Pulmonary Diseases

Question 1

When would induced hypothermia be indicated?
a. During brain surgery
b. During bowel surgery
c. To break a fever
d. To treat carbon monoxide poisoning

Answer 1

a. During brain surgery

Question 2

A 50-year-old patient has a heart rate by palpation of 120 bpm. How should this be
interpreted?
a. Within the normal range for an adult
b. An error since a stethoscope was not used
c. Bradycardia
d. Tachycardia

Answer 2

d. Tachycardia

Question 3

Tachypnea may be the result of:
1. hypoxemia.
2. hypothermia.
3. fever.
4. sedation.
a. 2, 4
b. 1, 3
c. 2, 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 3

Answer 3

b. 1, 3

Question 4

A 50-year-old patient would be said to have hypotension when her:
a. blood pressure is 130/90 mm Hg.
b. blood pressure is 85/55 mm Hg.
c. heart rate is 55 bpm.
d. pulse pressure is 40 mm Hg.

Answer 4

b. blood pressure is 85/55 mm Hg.

Question 5

A dull percussion note would be heard in which of the following situations?
1. Atelectasis
2. Pleural thickening
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
4. Consolidation
a. 1, 2
b. 3, 4
c. 2, 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 4

Answer 5

d. 1, 2, 4

Question 6

Coarse crackles are associated with:
1. inspiration typically.
2. air passing through an airway intermittently occluded by mucus.
3. bronchial asthma.
4. expiration typically.
a. 2, 4
b. 3, 4
c. 2, 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 3

Answer 6

a. 2, 4

Question 7

While assessing an unconscious patient, the respiratory therapist observes that the patient’s
breathing becomes progressively faster and deeper and then progressively becomes slower
and shallower. After that, there is a period of apnea before the cycle begins again. This
breathing pattern would be identified as:
a. Cheyne-Stokes.
b. Tachypnea.
c. Kussmaul.
d. Hyperventilation.

Answer 7

a. Cheyne-Stokes

Question 8

Benefits of pursed-lip breathing include that it:
1. stabilizes airways.
2. offsets air trapping on exhalation.
3. generates a better gas mixing breathing pattern.
4. increases the respiratory rate.
a. 1
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 2, 3
d. 2, 3, 4

Answer 8

c. 1, 2, 3

Question 9

A patient comes into the emergency department with a complaint of centrally located,
constant chest pain. What is his most likely problem?
a. Pleurisy
b. Myocardial ischemia
c. Pneumothorax
d. Fractured rib

Answer 9

b. Myocardial ischemia

Question 10

A patient with bronchiectasis has a productive cough. Which of the following should the
respiratory therapist be evaluating about the patient’s sputum?
1. Color
2. Odor
3. Frequency of cough
4. Consistency
a. 3
b. 1, 2
c. 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 4

Answer 10

d. 1, 2, 4

Question 11

The respiratory therapist is monitoring the blood pressure of a patient in the emergency
department and notes that the blood pressure is 15 mm Hg less on inspiration than on
expiration. Which of the following would most likely result in this finding?
a. The patient is hypovolemic.
b. The patient has a pulmonary embolism.
c. The patient is having a myocardial infarction.
d. The patient is having a severe exacerbation of
asthma.

Answer 11

d. The patient is having a severe exacerbation of asthma

Question 12

The respiratory therapist is examining a patient in the medical ward and notes that the
trachea is deviated to the right. Which of the following may be causing the tracheal
deviation to the right?
a. A right-sided tension pneumothorax.
b. A right-sided pleural effusion.
c. A tumor mass on the right.
d. Atelectasis of the right upper lobe.

Answer 12

d. Atelectasis of the right upper lobe.

Question 13

The respiratory therapist is performing palpation on a patient recently admitted to the
medical ward. The therapist notes decreased tactile fremitus over the right lung. Which of
the following could most likely be the cause for this physical examination finding?
a. Right-sided atelectasis
b. Right-sided pneumothorax
c. plural effusion
d. Right-sided pleural tumor

Answer 13

a. Right-sided atelectasis

Question 14

Moderate hypoxemia is indicated with an SpO2 value between and .
a. 95%; 99%
b. 91%; 94%
c. 86%; 90%
d. 80%; 85%

Answer 14

c. 86%; 90%

Question 15

The respiratory care practitioner is conducting a patient interview. The main purpose of this
interview is to:
a. review data with the patient.
b. gather subjective data from the patient.
c. gather objective data from the patient.
d. fill out the history form or checklist.

Answer 15

b. gather subjective data from the patient

Question 16

For there to be a successful interview, the respiratory therapist must:
a. provide leading questions to guide the patient.
b. reassure the patient.
c. be an active listener.
d. use medical terminology to show knowledge of the subject matter

Answer 16

c. be an active listener

Question 17

Which of the following would be found on a history form?
1. Age
2. Chief complaint
3. Present health
4. Family history
5. Health insurance provider
a. 1, 4
b. 2, 3
c. 3, 4, 5
d. 1, 2, 3, 4

Answer 17

d. 1, 2, 3, 4

Question 18

External factors the respiratory care practitioner should make efforts to provide during an
interview include which of the following?
1. Minimize or prevent interruptions.
2. Ensure privacy during discussions.
3. Interviewer is the same sex as the patient to prevent bias.
4. Be comfortable for the patient and interviewer.
a. 1, 4
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 2, 4
d. 2, 3, 4

Answer 18

c. 1, 2, 4

Question 19

The respiratory therapist is conducting a patient interview. The therapist chooses to use
open-ended questions. Open-ended questions allow the therapist to do which of the
following?
1. Gather information when a patient introduces a new topic.
2. Introduce a new subject area.
3. Begin the interview process.
4. Gather specific information.
a. 4
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2, 3
d. 2, 3, 4

Answer 19

c. 1, 2, 3

Question 20

The direct question interview format is used to:
1. speed up the interview.
2. let the patient fully explain his/her situation.
3. help the respiratory therapist show empathy.
4. gather specific information.
a. 1, 4
b. 2, 3
c. 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 3

Answer 20

a. 1, 4

Question 21

During the interview the patient states, “Every time I climb the stairs I have to stop to catch
my breath.” Hearing this, the respiratory therapist replies, “So, it sounds like you get short
of breath climbing stairs.” This interviewing technique is called:
a. clarification.
b. modeling.
c. empathy.
d. reflection.

Answer 21

d. reflection.

Question 22

The respiratory therapist may choose to use the patient interview technique of silence
in which of the following situations?
a. To prompt the patient to ask a question
b. After a direct question
c. After an open-ended question
d. To allow the patient to review his/her history

Answer 22

c. After an open-ended question

Question 23

9. To have the most productive interviewing session, which of the following types of responses
   to assist in the interview should the respiratory therapist avoid.
   a. Confrontation
   b. Reflection
   c. Facilitation
   d. Distancing

Answer 23

d. Distancing

Question 24

When closing the interview, the respiratory therapist should do which of the following?
1. Recheck the patient’s vital signs.
2. Thank the patient.
3. Ask if the patient has any questions.
4. Close the door behind himself/herself for patient privacy.
a. 2
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 4

Answer 24

b. 2, 3

Question 25

The respiratory therapist should be aware of a patient’s culture and religious beliefs for
which of the following reasons?
a. To be able to engage in a meaningful conversation
b. To change any misguided notions the patient has that may impact his/her health
c. To explain to the patient how these beliefs will lead to discrimination and
stereotyping
d. To better understand how the patient’s beliefs may impact how the patient thinks
and behave

Answer 25

d. To better understand how the patient’s beliefs may impact how the patient thinks
and behaves

Question 26

Which of the following are the most important components of a successful interview?
a. Communication and understanding
b. Authority and the use of medical terminology
c. Providing assurance and giving advice
d. Asking leading questions and anticipating patient responses to questions

Answer 26

a. Communication and understanding

Question 27

The respiratory therapist is conducting a patient interview and recording responses in the
patient’s electronic health record. The respiratory therapist should take which of the
following into account regarding the use of the computer to record responses?
a. The therapist’s attention may be shifted from the patient to the computer.
b. The patient will feel more important than if the information is recorded on paper.
c. The therapist will be less likely to make spelling errors if using a spell-check
program.
d. The environment will be more professional and the patient will be more likely to
open up if the interview is conducted with paper

Answer 27

a. The therapist’s attention may be shifted from the patient to the computer.