1
THERAPIST MULTIPLE-CHOICE
EXAMINATION: PRACTICE TEST
Questions and Answers (100% Correct
Answers) Already Graded A+
Quiz: The physician orders a 35% aerosol mask to be set up for a patient
who requires an inspiratory flow of 42 L/min. What is the minimum flow
rate to which the flowmeter must be set to meet this patient's in- spiratory
flow demands?
A. 6 L/min
B. 8 L/min
C. 10 L/min
D. 12 L/min⼀Answer: B, The air/O2ratio for a 35% oxygen mixture is 5 :
1. To calculate total flow output from this device, add the ratio parts
together and multiply by the liter flow: 6 ×6 = 36 L/min, 6 ×8 = 48 L/min,
6 × 10 = 60 L/min, 6 ×12 = 72 L/min. Total flow needed: 42 L/min. The
minimum flow necessary is 8, giving a total flow of 48 L/min. (Analysis)
Quiz: A premature 3-week-old infant is receiving 1 L/min
of O via a nasal cannula and has a PaO of 43 torr22
and a PaCO2 of 40 torr. The respiratory therapist should recommend which
of the following?
A. Increase the cannula flow to 2 L/min.
B. Intubate and institute mechanical ventilation
C. Initiate CPAP of 4 cm H2O and 50% O2
D. Increase the cannula flow to 5 L/min.⼀Answer: A, A PaO2 of 43 torr
represents hypoxemia. The normal PaO2 for an infant is 50-70 torr.
Increasing the cannula flow by 1 L/min is the most appropriate choice to
,2
return the PaO2 to normal. With a normal PaCO2 of 40 torr, mechanical
ventilation is not indicated. (Analysis)
Quiz: what is normal PaO2 for infant ?⼀Answer: 50-70 torr.
Quiz: A patient arrives in the emergency department after being pulled
from a burning house. The respiratory therapist should recommend
obtaining which of the following measurements to best determine the sever-
ity of the patient's smoke inhalation?
A. SpO2
B. HbCO
C. PaO2
D. Hb⼀Answer: B, To best determine the severity of smoke inhalation, an
HbCO level should be determined with a co-oximeter. The SpO2 value
should never be evaluated on a patient suspected of CO poisoning because a
pulse oximeter is not capable of determining what is bound to hemoglobin.
Pulse oximeters work on the principle of spectrophotometry where
lightweight probes direct filtered light of specific wavelengths through the
skin or digit. The light absorbed differs for saturated and desaturated blood,
whether it's saturated with oxygen or a combination of oxygen and carbon
monoxide. Therefore the reading will be erroneously high when HbCO is
present. (Analysis)
Quiz: To best determine the severity of smoke inhalation, an HbCO level
should be determined with ?⼀Answer: co-oximeter
Quiz: The physician has ordered O2 to be administered to an active 3-
year-old with an SpO2 of 86%. Which of the following delivery devices
would you recommend for this patient?
A. 1- to 2-L nasal cannula
B. Air-entrainment mask
C. Simple O2 mask
,3
D. O2 hood⼀Answer: A, An active 3-year-old generally tolerates a cannula
much better than any kind of mask and is too large for an O2hood.
(Application)
Quiz: The ability of the patient to follow instructions would be indicated
by which of the following?
A. Orientation to person
B. Performance of tasks when asked
C. Ability to feed himself
D. Awareness of time⼀Answer: B, If the patient is able to perform simple
tasks when asked, this best determines his or her ability to follow
instructions. This is important before administering an incentive spirometry
or IPPB treatment, which requires the patient to be able to follow
instructions well or the treatment will not be effective. (Recall)
Quiz: If the patient is able to perform simple tasks when asked, this best
determines his or her ability to follow instructions. This is important before
administering an?⼀Answer: incentive spirometry or IPPB treatment,
which requires the patient to be able to follow instructions well or the
treatment will not be effective. (Recall)
Quiz: You suspect a patient may have a pulmonary embolism. Which of
the following would be the most appropriate recommendation for diagnosis
of this condition?
A. Bronchoscopy
B. V/Q lung scan
C. Coagulation studies
D. Shunt study⼀Answer: B, The best diagnostic test to determine whether
a pulmonary embolism is present is the V/Q lung scan. (Application)
, 4
Quiz: To most effectively increase a sedated, paralyzed patient's alveolar
minute ventilation while the patient is on volume-controlled ventilation in
the assist-control mode, you would recommend increasing which of the
following?
A. PEEP
B. Inspiratory flow
C. VT
D. Ventilator rate⼀Answer: C
Alveolar minute ventilation = (VT - VD) × respiratory rate
It represents the volume actually reaching the alveoli per minute. It takes
into account anatomic dead space (VD), which is approximately 1 mL/lb of
body weight. Anatomic VD is that portion of the airway where no gas
exchange occurs. If a patient's alveolar minute ventilation is to be increased,
the VT must be increased. If only the ventilator rate is increased, the same
VT is delivered, even though the minute ventilation (VT × RR) increases.
(Recall)
Quiz: what is the formula for alveolar minute ventilation ?⼀Answer:
(VT - VD) × respiratory rate
Quiz: Failure to hyperoxygenate a patient on a ventilator before ET
suctioning may result in
A. Hypoxemia
B. Hypocapnia
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypertension⼀Answer: A, It is important during ET suctioning that the
PaO2 be maintained within a normal range. This requires increasing the
oxygen percentage during the procedure. Failure to hyperoxygenate may
cause hypoxemia, resulting in cardiac arrhythmias. Bradycardia may occur
as a result of vagal stimulation. (Application)
THERAPIST MULTIPLE-CHOICE
EXAMINATION: PRACTICE TEST
Questions and Answers (100% Correct
Answers) Already Graded A+
Quiz: The physician orders a 35% aerosol mask to be set up for a patient
who requires an inspiratory flow of 42 L/min. What is the minimum flow
rate to which the flowmeter must be set to meet this patient's in- spiratory
flow demands?
A. 6 L/min
B. 8 L/min
C. 10 L/min
D. 12 L/min⼀Answer: B, The air/O2ratio for a 35% oxygen mixture is 5 :
1. To calculate total flow output from this device, add the ratio parts
together and multiply by the liter flow: 6 ×6 = 36 L/min, 6 ×8 = 48 L/min,
6 × 10 = 60 L/min, 6 ×12 = 72 L/min. Total flow needed: 42 L/min. The
minimum flow necessary is 8, giving a total flow of 48 L/min. (Analysis)
Quiz: A premature 3-week-old infant is receiving 1 L/min
of O via a nasal cannula and has a PaO of 43 torr22
and a PaCO2 of 40 torr. The respiratory therapist should recommend which
of the following?
A. Increase the cannula flow to 2 L/min.
B. Intubate and institute mechanical ventilation
C. Initiate CPAP of 4 cm H2O and 50% O2
D. Increase the cannula flow to 5 L/min.⼀Answer: A, A PaO2 of 43 torr
represents hypoxemia. The normal PaO2 for an infant is 50-70 torr.
Increasing the cannula flow by 1 L/min is the most appropriate choice to
,2
return the PaO2 to normal. With a normal PaCO2 of 40 torr, mechanical
ventilation is not indicated. (Analysis)
Quiz: what is normal PaO2 for infant ?⼀Answer: 50-70 torr.
Quiz: A patient arrives in the emergency department after being pulled
from a burning house. The respiratory therapist should recommend
obtaining which of the following measurements to best determine the sever-
ity of the patient's smoke inhalation?
A. SpO2
B. HbCO
C. PaO2
D. Hb⼀Answer: B, To best determine the severity of smoke inhalation, an
HbCO level should be determined with a co-oximeter. The SpO2 value
should never be evaluated on a patient suspected of CO poisoning because a
pulse oximeter is not capable of determining what is bound to hemoglobin.
Pulse oximeters work on the principle of spectrophotometry where
lightweight probes direct filtered light of specific wavelengths through the
skin or digit. The light absorbed differs for saturated and desaturated blood,
whether it's saturated with oxygen or a combination of oxygen and carbon
monoxide. Therefore the reading will be erroneously high when HbCO is
present. (Analysis)
Quiz: To best determine the severity of smoke inhalation, an HbCO level
should be determined with ?⼀Answer: co-oximeter
Quiz: The physician has ordered O2 to be administered to an active 3-
year-old with an SpO2 of 86%. Which of the following delivery devices
would you recommend for this patient?
A. 1- to 2-L nasal cannula
B. Air-entrainment mask
C. Simple O2 mask
,3
D. O2 hood⼀Answer: A, An active 3-year-old generally tolerates a cannula
much better than any kind of mask and is too large for an O2hood.
(Application)
Quiz: The ability of the patient to follow instructions would be indicated
by which of the following?
A. Orientation to person
B. Performance of tasks when asked
C. Ability to feed himself
D. Awareness of time⼀Answer: B, If the patient is able to perform simple
tasks when asked, this best determines his or her ability to follow
instructions. This is important before administering an incentive spirometry
or IPPB treatment, which requires the patient to be able to follow
instructions well or the treatment will not be effective. (Recall)
Quiz: If the patient is able to perform simple tasks when asked, this best
determines his or her ability to follow instructions. This is important before
administering an?⼀Answer: incentive spirometry or IPPB treatment,
which requires the patient to be able to follow instructions well or the
treatment will not be effective. (Recall)
Quiz: You suspect a patient may have a pulmonary embolism. Which of
the following would be the most appropriate recommendation for diagnosis
of this condition?
A. Bronchoscopy
B. V/Q lung scan
C. Coagulation studies
D. Shunt study⼀Answer: B, The best diagnostic test to determine whether
a pulmonary embolism is present is the V/Q lung scan. (Application)
, 4
Quiz: To most effectively increase a sedated, paralyzed patient's alveolar
minute ventilation while the patient is on volume-controlled ventilation in
the assist-control mode, you would recommend increasing which of the
following?
A. PEEP
B. Inspiratory flow
C. VT
D. Ventilator rate⼀Answer: C
Alveolar minute ventilation = (VT - VD) × respiratory rate
It represents the volume actually reaching the alveoli per minute. It takes
into account anatomic dead space (VD), which is approximately 1 mL/lb of
body weight. Anatomic VD is that portion of the airway where no gas
exchange occurs. If a patient's alveolar minute ventilation is to be increased,
the VT must be increased. If only the ventilator rate is increased, the same
VT is delivered, even though the minute ventilation (VT × RR) increases.
(Recall)
Quiz: what is the formula for alveolar minute ventilation ?⼀Answer:
(VT - VD) × respiratory rate
Quiz: Failure to hyperoxygenate a patient on a ventilator before ET
suctioning may result in
A. Hypoxemia
B. Hypocapnia
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypertension⼀Answer: A, It is important during ET suctioning that the
PaO2 be maintained within a normal range. This requires increasing the
oxygen percentage during the procedure. Failure to hyperoxygenate may
cause hypoxemia, resulting in cardiac arrhythmias. Bradycardia may occur
as a result of vagal stimulation. (Application)
