QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
"All of the following could cause a patient's right-hemidiaphragm to be elevated, EXCEPT:
A. right lower lobe atelectasis
B. right side hyperlucency, absent vascular markings
C. hepatomegaly
D. right lower lobe consolidation with air bronchograms - CORRECT ANSWER B. right
side hyperlucency, absent vascular markings (pneumothorax)"
"A 77 y/o male patient is admitted to the ER with shortness of breath, fine basilar crackles,
+2 pitting edema and a chest X-ray with a butterfly pattern. These results are most
consistent with which of the following?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema
C. Pneumothorax
D. Emphysema - CORRECT ANSWER A. Pulmonary edema (and CHF!)"
"Which of the formula will determine the total flow being delivered to a pt with a 28%
venturi mask running at 6 L/min? - CORRECT ANSWER Total flow = 6 x 11 (flow factor
for 28% = 10:1 = 11)"
"Transcutaneous monitoring of PO2 values will correlate well with ABG PO2 values in
which of the following situations? (Pick all that apply)
A. Hypotension
B. Hypothermia
C. Pneumonia - CORRECT ANSWER Pneumonia only"
"What is the air-to-oxygen ratio for an air entrainment device delivering 60% oxygen? -
CORRECT ANSWER 1:1"
"Following surgery to correct an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a 54 y/o female pt suddenly
develops intense substernal chest pain with severe dyspnea. the pain does not appear to be
aggravated by her respiratioins. Auscultation reveals bilateral, basilar, moist, crepitant
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,rales. The pt appears pale, cold and clammy. which of the following should the RT
recommend for initial assessment of this pt?
A. Serum electrolytes
B. Chest X-ray
C. Complete blood count
D. Elecrocardiograph - CORRECT ANSWER D. Electrocardiograph"
"An adult pt is intubated with 7.0mm ID ETT. What size suction catheter should be used to
suction this pt? - CORRECT ANSWER 10 Fr (7/2 x3)"
"A pt who is suspected of having a flail chest has been intubated and mechanically
ventilated with PEEP therapy. The pt has just received pancuronium bromide. Which of the
following ventilator alarms would be most important to set correctly for this pt?
A. Peak pressure alarm
B. Low PEEP pressure alarm
C. I:E ratio alarm
D. Low exhaled volume alarm - CORRECT ANSWER B. Low PEEP pressure alarm"
"A balloon-tipped, flow directed catheter is positioned in the pulmonary artery with the
balloon DEFLATED. Which of the following pressures will be measured by the DISTAL
lumen? - CORRECT ANSWER PAP"
"the RT receives an order to administer bronchodilator therapy with albuterol. To reduce
the chance of cross contamination, the RT should - CORRECT ANSWER Select a meter
dose inhaler"
"Which of the following is a FALSE statement about self-inflating resuscitation devices?
A. A reservoir is utilized to increase the delivered oxygen concentration
B. The RT can sense changes in the pt's lung compliance and airway resistance
C. A compressed gas source is necessary for the device to operate.
D. Excessive gas flow may cause the valve to malfunction. - CORRECT ANSWER A
compressed gas source is necessary for the device to operate"
"How are spontaneous sighs accounted for in mechanical ventilation? - CORRECT
ANSWER Because a spontaneously breathing individual typically sighs 6-8 times each
hour to prevent microatelectasis, some investigators once recommended that periodic
machine breaths that were 1.5-2 times the preset tidal volume be given 6-8 times per hour.
However, the peak pressure often needed to deliver such a volume was high enough to
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, predispose the patient to barotrauma. At present, accounting for sighs is not recommended
if the patient is receiving tidal volumes of 10-12 mL/kg or if the patient requires PEEP.
When a low tidal volume is used, sighs are preset at 1.5-2 times the tidal volume and
delivered 6-8 times an hour if the peak and plateau pressures are within acceptable limits."
"Which of the following will increase the volume delivered to a patient on a pressure
limited ventilator?
1. Decreasing the sensitivity
2. Increasing the flow setting
3. Decreasing the flow setting
4. Increasing the pressure setting - CORRECT ANSWER 3. Decreasing the flow setting
4. Increasing the pressure setting"
"While attempting to calibrate a polarographic oxygen analyzer, the therapist notices that
the analyzer reads 21 % when exposed to room air but only reads 64% when exposed to
100% oxygen. What would the most appropriate action at this time be? - CORRECT
ANSWER Change the battery"
"A heat moisture exchanger (HME) is being utilized in a ventilator circuit. The therapist
notices that the device has become clogged with secretions. The therapist should do what?
- CORRECT ANSWER Change to a wick humidifier"
"A patient's chest x-ray reveals increased vascular engorgement emanating from the hilar
area in a bat-wing pattern. What is the most likely cause of this finding? - CORRECT
ANSWER Fluid overload"
"During bedside assessment, the therapist auscultates the patient's chest and determines
that the patient has bilateral inspiratory and expiratory wheezing. This would imply the
patient has - CORRECT ANSWER bronchospasm."
"Which of the following pieces of equipment would be LEAST appropriate for the victim of
a house fire?
A. Pulse oximeter
B. Non-rebreather mask
C. Arterial blood gas kit
D. CPAP system - CORRECT ANSWER A. Pulse oximeter"
"A therapist obtains the following information from a patient:
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