Free RRT Questions And Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a routine examination, the patient becomes apneic and then asystolic. The respiratory therapist observes that the patient's records says that the patient has a code status of "Do not resuscitate." What should the respiratory therapist do out of these options?
- Report this to the charge nurse as soon as possible. (Correct answer)
- Begin bag-mask ventilation with an FiO2 of 1.00 and a flow of 15 L/min.
- Call for emergency intubation, and initiate mechanical ventilation.
- Begin chest compressions.
Correct answer: Report this to the charge nurse as soon as possible.
The duty is to notify the charge nurse as soon as possible if the patient gets asystolic and then becomes apneic. Resuscitation procedures including chest compressions, intubation, and bag-mask breathing are all against the wishes of this patient, as shown by their ""do not resuscitate"" code status.
Question 2: A study of the doctor's prescriptions for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation who was admitted to an acute care unit reveals that Combivent q4h and DuoNeb q4h were among the drugs prescribed. Which of these tasks is the respiratory therapist's responsibility?
- Do not administer whichever medication is contraindicated.
- Dispense/administer medication as ordered.
- Contact the ordering physician to verify orders. (Correct answer)
- Alternate medications every two hours.
Correct answer: Contact the ordering physician to verify orders.
A respiratory therapist is not permitted to alter doctor's orders, ignore them, or merely modify them. However, despite having distinct names and dosage forms, Combivent and DuoNeb are the same drugs (albuterol plus atrovent). The respiratory therapist should get in touch with the doctor to let them know about the duplicate and ask for more advice.
Question 3: The respiratory therapist decides to evaluate the patient's peripheral circulation and capillary refill after having trouble getting a reading with a pulse oximeter's finger probe. After a brief compression, the nail bed on the right index finger turns pink once more after one second. Which of the following is suggested by this?
- anemia
- cyanosis
- insufficient blood flow to extremities
- normal peripheral circulation and capillary refill (Correct answer)
Correct answer: normal peripheral circulation and capillary refill
In less than two seconds, the nail bed will turn pink once more under normal circulation and perfusion. The nail bed would be bluish if there was cyanosis. Anemia has no impact on this particular test unless the anemia is severe, in which case the nail bed would not ""pink up.""
Question 4: Paramedics take a 20-year-old female patient to the emergency room (ED) after she briefly lost consciousness following a collision with another basketball player. The patient's SpO2 is 98% on room air upon arrival, and her heart rate is 95. Her respiratory rate is also 16. Hematocrit is 44 and hemoglobin is 11.0, according to the venous blood draw. How should these findings be presented?
- Patient is saturating well on room air and has a normal heart rate and respiratory rate. Hemoglobin is low at 11.0, and hematocrit is within normal limits. (Correct answer)
- Patient is saturating well on room air and is tachypneic with a normal heart rate. Hemoglobin and hematocrit are within normal limits.
- Patient is saturating well on room air and is tachycardic at 95 with a normal respiratory rate. Hemoglobin is high at 11.0, and hematocrit is within normal limits.
- Patient is saturating well on room air and has a normal heart rate and respiratory rate. Hemoglobin and hematocrit are within normal limits.
Correct answer: Patient is saturating well on room air and has a normal heart rate and respiratory rate. Hemoglobin is low at 11.0, and hematocrit is within normal limits.
Hematocrit, SpO2, heart rate, and respiratory rate are all within normal ranges. Low hemoglobin levels. SpO2 94%-99%, pulse 60-80 bpm, respiratory rate 12-20 rpm, hemoglobin 12-15 g/dL, and hematocrit 37%-46% are considered to be within normal ranges.
Question 5: A 45-year-old girl who began smoking at age 15 is the first patient we see today for an examination. She claims to smoke 1.5 packs a day and to have given up smoking for a year while carrying each of her two children. Her hubby smokes as well. How should this smoking history be entered into the patient's record?
- Patient suffers from a nicotine addiction and smokes too much.
- Patient is currently a daily cigarette smoker, 1.5 packs per day, with a 42-pack-year history. (Correct answer)
- Patient is currently a heavy smoker.
- Patient smokes about 30 cigarettes a day and has for almost 30 years.
Correct answer: Patient is currently a daily cigarette smoker, 1.5 packs per day, with a 42-pack-year history.
This is the succinct, accepted method of reporting this data, which is most helpful for evaluating the patient and her current condition. It is widely acknowledged as the recognized metric for determining smoking history. <br> Pack-years = number of packs per day x number of years smoked <br> The other responses lack specificity.
Question 6: When a respiratory therapist meets a patient for the first time, she observes that the patient can only answer questions in two- or three-word sentences, breaking up longer answers by pausing to breathe. What inferences about this speech pattern can the respiratory therapist safely draw?
- The patient has COPD.
- The patient has a neuromuscular illness that impairs respiration.
- The patient is most likely not a native English speaker
- The patient has a decreased vital capacity, and there could be several different causes for this. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The patient has a decreased vital capacity, and there could be several different causes for this.
All we know for sure is that there is a reduced vital capacity (shallow breathing). Some people who have suffered a chest wall injury or undergone thoracic or abdominal surgery will breathe more slowly as a result of the pain. In addition, a number of lung diseases and neuromuscular conditions can make a patient's breathing shallow. The other responses draw conclusions that are not backed up by our observation.
Question 7: During a physical examination of a 20-year-old male, high-pitched wheezing was audible throughout the lung field. The patient claims that while his wheezing is audible, it doesn't bother him much and that he feels a bit out of breath. He observes that it typically occurs after mowing the yard. Which of the following could we suggest to the doctor?
- Send the patient for a chest X-ray (CXR) and full pulmonary function tests (PFTs).
- The best course is to “wait and see” for this minor problem.
- The patient’s respiratory health is uncertain and would be better understood by performing basic spirometry and a methacholine challenge test. (Correct answer)
- Write a prescription for an albuterol inhaler to use when necessary (pro re nata [PRN]).
Correct answer: The patient’s respiratory health is uncertain and would be better understood by performing basic spirometry and a methacholine challenge test.
Despite not being particularly severe, the general wheezing in the lung field raises the potential of asthma. The connection between these episodes and grass mowing lends weight to this as a potential diagnosis. The methacholine challenge test and fundamental spirometry will confirm or disprove the diagnosis of asthma. The albuterol inhaler may help with the wheezing, but it won't reveal much about the cause.
Question 8: What is the main role of a respiratory therapist?
- Administering medications
- Performing surgeries
- Diagnosing heart conditions
- Treating respiratory disorders (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Treating respiratory disorders
Respiratory therapists specialize in treating patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders.
Question 9: Which of the following conditions might a respiratory therapist treat?
- Broken bones
- Diabetes
- Asthma (Correct answer)
- Vision problems
Correct answer: Asthma
Asthma is a common respiratory disorder that respiratory therapists often treat.
Question 10: What diagnostic tests might a respiratory therapist perform?
- Blood pressure measurement
- X-rays (Correct answer)
- Urine analysis
- Hearing tests
Correct answer: X-rays
Respiratory therapists may assist in performing X-rays to diagnose lung and chest conditions.
Question 11: Which of the following is NOT a duty of a respiratory therapist?
- Administering oxygen therapy
- Assisting in intubation
- Providing dental cleanings (Correct answer)
- Managing ventilators
Correct answer: Providing dental cleanings
Providing dental cleanings is not within the scope of practice for respiratory therapists.
Question 12: What is the purpose of incentive spirometry?
- To measure heart rate
- To improve lung function (Correct answer)
- To monitor blood sugar
- To assess kidney function
Correct answer: To improve lung function
Incentive spirometry helps patients improve lung function and prevent respiratory complications.
Question 13: Which of the following might a respiratory therapist do during a bronchoscopy?
- Administer anesthesia (Correct answer)
- Perform a skin biopsy
- Set a broken bone
- Conduct a hearing test
Correct answer: Administer anesthesia
Anesthesia is often administered during a bronchoscopy to ensure patient comfort.
Question 14: What is the primary purpose of mechanical ventilation?
- Treating diabetes
- Aiding digestion
- Supporting breathing (Correct answer)
- Reducing anxiety
Correct answer: Supporting breathing
Mechanical ventilation assists patients who are unable to breathe effectively on their own.
Question 15: Which type of patients might require continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)?
- Patients with high blood pressure
- Patients with sleep apnea (Correct answer)
- Patients with broken bones
- Patients with allergies
Correct answer: Patients with sleep apnea
CPAP is commonly used to treat sleep apnea by providing continuous airflow to keep the airway open.
Question 16: What is the purpose of a nebulizer treatment?
- To measure lung capacity
- To cleanse the digestive system
- To reduce fever
- To deliver medication to the lungs (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To deliver medication to the lungs
Nebulizers are used to administer medication directly to the lungs, especially for patients with respiratory conditions
Free RRT Questions And Answers
During a routine examination, the patient becomes apneic and then asystolic.
The respiratory therapist observes that the patient's records says that the patient has a code status of "Do not resuscitate." What should the respiratory therapist do out of these options?