1|Page
Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE
Actual Exam Preparation Newest 2025/2026 Complete
Questions And Correct Detailed Answers (Verified Answers)
|Brand New Version!!
On the basis of these data, which of the following should the respiratory
therapist recommend?
A. Increase the VT to 650 mL
B. Increase the FiO2 to 0.40
C. Increase the ventilator rate to 8/min
D. Change to assist-control mode at a rate of 15/min - ANSWER-C, This
patient's increased PaCO2 level indicates hypoventilation, which can be
reversed by increasing the minute ventilation. This can be accomplished
by increasing the ventilator rate or VT, both of which are choices. We
must assume the patient is being weaned from the ventilator based on
the low ventilator rate (SIMV rate of 4). Weaning is accomplished as we
reduce the ventilator rate and allow the patient to breathe more on his or
her own. If the patient's PaCO2 begins to increase during weaning, we
increase the rate, not the VT. The ventilator VT is at the maximum level
of 8 mL/kg based on the patient's weight of 75 kg (8 x 75 = 600),
therefore increasing the ventilator rate is the most acceptable choice.
The following data have been collected on a patient receiving
continuous mechanical ventilation:
,2|Page
1:00pm 3:00pm
Delivered VT 600 600
Peak airway pressure 44 52
Static airway pressure 25 33
Inspiratory flow 40 40
PEEP 5 5
Which of the following is the best interpretation of these data?
A)The peak airway pressure increased as a result of increased airway
resistance.
B)The peak airway pressure increased as a result of decreased lung
compliance.
C)The patient's lung compliance is improving.
D)The patient's dynamic compliance is increasing. - ANSWER-B.
Notice that while peak inspiratory pressure increased, the static airway
pressure increased as well. Static pressure closely resembles alveolar
pressure. An increasing static pressure is a sign that it is taking more
pressure to ventilate the lung; therefore, lung compliance is decreasing.
In this question, if the PIP would have increased with no increase in the
static pressure, then choice A would have been the correct answer. When
airway resistance increases because of airway secretions, water in the
ventilator tubing, or bronchospasm, PIP increases, but static pressure
remains unchanged.
,3|Page
Static pressure closely resembles alveolar pressure. An increasing static
pressure is a sign that it is taking more pressure to ventilate the lung;
therefore, lung ? - ANSWER-compliance is decreasing.
if the PIP would have increased with no increase in the static pressure,
what would be the cause ? - ANSWER-When airway resistance
increases because of airway secretions, water in the ventilator tubing, or
bronchospasm, PIP increases, but static pressure remains unchanged.
Tracheal secretions tend to dry out in an intubated patient when inspired
air has which of the following characteristics?
A. A water vapor pressure of 47 mm Hg B. 50 mg of particulate water/L
of gas
C. An absolute humidity of 24 mg/L of gas
D. 44 mg of particulate water/L of gas - ANSWER-. C, When air that is
not fully saturated at body temperature is delivered to an intubated
patient, a humidity deficit exists and secretions get thicker because of
lack of inspired water. The inspired air must contain 44 mg H2O per liter
of gas or exert a water vapor pressure of 47 mm Hg to be fully saturated
at body temperature. (Analysis)
It is important to monitor plateau pressure in a patient receiving
mechanical ventilation because it best reflects
A. Lung compliance
B. PaO2
C. PaCO2
, 4|Page
D. ICP - ANSWER-A, Lung compliance is determined by dividing the
VT by the plateau pressure.
The respiratory therapist palpates no pulse on a patient, but the ECG
monitor shows QRS complexes on the tracing. The therapist should
A. Get a stat ABG
B. Recommend defibrillation at 250 J
C. Begin cardiac compressions
D. Recommend cardioversion at 120 J - ANSWER-C, Regardless of
what the ECG monitor is recording, if the patient has no pulse,
compressions must be started immediately. An example of this rare
situation is electromechanical dissociation (EMD), also referred to as
pulseless electrical activity (PEA), in which the ECG monitor does not
reflect the actual mechanical activity of the heart. (Analysis)
Regardless of what the ECG monitor is recording, if the patient has no
pulse, compressions must be started immediately. An example of this
rare situation is electromechanical dissociation (EMD), also referred to
as? - ANSWER-pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
A patient is receiving volume-controlled ventilation, and the low-
pressure alarm suddenly sounds. The corrective action is to?
A)Suction the patient
B)Begin manual ventilation
C)Increase the flow
Secure Comprehensive Therapist Multiple Choice SAE
Actual Exam Preparation Newest 2025/2026 Complete
Questions And Correct Detailed Answers (Verified Answers)
|Brand New Version!!
On the basis of these data, which of the following should the respiratory
therapist recommend?
A. Increase the VT to 650 mL
B. Increase the FiO2 to 0.40
C. Increase the ventilator rate to 8/min
D. Change to assist-control mode at a rate of 15/min - ANSWER-C, This
patient's increased PaCO2 level indicates hypoventilation, which can be
reversed by increasing the minute ventilation. This can be accomplished
by increasing the ventilator rate or VT, both of which are choices. We
must assume the patient is being weaned from the ventilator based on
the low ventilator rate (SIMV rate of 4). Weaning is accomplished as we
reduce the ventilator rate and allow the patient to breathe more on his or
her own. If the patient's PaCO2 begins to increase during weaning, we
increase the rate, not the VT. The ventilator VT is at the maximum level
of 8 mL/kg based on the patient's weight of 75 kg (8 x 75 = 600),
therefore increasing the ventilator rate is the most acceptable choice.
The following data have been collected on a patient receiving
continuous mechanical ventilation:
,2|Page
1:00pm 3:00pm
Delivered VT 600 600
Peak airway pressure 44 52
Static airway pressure 25 33
Inspiratory flow 40 40
PEEP 5 5
Which of the following is the best interpretation of these data?
A)The peak airway pressure increased as a result of increased airway
resistance.
B)The peak airway pressure increased as a result of decreased lung
compliance.
C)The patient's lung compliance is improving.
D)The patient's dynamic compliance is increasing. - ANSWER-B.
Notice that while peak inspiratory pressure increased, the static airway
pressure increased as well. Static pressure closely resembles alveolar
pressure. An increasing static pressure is a sign that it is taking more
pressure to ventilate the lung; therefore, lung compliance is decreasing.
In this question, if the PIP would have increased with no increase in the
static pressure, then choice A would have been the correct answer. When
airway resistance increases because of airway secretions, water in the
ventilator tubing, or bronchospasm, PIP increases, but static pressure
remains unchanged.
,3|Page
Static pressure closely resembles alveolar pressure. An increasing static
pressure is a sign that it is taking more pressure to ventilate the lung;
therefore, lung ? - ANSWER-compliance is decreasing.
if the PIP would have increased with no increase in the static pressure,
what would be the cause ? - ANSWER-When airway resistance
increases because of airway secretions, water in the ventilator tubing, or
bronchospasm, PIP increases, but static pressure remains unchanged.
Tracheal secretions tend to dry out in an intubated patient when inspired
air has which of the following characteristics?
A. A water vapor pressure of 47 mm Hg B. 50 mg of particulate water/L
of gas
C. An absolute humidity of 24 mg/L of gas
D. 44 mg of particulate water/L of gas - ANSWER-. C, When air that is
not fully saturated at body temperature is delivered to an intubated
patient, a humidity deficit exists and secretions get thicker because of
lack of inspired water. The inspired air must contain 44 mg H2O per liter
of gas or exert a water vapor pressure of 47 mm Hg to be fully saturated
at body temperature. (Analysis)
It is important to monitor plateau pressure in a patient receiving
mechanical ventilation because it best reflects
A. Lung compliance
B. PaO2
C. PaCO2
, 4|Page
D. ICP - ANSWER-A, Lung compliance is determined by dividing the
VT by the plateau pressure.
The respiratory therapist palpates no pulse on a patient, but the ECG
monitor shows QRS complexes on the tracing. The therapist should
A. Get a stat ABG
B. Recommend defibrillation at 250 J
C. Begin cardiac compressions
D. Recommend cardioversion at 120 J - ANSWER-C, Regardless of
what the ECG monitor is recording, if the patient has no pulse,
compressions must be started immediately. An example of this rare
situation is electromechanical dissociation (EMD), also referred to as
pulseless electrical activity (PEA), in which the ECG monitor does not
reflect the actual mechanical activity of the heart. (Analysis)
Regardless of what the ECG monitor is recording, if the patient has no
pulse, compressions must be started immediately. An example of this
rare situation is electromechanical dissociation (EMD), also referred to
as? - ANSWER-pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
A patient is receiving volume-controlled ventilation, and the low-
pressure alarm suddenly sounds. The corrective action is to?
A)Suction the patient
B)Begin manual ventilation
C)Increase the flow
