace the electrolyte solution in the analyzer
c. tag the ventilator as non-functional and avoid placing it in service
d. change the fuel cell
11). B. poor hand washing among staff
Ans: Which of the following is most likely to increase nosocomial infection in a
hospital?
a. use of an HME for 48 hours
b. poor hand washing among staff
c. frequent disconnection in the ventilator circuit
d. use of alcohol-based hand cleaners
12). B. disconnected thermistor line
Ans: While monitoring a patient receiving mechanical ventilation, the respiratory
therapist notices the low-pressure and low exhaled volume alarms are sounding. Which
of the following could be the cause?
a. kinked endotracheal tube
b. disconnected thermistor line
c. excess water in the inspiratory limb of the circuit
d. herniated endotracheal tube cuff
13). A. a fracture in the plastic wye
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, Ans: A patient receiving positive pressure ventilation has a low-pressure alarm
sounding. Which of the following could be the cause?
a. a fracture in the plastic wye
b. herniated cuff
c. excess secretions in the airway
d. kinked ET tube
14). A. provide manual ventilation
Ans: The high pressure alarm is sounding on a patient receiving volume controlled
ventilation. The respiratory therapist should FIRST
a. provide manual ventilation
b. suction the patient
c. observe the alarm panel to determine source
d. cancel the alarm
15). D. anectine (succinylcholine chloride)
Ans: Which of the following medications is shown to have sufficient affect when
facial muscle twitching is observed?
a. Halcion
b. Curare (d-turbo curare)
c. Romazicon
d. Anectine (succinylcholine chloride)
16). D. respirometer
Ans: A respiratory therapist is preparing to measure SVC on a patient in the
emergency department. Which of the following equipment is required?
a. Collins water-seal spirometer
b. Geissler tube
c. Wheatstone bridge
d. respirometer
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1). A. manual dexterity
Ans: The respiratory therapist should evaluate which of the following to develop a
teaching plan for a patient who will be using a small volume nebulizer at home?
a. manual dexterity
b. highest grade level achieved in school
c. spousal support
d. English speaking proficiency
2). D. bronchoscopy
Ans: Which of the following would be most beneficial in resolving microatelectasis?
a. chest tubes
b. percutaneous ventilation
c. thoracentesis
d. bronchoscopy
3). B. oropharyngeal airway
Ans: A 45 year-old patient is recovering in the intensive care unit after undergoing a
surgical procedure to repair a hernia. The patient remains unconscious. To prevent soft
tissue obstruction, the respiratory therapist should recommend a(n)
a. double-lumen endobronchial tube
b. oropharyngeal airway
c. bite block
d. nasopharyngeal airway
4). D. run 2 only
Ans: Quality control material has published values for pH of 7.20, PO2 of 65 mmHg.
Documentation indicates the range of pH is 0.5% and is 3% for PO2. Machine results are
as follows:
Run 1: pH 7.19, PO2 64
Run 2: pH 7.10, PO2 69
Run 3: pH 7.21, PO2 65
Which quality control run(s) indicate the machine is out of control?
a. Run 1 and 2
b. Run 2 and 3
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, c. Run 3 only
d. Run 2 only
5). A. abg and alveolar oxygen tension
Ans: A respiratory therapist is considering a patient's readiness to wean from
mechanical ventilation. To determine the A-aDO2, the therapist will need which of the
following?
a. ABG and alveolar oxygen tension
b. VD/VT and PAO2
c. CaO2 and PAO2
d. VD/VT and ABG
6). C. heliox therapy
Ans: A patient with increased airway resistance from a fixed upper airway obstruction
would benefit most from which of the following?
a. bronchodilator therapy
b. epinephrine
c. heliox therapy
d. aerosolized atropine
7). D. inspiratory muscle strength
Ans: Evaluating MIP (maximum inspiratory pressure) is most useful in evaluating
which of the following?
a. presence of a restrictive pulmonary defect
b. effectiveness of cough
c. presence of obstructive pulmonary defect
d. inspiratory muscle strength
8). B. excess water in the tubing
Ans: An air-entrainment jet nebulizer is set at 50%. The respiratory therapist analyzes
the oxygen coming from the end of the tubing and finds it is 60%. Which of the following
most likely explains this finding?
a. poorly calibrate analyzer
b. excess water in the tubing
c. low flow through the jet orifice
d. leak in the tubing
9). A. examine the ventilator circuit for proper connections
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, Ans: During a preoperational test of the ventilator with a test lung, the respiratory
therapist notes a return tidal volume of 600 cc. Ventilator settings are:
Mode: Assist/control
FiO2: 0.50
Mandatory rate: 10
VT: 750 mL
What action should the therapist take?
a. examine the ventilator circuit for proper connections
b. obtain a larger test lung
c. increase the set tidal volume to 900 mL
d. obtain a smaller test lung
10). D. change the fuel cell
Ans: During the preoperational test of the ventilator, the respiratory therapist notices
the galvanic analyzer on the ventilator is reading erroneously low. Which of the following
can the respiratory therapist do to correct the problem?
a. replace the analyzer batteries
b. replace the electrolyte solution in the analyzer
c. tag the ventilator as non-functional and avoid placing it in service
d. change the fuel cell
11). B. poor hand washing among staff
Ans: Which of the following is most likely to increase nosocomial infection in a
hospital?
a. use of an HME for 48 hours
b. poor hand washing among staff
c. frequent disconnection in the ventilator circuit
d. use of alcohol-based hand cleaners
12). B. disconnected thermistor line
Ans: While monitoring a patient receiving mechanical ventilation, the respiratory
therapist notices the low-pressure and low exhaled volume alarms are sounding. Which
of the following could be the cause?
a. kinked endotracheal tube
b. disconnected thermistor line
c. excess water in the inspiratory limb of the circuit
d. herniated endotracheal tube cuff
13). A. a fracture in the plastic wye
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, Ans: A patient receiving positive pressure ventilation has a low-pressure alarm
sounding. Which of the following could be the cause?
a. a fracture in the plastic wye
b. herniated cuff
c. excess secretions in the airway
d. kinked ET tube
14). A. provide manual ventilation
Ans: The high pressure alarm is sounding on a patient receiving volume controlled
ventilation. The respiratory therapist should FIRST
a. provide manual ventilation
b. suction the patient
c. observe the alarm panel to determine source
d. cancel the alarm
15). D. anectine (succinylcholine chloride)
Ans: Which of the following medications is shown to have sufficient affect when
facial muscle twitching is observed?
a. Halcion
b. Curare (d-turbo curare)
c. Romazicon
d. Anectine (succinylcholine chloride)
16). D. respirometer
Ans: A respiratory therapist is preparing to measure SVC on a patient in the
emergency department. Which of the following equipment is required?
a. Collins water-seal spirometer
b. Geissler tube
c. Wheatstone bridge
d. respirometer
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