THERAPIST MULTIPLE-CHOICE EXAMINATION
PRACTICE TEST Latest Update 2025-2026 180
Questions and 100% Verified Correct Answers
with Rationale Guaranteed A+
A 26-year-old patient has been experiencing a mod- erate asthmatic attack for 30
minutes. Which of the following ABG results would you expect to observe if the patient
was breathing room air?
B)7.08 , 24 PaCO2 , 50 PaO2
C)7.51 , 27 ., 60
D)7.27 , 52 , 63 - CORRECT ANSWER: C, Because the attack has been for only 30
min, the patient will most likely be hyperventilating as a result of hypoxemia. If this
condition is not reversed, the patient will begin to tire, which will result in decreasing
minute ventilation accompanied by rising PaCO2 levels.
A 28-year-old male with pneumonia is placed on a 50% aerosol mask. Arterial blood
gases reveal a PaO2 of 62 torr and a PaCO2 of 44 torr. His blood pressure is 74/50.
The respiratory therapist should recommend which of the following?
A. Place the patient on CPAP.
B. Increase the O2 to 60%.
C. Place the patient on a nasal cannula at 2 L/min.
D. Place the patient on a nonrebreathing mask. - CORRECT ANSWER: B, There are
two choices to correct the hypoxemia in this question, increase the FiO2 or place the
patient on CPAP. CPAP, while often indicated to increase PaO2 when a patient is
receiving 50%-60% oxygen, is not indicated in this scenario because of the patient's
hypotension. Placing the patient on CPAP may reduce the BP even more. Therefore,
increasing the FiO2 is more appropriate.
A 34-year-old female patient enters the emergency department complaining of severe
chest pain. The patient is placed on a 50% air-entrainment mask. Thirty minutes later,
ABGs are drawn and the results are as follows:
,pH 7.50
PaCO2 31 torr
PaO2 253 torr
HCO3 24mEq/LBE1
Which of the following is a true statement regarding these ABG results?
A)The results appear to be accurate and consistent with the FiO2
B)The PaO2 is not possible on this FiO2
C)The PaCO2 is not consistent with the pH
D)The results represent a metabolic alkalosis - CORRECT ANSWER: A, To approximate
the normal PaO2on a given O2percentage, multiply the Percentage times 5. This
patient is using 50% O2, so 50 × 5 = 250; therefore, the PaO2of 253 mm Hg is
consistent with the FiO2that the patient is receiving.
A 36-year-old, 65-kg (143-lb) unconscious male is admitted to the emergency
department. His respira- tory rate is 8/min and very shallow. A drug overdose is
suspected.
132. To maintain a patent airway, what type of device should be employed?
A. King tube
B. Oropharyngeal airway
C. Nasopharyngeal airway
D. Esophageal tracheal combitube - CORRECT ANSWER: B, An oropharyngeal airway
is indicated for unconscious patients to prevent the tongue from falling back against the
back of the throat and obstructing the airway.
A 43-year-old male patient is brought to the ED with benzene exposure as a result of an
industrial accident. Which of the following should the respiratory therapist suggest?
A. Bronchoscopy
,B. Capnometry
C. Administration of atropine
D. Hemoximetry - CORRECT ANSWER: . D, Inhalation of benzene results in
methemoglobin as it combines with hemoglobin. This makes less oxygen being able to
combine with hemoglobin and oxygenation decreases. Assessing hemoximetry (CO-
oximetry) will help determine the severity of the condition.
A 43-year-old patient in the ICU is receiving 40% O2 by air-entrainment mask. His PaO2
is 58 torr, and his shunt has been calculated to be 6%. Which of the following is most
likely causing his hypoxemia?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Lobar pneumonia
C. Pneumothorax
D. Hypoventilation - CORRECT ANSWER: D, This patient has a slightly higher
measured shunt than normal (2% to 5%). Pulmonary edema, lobar pneumonia, and
pneumothorax would all cause shunts of more than 6%. Hypoventilation is an example
of a V/Q mismatch, which will not result in increased shunt levels. (Analysis)
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
, A 5-ft 5-in., 120-kg (264-lb) woman is brought to the emergency department and is
receiving ventila- tion with a manual resuscitator and mask at 100%
O2. A drug overdose is suspected. After intubating the patient, the respiratory therapist
is asked to rec-ommend initial ventilator settings. What are the most appropriate
settings for this patient's ventilator?
A)SIMV; rate, 10/min; VT, 700 mL; FiO2, 0.80
B)Assist-control; rate, 16/min; VT, 800 mL; FiO2,
0.60
C)Assist-control; rate, 12/min; VT, 600 mL; FiO2, 1.0
D)SIMV; rate, 12/min; VT, 450 mL; FiO2, 1.0 - CORRECT ANSWER: D,Remember on
the initial ventilator setup to select a ventilator rate between 10/min and 16/min; the
initial VT setting should be 6-8 mL/kg. (Analysis)
105 + 5 (height in inches - 60)
105 + 5 (65 - 60)
105 + 25 = 130 lb
To convert 130 lb to kg
A 58-year-old patient with emphysema enters the emergency department on a 2-L/min
nasal cannula. Blood for ABG analysis is drawn, and after the results are evaluated, the
O2 flow is increased to
5 L/min. Below are ABG results for both flow rates:
2 L/min 5 L/min
pH 7.34 7.28
PaCO2 62 torr 77
PaO2 44 torr 52
HCO3 35 mEq/L 35
BE 10 10
PRACTICE TEST Latest Update 2025-2026 180
Questions and 100% Verified Correct Answers
with Rationale Guaranteed A+
A 26-year-old patient has been experiencing a mod- erate asthmatic attack for 30
minutes. Which of the following ABG results would you expect to observe if the patient
was breathing room air?
B)7.08 , 24 PaCO2 , 50 PaO2
C)7.51 , 27 ., 60
D)7.27 , 52 , 63 - CORRECT ANSWER: C, Because the attack has been for only 30
min, the patient will most likely be hyperventilating as a result of hypoxemia. If this
condition is not reversed, the patient will begin to tire, which will result in decreasing
minute ventilation accompanied by rising PaCO2 levels.
A 28-year-old male with pneumonia is placed on a 50% aerosol mask. Arterial blood
gases reveal a PaO2 of 62 torr and a PaCO2 of 44 torr. His blood pressure is 74/50.
The respiratory therapist should recommend which of the following?
A. Place the patient on CPAP.
B. Increase the O2 to 60%.
C. Place the patient on a nasal cannula at 2 L/min.
D. Place the patient on a nonrebreathing mask. - CORRECT ANSWER: B, There are
two choices to correct the hypoxemia in this question, increase the FiO2 or place the
patient on CPAP. CPAP, while often indicated to increase PaO2 when a patient is
receiving 50%-60% oxygen, is not indicated in this scenario because of the patient's
hypotension. Placing the patient on CPAP may reduce the BP even more. Therefore,
increasing the FiO2 is more appropriate.
A 34-year-old female patient enters the emergency department complaining of severe
chest pain. The patient is placed on a 50% air-entrainment mask. Thirty minutes later,
ABGs are drawn and the results are as follows:
,pH 7.50
PaCO2 31 torr
PaO2 253 torr
HCO3 24mEq/LBE1
Which of the following is a true statement regarding these ABG results?
A)The results appear to be accurate and consistent with the FiO2
B)The PaO2 is not possible on this FiO2
C)The PaCO2 is not consistent with the pH
D)The results represent a metabolic alkalosis - CORRECT ANSWER: A, To approximate
the normal PaO2on a given O2percentage, multiply the Percentage times 5. This
patient is using 50% O2, so 50 × 5 = 250; therefore, the PaO2of 253 mm Hg is
consistent with the FiO2that the patient is receiving.
A 36-year-old, 65-kg (143-lb) unconscious male is admitted to the emergency
department. His respira- tory rate is 8/min and very shallow. A drug overdose is
suspected.
132. To maintain a patent airway, what type of device should be employed?
A. King tube
B. Oropharyngeal airway
C. Nasopharyngeal airway
D. Esophageal tracheal combitube - CORRECT ANSWER: B, An oropharyngeal airway
is indicated for unconscious patients to prevent the tongue from falling back against the
back of the throat and obstructing the airway.
A 43-year-old male patient is brought to the ED with benzene exposure as a result of an
industrial accident. Which of the following should the respiratory therapist suggest?
A. Bronchoscopy
,B. Capnometry
C. Administration of atropine
D. Hemoximetry - CORRECT ANSWER: . D, Inhalation of benzene results in
methemoglobin as it combines with hemoglobin. This makes less oxygen being able to
combine with hemoglobin and oxygenation decreases. Assessing hemoximetry (CO-
oximetry) will help determine the severity of the condition.
A 43-year-old patient in the ICU is receiving 40% O2 by air-entrainment mask. His PaO2
is 58 torr, and his shunt has been calculated to be 6%. Which of the following is most
likely causing his hypoxemia?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Lobar pneumonia
C. Pneumothorax
D. Hypoventilation - CORRECT ANSWER: D, This patient has a slightly higher
measured shunt than normal (2% to 5%). Pulmonary edema, lobar pneumonia, and
pneumothorax would all cause shunts of more than 6%. Hypoventilation is an example
of a V/Q mismatch, which will not result in increased shunt levels. (Analysis)
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
, A 5-ft 5-in., 120-kg (264-lb) woman is brought to the emergency department and is
receiving ventila- tion with a manual resuscitator and mask at 100%
O2. A drug overdose is suspected. After intubating the patient, the respiratory therapist
is asked to rec-ommend initial ventilator settings. What are the most appropriate
settings for this patient's ventilator?
A)SIMV; rate, 10/min; VT, 700 mL; FiO2, 0.80
B)Assist-control; rate, 16/min; VT, 800 mL; FiO2,
0.60
C)Assist-control; rate, 12/min; VT, 600 mL; FiO2, 1.0
D)SIMV; rate, 12/min; VT, 450 mL; FiO2, 1.0 - CORRECT ANSWER: D,Remember on
the initial ventilator setup to select a ventilator rate between 10/min and 16/min; the
initial VT setting should be 6-8 mL/kg. (Analysis)
105 + 5 (height in inches - 60)
105 + 5 (65 - 60)
105 + 25 = 130 lb
To convert 130 lb to kg
A 58-year-old patient with emphysema enters the emergency department on a 2-L/min
nasal cannula. Blood for ABG analysis is drawn, and after the results are evaluated, the
O2 flow is increased to
5 L/min. Below are ABG results for both flow rates:
2 L/min 5 L/min
pH 7.34 7.28
PaCO2 62 torr 77
PaO2 44 torr 52
HCO3 35 mEq/L 35
BE 10 10
