Free Respiratory Therapy Questions And Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is given pulmonary function testing to support or disprove a COPD diagnosis. The test is to be run both before and after bronchodilator. What minimal alteration in forced vital capacity (FVC) must occur before we can say that the bronchodilator has significantly changed things?
- 12% (Correct answer)
- 10%
- 8%
- 4%
Correct answer: 12%
The other options are too insignificant to be taken seriously. This figure represents the best practices-established percentage.
Question 2: The respiratory therapist runs three trials with a 3 L syringe to calibrate the spirometer in the pulmonary function lab. 2.92 L, 3.02 L, and 3.09 L are the results. In light of these measurements, what does the respiratory therapist say about the spirometer?
- Using the device is not safe at this time.
- It needs service and should not be used.
- It is in good working order. (Correct answer)
- It is working erratically and needs to be checked by the supervisor.
Correct answer: It is in good working order.
Each measurement is within the allowed error of 105 mL.
Question 3: After a one-car auto collision, paramedics transport a patient to the ED. The driver was the patient. He is a man, twenty years old, conscious yet drowsy. He claims that his right leg, neck, and chest are in excruciating discomfort. Tracheal deviation to the right is shown on the stat CXR. What might have caused the X-ray results?
- left-side pneumothorax (Correct answer)
- elevated hemidiaphragm
- right middle lobe atelectasis
- right-side pneumothorax
Correct answer: left-side pneumothorax
The tension pneumothorax side will be deviated from by the trachea. The tracheal deviation does not point to the other solutions.
Question 4: A 35-year-old woman's family brings her into the emergency department. They worry that she might have abused heroin. The doctor requests an ABG to assess for potential hypoventilation caused by a decreased respiratory drive. What is the best order to complete these steps?
- Perform Allen’s test, check for written order, check patient ID, prepare ABG draw kit, wash hands, glove, clean puncture site with alcohol swab, draw sample.
- Check for written order, check patient ID, perform Allen’s test, wash hands, glove, prepare ABG draw kit, clean site with alcohol swab, draw sample. (Correct answer)
- Check patient ID, perform Allen’s test, check for written order, wash hands, glove, prepare ABG draw kit, clean site with alcohol swab, draw sample.
- Check for written order, check patient ID, prepare ABG draw kit, perform Allen’s test, wash hands, glove, clean site with alcohol swab, draw sample.
Correct answer: Check for written order, check patient ID, perform Allen’s test, wash hands, glove, prepare ABG draw kit, clean site with alcohol swab, draw sample.
The order must be written, approved, and the patient's identity verified using two different patient identities before collecting an ABG. Prior to putting on gloves, carrying out an Allen's test to check hand perfusion, assembling the kit, cleaning the location, and taking the sample, hand hygiene must first be practiced.
Question 5: Which of the following circumstances in a patient's chart could lead you to believe that a particular patient's SPO2 value from a pulse oximeter might not be accurate?
- The patient works as a firefighter.
- The patient’s hemoglobin on a recent CBC was 14.9.
- The patient is wearing dark nail polish.
- The patient is a smoker who stepped out for a cigarette immediately before the examination. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The patient is a smoker who stepped out for a cigarette immediately before the examination.
Smoking will raise the blood's concentration of carbon monoxide, which will result in an inaccurately high reading. The hemoglobin-bound CO will be interpreted as O2.
Question 6: An 18-year-old new immigrant from the Philippines is your patient. The doctor has tentatively diagnosed the patient with tuberculosis and admitted him to the hospital after reviewing the results of his CXR and the symptoms he first complained of. He also ordered more tests and the proper isolation measures. Which PPE is required to be worn while interacting with this patient?
- gown, gloves
- N-95 mask, gown, gloves, bonnet, booties
- N-95 mask, gown, gloves (Correct answer)
- surgical mask, gown, gloves
Correct answer: N-95 mask, gown, gloves
Isolated tuberculosis is regarded as airborne.
Question 7: All of the following patients should wait to have pulmonary function testing, with the exception of:
- 33-year-old female, two broken ribs from a fall three days ago
- 15-year-old male, recent respiratory infection (Correct answer)
- 71-year-old male, status/post cerebrovascular accident (CVA) one week
- 17-year-old female, recent CXR showing right-sided pneumothorax
Correct answer: 15-year-old male, recent respiratory infection
Pulmonary function testing is not contraindicated in young people who are otherwise healthy and have recently had a respiratory infection.
Question 8: What is the purpose of a chest physiotherapy treatment?
- Treating heart conditions
- Massaging the abdomen
- Stimulating hair growth
- Loosening mucus in the lungs (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Loosening mucus in the lungs
Chest physiotherapy involves techniques to help mobilize and clear mucus from the lungs.
Question 9: Which of the following scenarios might require the expertise of a respiratory therapist during surgery?
- Dental extraction
- Orthopedic surgery
- Heart surgery (Correct answer)
- Eye surgery
Correct answer: Heart surgery
Respiratory therapists are often involved in cardiac surgeries to ensure proper lung function and ventilation during the procedure.
Question 10: What is the common technique used to assess a patient's arterial blood oxygen levels?
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis (Correct answer)
- Blood glucose test
Correct answer: Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis
ABG analysis measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, helping to assess a patient's respiratory status.
Question 11: Which of the following is a potential complication of long-term mechanical ventilation?
- Improved lung function
- Increased appetite
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia (Correct answer)
- Enhanced sense of taste
Correct answer: Ventilator-associated pneumonia
Prolonged mechanical ventilation can increase the risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia due to the presence of a breathing tube.
Question 12: What is the purpose of a peak flow meter in respiratory care?
- Measuring body temperature
- Assessing joint flexibility
- Monitoring blood pressure
- Evaluating lung function (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Evaluating lung function
A peak flow meter measures the maximum airflow a person can generate, helping to monitor changes in lung function.
Question 13: Which of the following is a common respiratory condition that involves the inflammation of the airways and difficulty breathing?
- Migraine
- Arthritis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Correct answer)
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Correct answer: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to breathing difficulties.
Question 14: What is the purpose of a bag-valve-mask (BVM) device?
- Treating ear infections
- Administering eye drops
- Delivering oxygen to the lungs (Correct answer)
- Testing blood sugar levels
Correct answer: Delivering oxygen to the lungs
A BVM device is used to manually provide positive pressure ventilation and deliver oxygen to a patient's lungs.
Question 15: In which healthcare settings might you find respiratory therapists working?
- Veterinary clinics
- Restaurants
- Rehabilitation centers (Correct answer)
- Clothing stores
Correct answer: Rehabilitation centers
Respiratory therapists often work in healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers.
Question 16: What is the recommended educational background for becoming a licensed respiratory therapist in most countries?
- High school diploma
- Bachelor's degree in any field
- Master's degree in respiratory therapy
- Associate's degree in respiratory therapy (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Associate's degree in respiratory therapy
An associate's degree in respiratory therapy is the typical educational requirement to become a licensed respiratory therapist in many countries.
Free Respiratory Therapy Questions And Answers
A patient is given pulmonary function testing to support or disprove a COPD diagnosis.
The test is to be run both before and after bronchodilator.
What minimal alteration in forced vital capacity (FVC) must occur before we can say that the bronchodilator has significantly changed things?