Test bank for TMC - Questions and
Correct Answers
Within one second after initiating a forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuver, a patient
with normal lungs should be able exhale what percent of the FVC?
A. 35-50% of the FVC
B. 50-70% of the FVC
C. 70-83% of the FVC
D. 84-93% of the FVC
✓ ~~~ 70 to 83% of the FVC
Simple spirometry CANNOT be used to measure the:
A. vital capacity
B. residual volume
C. tidal volume
D. inspiratory reserve volume
✓ ~~~ residual volume
Which of the following approaches can be used to obtain a medication history from a
patient with a depressed level of consciousness or who is severely agitated?
A. obtain and review the patient's past medical history
B. ask the patient's nurse about the patient's prescriptions
C. request that the lab run a comprehensive blood drug screen
D. obtain the patient's current prescription vials from the family
✓ ~~~ obtain the patient's current prescription vials from the family
Which of the following thoracic ultrasound findings is consistent with the presence of
a pneumothorax?
A. presence of gliding sign
B. absence of A-lines
C. presence of barcode sign
D. presence of seashore sign
✓ ~~~ presence of barcode sign
Which of the following would tend to increase insensible water loss?
A. hypothermia
B. bypassed upper airway
C. hypoventilation
D. diuretic administration
✓ ~~~ bypassed upper airway
Which of the following would tend to decrease a patient's energy expenditure?
,A. hypothermia
B. inflammation
C. major trauma
D. agitation/pain
✓ ~~~ hypothermia
A patient has acute respiratory acidosis. You would expect the base excess (BE) to
range between:
A. + 6 mEq/L
B. - 6 mEq/L
C. +/- 2 mEq/L
D. +/- 8 mEq/L
✓ ~~~ +/- 2 mEq/L
The APGAR score for a normal newborn infant ranges between:
A. 1-4
B. 4-7
C. 7-10
D. 10-13
✓ ~~~ 7 to 10
Which of the following arterial blood gas results would most likely be reported for a
patient who is having a mild asthma attack?
A. pH = 7.31 PCO2 = 50 torr PO2 = 60 torr
B. pH = 7.40 PCO2 = 50 torr PO2 = 50 torr
C. pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 32 torr PO2 = 60 torr
D. pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 40 torr PO2 = 50 torr
✓ ~~~ pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 32 torr PO2 = 60 torr
Asthma is respiratory alkalosis
On inspection of a patient's ECG strip, you note no identifiable P waves; rapid
irregular undulations of the isoelectric line; and an irregular ventricular rhythm. In
addition, the precordial cardiac rate is greater than the peripheral pulse rate. The
most likely problem is:
A. 2nd degree (Wenckebach) heart block
B. ventricular fibrillation
C. atrial fibrillation
D. ventricular tachycardia
✓ ~~~ atrial fibrillation
The normal range for vital capacity in a young healthy male of average size is:
,A. 5000 to 6000 ml
B. 2000 to 3000 ml
C. 3000 to 4000 ml
D. 4000 to 5000 ml
✓ ~~~ 4000 to 5000 ml
Pulmonary function parameters that signify an obstructive disease process include
which of the following?
A. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - NO
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
B. Increase Airway Resistance - NO
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
C. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
D. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows -NO
AIr Trapping - NO
✓ ~~~ Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - NO
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
The amount of gas that can be inhaled over and above that normally inhaled during
quiet breathing is the:
A. IRV
B. FRC
C. ERV
D. VC
✓ ~~~ IRV
The results of an arterial blood gas analysis are below:
pH - 7.28
PaCO2 - 22 torr
HCO2 - 10 mEq/L
BE -15
PaO2 - 110 torr
, These data indicate which of the following?
A. primary metabolic acidosis
B. primary metabolic alkalosis
C. primary respiratory alkalosis
D. primary respiratory acidosis
✓ ~~~ primary metabolic acidosis
While examining a patient in the ICU, you note that she appears somewhat
edematous and the nurse has indicated that the patient's urine output is "minimal." In
what section of the medical record would you check to determine the patient's fluid
balance (intake vs. output)?
A. physician orders
B. consent
C. lab results
D. nurses' notes and flowsheet
✓ ~~~ nurses' notes and flowsheet
When inspecting the monitor of an adult patient in ICU, you note a heart rate of
138/min with a regular rhythm. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this
observation?
A. beta-blocker adminstration
B. therapeutic hypothemia
C. arterial hypertension
D. anxiety or agitation
✓ ~~~ anxiety or agitation
In reviewing a sleep study, you note 20 to 25 episodes per hour like. What type of
abnormal respiratory event does this indicate?
A. central sleep apnea
B. mixed sleep apnea
C. obstructive sleep apnea
D. respiratory effort - related arousal
✓ ~~~ central sleep apnea
The gold standard for monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) is the:
A. intraparenchymal probe
B. subarachnoid bolt
C. intraventricular catheter
D. epidural sensor
✓ ~~~ intraventricular catheter
Correct Answers
Within one second after initiating a forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuver, a patient
with normal lungs should be able exhale what percent of the FVC?
A. 35-50% of the FVC
B. 50-70% of the FVC
C. 70-83% of the FVC
D. 84-93% of the FVC
✓ ~~~ 70 to 83% of the FVC
Simple spirometry CANNOT be used to measure the:
A. vital capacity
B. residual volume
C. tidal volume
D. inspiratory reserve volume
✓ ~~~ residual volume
Which of the following approaches can be used to obtain a medication history from a
patient with a depressed level of consciousness or who is severely agitated?
A. obtain and review the patient's past medical history
B. ask the patient's nurse about the patient's prescriptions
C. request that the lab run a comprehensive blood drug screen
D. obtain the patient's current prescription vials from the family
✓ ~~~ obtain the patient's current prescription vials from the family
Which of the following thoracic ultrasound findings is consistent with the presence of
a pneumothorax?
A. presence of gliding sign
B. absence of A-lines
C. presence of barcode sign
D. presence of seashore sign
✓ ~~~ presence of barcode sign
Which of the following would tend to increase insensible water loss?
A. hypothermia
B. bypassed upper airway
C. hypoventilation
D. diuretic administration
✓ ~~~ bypassed upper airway
Which of the following would tend to decrease a patient's energy expenditure?
,A. hypothermia
B. inflammation
C. major trauma
D. agitation/pain
✓ ~~~ hypothermia
A patient has acute respiratory acidosis. You would expect the base excess (BE) to
range between:
A. + 6 mEq/L
B. - 6 mEq/L
C. +/- 2 mEq/L
D. +/- 8 mEq/L
✓ ~~~ +/- 2 mEq/L
The APGAR score for a normal newborn infant ranges between:
A. 1-4
B. 4-7
C. 7-10
D. 10-13
✓ ~~~ 7 to 10
Which of the following arterial blood gas results would most likely be reported for a
patient who is having a mild asthma attack?
A. pH = 7.31 PCO2 = 50 torr PO2 = 60 torr
B. pH = 7.40 PCO2 = 50 torr PO2 = 50 torr
C. pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 32 torr PO2 = 60 torr
D. pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 40 torr PO2 = 50 torr
✓ ~~~ pH = 7.47 PCO2 = 32 torr PO2 = 60 torr
Asthma is respiratory alkalosis
On inspection of a patient's ECG strip, you note no identifiable P waves; rapid
irregular undulations of the isoelectric line; and an irregular ventricular rhythm. In
addition, the precordial cardiac rate is greater than the peripheral pulse rate. The
most likely problem is:
A. 2nd degree (Wenckebach) heart block
B. ventricular fibrillation
C. atrial fibrillation
D. ventricular tachycardia
✓ ~~~ atrial fibrillation
The normal range for vital capacity in a young healthy male of average size is:
,A. 5000 to 6000 ml
B. 2000 to 3000 ml
C. 3000 to 4000 ml
D. 4000 to 5000 ml
✓ ~~~ 4000 to 5000 ml
Pulmonary function parameters that signify an obstructive disease process include
which of the following?
A. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - NO
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
B. Increase Airway Resistance - NO
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
C. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
D. Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - YES
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows -NO
AIr Trapping - NO
✓ ~~~ Increase Airway Resistance - YES
Decreased Lung Volumes - NO
Decreased Forced Expiratory Flows - YES
AIr Trapping - YES
The amount of gas that can be inhaled over and above that normally inhaled during
quiet breathing is the:
A. IRV
B. FRC
C. ERV
D. VC
✓ ~~~ IRV
The results of an arterial blood gas analysis are below:
pH - 7.28
PaCO2 - 22 torr
HCO2 - 10 mEq/L
BE -15
PaO2 - 110 torr
, These data indicate which of the following?
A. primary metabolic acidosis
B. primary metabolic alkalosis
C. primary respiratory alkalosis
D. primary respiratory acidosis
✓ ~~~ primary metabolic acidosis
While examining a patient in the ICU, you note that she appears somewhat
edematous and the nurse has indicated that the patient's urine output is "minimal." In
what section of the medical record would you check to determine the patient's fluid
balance (intake vs. output)?
A. physician orders
B. consent
C. lab results
D. nurses' notes and flowsheet
✓ ~~~ nurses' notes and flowsheet
When inspecting the monitor of an adult patient in ICU, you note a heart rate of
138/min with a regular rhythm. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this
observation?
A. beta-blocker adminstration
B. therapeutic hypothemia
C. arterial hypertension
D. anxiety or agitation
✓ ~~~ anxiety or agitation
In reviewing a sleep study, you note 20 to 25 episodes per hour like. What type of
abnormal respiratory event does this indicate?
A. central sleep apnea
B. mixed sleep apnea
C. obstructive sleep apnea
D. respiratory effort - related arousal
✓ ~~~ central sleep apnea
The gold standard for monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) is the:
A. intraparenchymal probe
B. subarachnoid bolt
C. intraventricular catheter
D. epidural sensor
✓ ~~~ intraventricular catheter
