Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE Actual Exam
Preparation
SECURE COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST MULTIPLE CHOICE SAE
ACTUAL EXAM PREPARATION NEWEST 2025/2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |BRAND NEW VERSION!!
The following pulmonary function results are obtained on a patient:
FEV1/FVC 90% of predicted
FVC 55% of predicted
These data indicate the patient could have which of the following?
A. Emphysema
B. Cystic fibrosis
C. Chronic bronchitis
D. Pulmonary fibrosis
D, Pulmonary fibrosis is an example of a restrictive lung disorder. Restrictive
disorders are characterized by decreased volumes and capacities and normal flow
studies on pulmonary function tests. Obstructive disorders are characterized by
increased volumes and capacities due to air trapping and by decreased flow
studies. When given a question on the exam where there are three obstructive
disease selections and one restrictive disorder, you should select the one disorder
not common to the other three. In other words, from these pulmonary function
values you would not be able to determine emphysema from chronic bronchitis or
cystic fibrosis (all obstructive disorders); therefore the answer must be the
restrictive disorder.
you are asked to deliver a low percentage of O2 to a patient whose respiratory
rate is 30/min with an irregular breathing pattern. Which device would be the best
choice?
A. Nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B. Air-entrainment mask at 28%
1|Page
, Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE Actual Exam
Preparation
C. Simple O2 mask at 5 L/min
D. Partial rebreathing mask at 8 L/min
B, This question appears to not give adequate information to answer the question.
However, the idea is that a low-flow O2device should not be set up for a patient
who has an irregular breathing pattern or a respiratory rate of more than 25/min
because of inconsistent O2concentrations. A high-flow device (air-entrainment
mask) is indicated in this situation because more consistent O2concentrations are
delivered, regardless of the patient's ventilatory pattern.
Which of the following ABG results would be considered normal in a patient with
severe COPD?
A. pH 7.50, PCO2 40 torr, PO2 56 torr, HCO330 mEq/L, BE 4
B. pH 7.29, PCO2 54 torr, PO2 70 torr, HCO323 mEq/L, BE 0
C. pH 7.36, PCO2 40 torr, PO2 85 torr, HCO324 mEq/L, BE 1
D. pH 7.38, PCO2 60 torr, PO2 57 torr, HCO333 mEq/L, BE 10
D, Refer to the explanation for question 13
The respiratory therapist is called to the bedside of a patient who is receiving
volume-controlled ventilation. Upon entering the room you notice the high-
pressure limit is alarming with every breath and the low-volume alarm is
activated. The nurse informs you that the patient had a pulmonary artery catheter
inserted in the right subclavian vein 34 minutes prior. Upon assessment the
therapist notes unilateral expansion and diminished breath sounds in the right
upper
lobe. There is no tracheal deviation present. Heart rate is 102/min, RR 20/min,
and BP 120/64. What is the most appropriate recommendation at this time?
A)CXR and possible chest tube insertion
B)Emergency needle decompression
2|Page
, Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE Actual Exam
Preparation
C)Monitor the patient for improvement in condition for the next 30 minutes.
D)STAT ABG
. A, This scenario suggests a pneumothorax has most likely occurred during the
insertion of the subclavian line. Since the question states there is no tracheal
deviation, which would indicate a tension pneumothorax corrected with needle
decompression, getting a CXR and possible chest tube insertion is the best choice.
how do you treat tension pneumothorax ?
needle decompression
A patient with a peak inspiratory flow of 40 L/min is to be given O2 with a 30% air-
entrainment mask. What is the minimum O2 flow required to meet the patient's
inspiratory flow demands?
A. 3 L/min
B. 5 L/min
C. 8 L/min
D. 10 L/min
. B, The air/O2ratio for 30% is 8 : 1. Add the two ratio parts together and multiply
by the lowest choice of the flow rates given that results in a total flow are at least
40 L/min.
Which of the following represents the normal value for potassium?
A. 1.5 to 3.0 mEq/L
B. 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L
C. 5.5 to 7.0 mEq/L
D. 7.0 to 8.5 mEq/L
B, The normal value for potassium is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
3|Page
, Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE Actual Exam
Preparation
What is the most appropriate ventilator VT setting on a 75-kg (165-lb) drug
overdose patient?
A. 400 mL
B. 500 mL
C. 700 mL
D. 900 mL
B, Ventilator VT should be set at 6 to 8 mL/kg of ideal body weight. The most
appropriate volume would be 500 mL.
Which of the following ventilator parameters, when changed, will alter the
inspiratory time during volume-controlled ventilation?
A. Rate control
B. Peak flow
C. PEEP
D. FiO2
. B, When flow is increased, inspiratory time decreases and vice versa. When VT is
increased, inspiratory time increases and vice versa. Respiratory rate alters the
expiratory time. The FIO2and PEEP do not affect inspiratory or expiratory time.
Which of the following situations would result in the high-pressure alarm being
activated during volume- controlled ventilation?
A. ET tube cuff leak
B. Excessive cuff pressure
C. Increased airway resistance
D. Increased lung compliance
C, Decreasing lung compliance and increased RAW result in higher inspiratory
pressures. If the pressure increases enough to reach the high-pressure limit, an
4|Page
Preparation
SECURE COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST MULTIPLE CHOICE SAE
ACTUAL EXAM PREPARATION NEWEST 2025/2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) |BRAND NEW VERSION!!
The following pulmonary function results are obtained on a patient:
FEV1/FVC 90% of predicted
FVC 55% of predicted
These data indicate the patient could have which of the following?
A. Emphysema
B. Cystic fibrosis
C. Chronic bronchitis
D. Pulmonary fibrosis
D, Pulmonary fibrosis is an example of a restrictive lung disorder. Restrictive
disorders are characterized by decreased volumes and capacities and normal flow
studies on pulmonary function tests. Obstructive disorders are characterized by
increased volumes and capacities due to air trapping and by decreased flow
studies. When given a question on the exam where there are three obstructive
disease selections and one restrictive disorder, you should select the one disorder
not common to the other three. In other words, from these pulmonary function
values you would not be able to determine emphysema from chronic bronchitis or
cystic fibrosis (all obstructive disorders); therefore the answer must be the
restrictive disorder.
you are asked to deliver a low percentage of O2 to a patient whose respiratory
rate is 30/min with an irregular breathing pattern. Which device would be the best
choice?
A. Nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B. Air-entrainment mask at 28%
1|Page
, Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE Actual Exam
Preparation
C. Simple O2 mask at 5 L/min
D. Partial rebreathing mask at 8 L/min
B, This question appears to not give adequate information to answer the question.
However, the idea is that a low-flow O2device should not be set up for a patient
who has an irregular breathing pattern or a respiratory rate of more than 25/min
because of inconsistent O2concentrations. A high-flow device (air-entrainment
mask) is indicated in this situation because more consistent O2concentrations are
delivered, regardless of the patient's ventilatory pattern.
Which of the following ABG results would be considered normal in a patient with
severe COPD?
A. pH 7.50, PCO2 40 torr, PO2 56 torr, HCO330 mEq/L, BE 4
B. pH 7.29, PCO2 54 torr, PO2 70 torr, HCO323 mEq/L, BE 0
C. pH 7.36, PCO2 40 torr, PO2 85 torr, HCO324 mEq/L, BE 1
D. pH 7.38, PCO2 60 torr, PO2 57 torr, HCO333 mEq/L, BE 10
D, Refer to the explanation for question 13
The respiratory therapist is called to the bedside of a patient who is receiving
volume-controlled ventilation. Upon entering the room you notice the high-
pressure limit is alarming with every breath and the low-volume alarm is
activated. The nurse informs you that the patient had a pulmonary artery catheter
inserted in the right subclavian vein 34 minutes prior. Upon assessment the
therapist notes unilateral expansion and diminished breath sounds in the right
upper
lobe. There is no tracheal deviation present. Heart rate is 102/min, RR 20/min,
and BP 120/64. What is the most appropriate recommendation at this time?
A)CXR and possible chest tube insertion
B)Emergency needle decompression
2|Page
, Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE Actual Exam
Preparation
C)Monitor the patient for improvement in condition for the next 30 minutes.
D)STAT ABG
. A, This scenario suggests a pneumothorax has most likely occurred during the
insertion of the subclavian line. Since the question states there is no tracheal
deviation, which would indicate a tension pneumothorax corrected with needle
decompression, getting a CXR and possible chest tube insertion is the best choice.
how do you treat tension pneumothorax ?
needle decompression
A patient with a peak inspiratory flow of 40 L/min is to be given O2 with a 30% air-
entrainment mask. What is the minimum O2 flow required to meet the patient's
inspiratory flow demands?
A. 3 L/min
B. 5 L/min
C. 8 L/min
D. 10 L/min
. B, The air/O2ratio for 30% is 8 : 1. Add the two ratio parts together and multiply
by the lowest choice of the flow rates given that results in a total flow are at least
40 L/min.
Which of the following represents the normal value for potassium?
A. 1.5 to 3.0 mEq/L
B. 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L
C. 5.5 to 7.0 mEq/L
D. 7.0 to 8.5 mEq/L
B, The normal value for potassium is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
3|Page
, Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE Actual Exam
Preparation
What is the most appropriate ventilator VT setting on a 75-kg (165-lb) drug
overdose patient?
A. 400 mL
B. 500 mL
C. 700 mL
D. 900 mL
B, Ventilator VT should be set at 6 to 8 mL/kg of ideal body weight. The most
appropriate volume would be 500 mL.
Which of the following ventilator parameters, when changed, will alter the
inspiratory time during volume-controlled ventilation?
A. Rate control
B. Peak flow
C. PEEP
D. FiO2
. B, When flow is increased, inspiratory time decreases and vice versa. When VT is
increased, inspiratory time increases and vice versa. Respiratory rate alters the
expiratory time. The FIO2and PEEP do not affect inspiratory or expiratory time.
Which of the following situations would result in the high-pressure alarm being
activated during volume- controlled ventilation?
A. ET tube cuff leak
B. Excessive cuff pressure
C. Increased airway resistance
D. Increased lung compliance
C, Decreasing lung compliance and increased RAW result in higher inspiratory
pressures. If the pressure increases enough to reach the high-pressure limit, an
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