SECURE COMPREHENSIVE THERAPIST MULTIPLE-CHOICE SAE - TMC
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |FALL 2026/2027 UPDATE | 100%
CORRECT
Question 1
A diabetic patient enters the emergency department breathing deeply at a respiratory rate of 32/min. This type of
breathing pattern is referred to as
A. Kussmaul respiration
B. Biot respiration
C. Cheyne-Stokes respiration
D. Hypopnea
Correct Answer
A, Kussmaul respirations are a deep and rapid breathing pattern encountered in patients with severe metabolic acidemia
(low pH, low HCO3−). The lungs are making an effort to increase the pH back toward normal by removing CO2 from the
blood, which results in an increased pH.
Page 1 of 101
,Question 2
All of the following are low-flow O2 devices EXCEPT the
A. Nasal cannula
B. Air-entrainment mask
C. Partial rebreathing mask
D. Simple O2 mask
Correct Answer
. B, An air entrainment mask is considered a high-flow oxygen delivery device because it is capable of delivering flows
that can meet or exceed the patient's inspiratory flow demands. Its ability to deliver high flows is the result of
entrainment of large volumes of air, which mix with the oxygen flow to deliver fairly precise and consistent oxygen
percentages
Question 3
The respiratory therapist is having difficulty calibrating a transcutaneous O2 monitor. This is most likely because of which of
the following?
A)The membrane is damaged
B)The sensor will not stick to the infant's skin properly
Correct Answer
A, The transcutaneous O2monitor is calibrated to room air while off the infant. Therefore, the cause could not be related
to the infant's hemodynamic status. The problem must be with the monitor itself.
Page 2 of 101
,Question 4
Which one of the following sets of ABG measure- ments would indicate compensated respiratory acidosis?
A. pH 7.26, PCO2 60 torr, PO2 68 torr, HCO326 mEq/L, BE 0
B. pH 7.42, PCO2 39 torr, PO2 87 torr, HCO322 mEq/L, BE 1
C. pH 7.25, PCO2 61 torr, PO2 75 torr, HCO326 mEq/L, BE 1
D. pH 7.37, PCO2 58 torr, PO2 60 torr, HCO331 mEq/L, BE 8
Correct Answer
. D, A blood gas level is considered compensated when both the PaCO2and HCO3−are abnormal and the pH level is
normal. Respiratory acidosis is caused by an elevated PaCO2, which drops the pH to below normal levels. If the patient's
lungs are not ventilated better to decrease the PaCO2, the HCO3−levels in the blood begin to increase (renal
compensation), which increases the pH toward normal. When the pH reaches the normal range, it is called fully
compensated. The most common example of this type of blood gas level is the patient with severe COPD who has
chronic retention of CO2and remains in a constant state of compensation. (Application)
Question 5
true or false
If hypoxemia is present, increase either the FIO2or PEEP level, depending on what FIO2the patient is receiving. Because the
patient is on less than 50% oxygen, the board exams will want you to increase the oxygen level. Had the oxygen level been
at 50% or higher, then the correct choice would be to increase the PEEP level, except for hypotensive patients or head
trauma patients. In those cases, do not increase PEEP levels as this may worsen their situation
Correct Answer
true
Page 3 of 101
, Question 6
A 48-year-old, 75-kg (165-lb) woman is in the ICU after coronary bypass surgery. The patient is to receive mechanical
ventilation.
As you connect the patient to the ventilator, you notice the PIP is registering only 10 cm H2O on the manom- eter and the
exhaled volume display is showing 300 mL less than the ventilator volume setting. Which of the following could be causing
this problem?
A. Kink in the tubing
B. Patient needs to be suctioned
C. Leak around the HME
D. Increased airway resistance
Correct Answer
C, When less volume is being recorded on the exhaled volume display than the set machine volume, a leak is present.
Leaks can occur at tubing connections, the humidifier or HME, the ET-tube cuff, or through chest tubes
Question 7
normal is the PCWP, sometimes referred to as PAWP. The normal value is 5 to 10 mm Hg. A decreased value, as in this
problem, means a lower pressure in the left side of the heart as a result of the decreased venous return caused by the
decreased QT or hypovolemia. This is best treated by ?
Correct Answer
increasing fluids.
Page 4 of 101
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |FALL 2026/2027 UPDATE | 100%
CORRECT
Question 1
A diabetic patient enters the emergency department breathing deeply at a respiratory rate of 32/min. This type of
breathing pattern is referred to as
A. Kussmaul respiration
B. Biot respiration
C. Cheyne-Stokes respiration
D. Hypopnea
Correct Answer
A, Kussmaul respirations are a deep and rapid breathing pattern encountered in patients with severe metabolic acidemia
(low pH, low HCO3−). The lungs are making an effort to increase the pH back toward normal by removing CO2 from the
blood, which results in an increased pH.
Page 1 of 101
,Question 2
All of the following are low-flow O2 devices EXCEPT the
A. Nasal cannula
B. Air-entrainment mask
C. Partial rebreathing mask
D. Simple O2 mask
Correct Answer
. B, An air entrainment mask is considered a high-flow oxygen delivery device because it is capable of delivering flows
that can meet or exceed the patient's inspiratory flow demands. Its ability to deliver high flows is the result of
entrainment of large volumes of air, which mix with the oxygen flow to deliver fairly precise and consistent oxygen
percentages
Question 3
The respiratory therapist is having difficulty calibrating a transcutaneous O2 monitor. This is most likely because of which of
the following?
A)The membrane is damaged
B)The sensor will not stick to the infant's skin properly
Correct Answer
A, The transcutaneous O2monitor is calibrated to room air while off the infant. Therefore, the cause could not be related
to the infant's hemodynamic status. The problem must be with the monitor itself.
Page 2 of 101
,Question 4
Which one of the following sets of ABG measure- ments would indicate compensated respiratory acidosis?
A. pH 7.26, PCO2 60 torr, PO2 68 torr, HCO326 mEq/L, BE 0
B. pH 7.42, PCO2 39 torr, PO2 87 torr, HCO322 mEq/L, BE 1
C. pH 7.25, PCO2 61 torr, PO2 75 torr, HCO326 mEq/L, BE 1
D. pH 7.37, PCO2 58 torr, PO2 60 torr, HCO331 mEq/L, BE 8
Correct Answer
. D, A blood gas level is considered compensated when both the PaCO2and HCO3−are abnormal and the pH level is
normal. Respiratory acidosis is caused by an elevated PaCO2, which drops the pH to below normal levels. If the patient's
lungs are not ventilated better to decrease the PaCO2, the HCO3−levels in the blood begin to increase (renal
compensation), which increases the pH toward normal. When the pH reaches the normal range, it is called fully
compensated. The most common example of this type of blood gas level is the patient with severe COPD who has
chronic retention of CO2and remains in a constant state of compensation. (Application)
Question 5
true or false
If hypoxemia is present, increase either the FIO2or PEEP level, depending on what FIO2the patient is receiving. Because the
patient is on less than 50% oxygen, the board exams will want you to increase the oxygen level. Had the oxygen level been
at 50% or higher, then the correct choice would be to increase the PEEP level, except for hypotensive patients or head
trauma patients. In those cases, do not increase PEEP levels as this may worsen their situation
Correct Answer
true
Page 3 of 101
, Question 6
A 48-year-old, 75-kg (165-lb) woman is in the ICU after coronary bypass surgery. The patient is to receive mechanical
ventilation.
As you connect the patient to the ventilator, you notice the PIP is registering only 10 cm H2O on the manom- eter and the
exhaled volume display is showing 300 mL less than the ventilator volume setting. Which of the following could be causing
this problem?
A. Kink in the tubing
B. Patient needs to be suctioned
C. Leak around the HME
D. Increased airway resistance
Correct Answer
C, When less volume is being recorded on the exhaled volume display than the set machine volume, a leak is present.
Leaks can occur at tubing connections, the humidifier or HME, the ET-tube cuff, or through chest tubes
Question 7
normal is the PCWP, sometimes referred to as PAWP. The normal value is 5 to 10 mm Hg. A decreased value, as in this
problem, means a lower pressure in the left side of the heart as a result of the decreased venous return caused by the
decreased QT or hypovolemia. This is best treated by ?
Correct Answer
increasing fluids.
Page 4 of 101
