RRT RRT Patient Assessment 3

Question 1

Which clinical presentation is most consistent with hypercapnia (elevated PaCO2)?

Accepted Answer

Headache, drowsiness, flushed skin, and diaphoresis

Answer

Hypercapnia causes CO2-mediated vasodilation and CNS depression, producing headache, drowsiness, flushed skin, and diaphoresis; severe hypercapnia leads to CO2 narcosis.

Question 2

Orthopnea, a common complaint assessed in patients with cardiac disease, is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Breathlessness that occurs specifically when lying flat and is relieved by sitting upright

Answer

Orthopnea is dyspnea that occurs when lying flat due to increased venous return and fluid redistribution to the lungs in heart failure, promptly relieved by sitting upright.

Question 3

The Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale is specifically used to:

Accepted Answer

Quantify the degree of breathlessness in relation to activities of daily living

Answer

The mMRC scale grades dyspnea from 0 (no breathlessness) to 4 (too breathless to leave the house), quantifying functional disability caused by shortness of breath.

Question 4

Use of sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles during quiet, resting breathing in an adult patient indicates:

Accepted Answer

Severe respiratory distress requiring increased muscular effort

Answer

Accessory muscle use (sternocleidomastoid, scalene) during quiet breathing indicates that primary respiratory muscles are insufficient and the patient is in severe respiratory distress.

Question 5

Tracheal deviation toward the right side in a patient would most likely be caused by:

Accepted Answer

Left-sided tension pneumothorax pushing structures rightward

Answer

Tracheal deviation away from the midline shifts toward the side opposite the pressure source; a left-sided tension pneumothorax creates pressure that pushes the trachea to the right.

RRT Exam Practice Test

RRT Exam Practice Test

RRT RRT Patient Assessment 3