Respiratory Care Techniques Quiz

1. What is a benefit of an NPA?

Causes distress

Cardiac use

Tolerated in semi-conscious patients

Only unconscious use

NPA maintains airway patency and is tolerated when OPA is contraindicated.

Explanation

NPA maintains airway patency and is tolerated when OPA is contraindicated.

2. How to protect airway in unconscious patient?

CPR

Sitting position

Chest compressions

Insert OPA

OPA prevents tongue occlusion in unconscious patients.

Explanation

OPA prevents tongue occlusion in unconscious patients.

3. What noninvasive monitor is used during anesthesia?

Temperature

Blood pressure

Pulse oximetry

ECG

Pulse oximetry continuously monitors oxygen saturation during anesthesia.

Explanation

Pulse oximetry continuously monitors oxygen saturation during anesthesia.

4. How do air bubbles affect ABG results?

Improve accuracy

No effect

Change blood

Cause unreliable results

Air bubbles alter gas diffusion, skewing ABG results.

Explanation

Air bubbles alter gas diffusion, skewing ABG results.

5. ETT cuff will not inflate during intubation. What is the next step?

Inflate harder

Continue intubation

Replace the tube

Leave cuff deflated

A non-functioning cuff compromises ventilation and aspiration protection. Replacement is mandatory.

Explanation

A non-functioning cuff compromises ventilation and aspiration protection. Replacement is mandatory.

6. How does hyperinflation therapy help post-op patients?

Prevents pneumonia and atelectasis

No benefit

Raises infection risk

Increases pain

Hyperinflation improves alveolar expansion, preventing atelectasis and infection.

Explanation

Hyperinflation improves alveolar expansion, preventing atelectasis and infection.

7. What should be done before suctioning a patient?

Avoid suction

Preoxygenate

Increase suction pressure

Oxygen after suction

Preoxygenation prevents hypoxia and arrhythmias during suction-induced oxygen loss.

Explanation

Preoxygenation prevents hypoxia and arrhythmias during suction-induced oxygen loss.

8. Which is a short-acting respiratory drug?

Ibuprofen

Lisinopril

Albuterol

Metformin

Albuterol rapidly relaxes bronchial smooth muscle during acute bronchospasm.

Explanation

Albuterol rapidly relaxes bronchial smooth muscle during acute bronchospasm.

9. How many liters per minute of oxygen are given via nasal cannula?

10–15 Lpm

1–5 Lpm

6–10 Lpm

0.5–1 Lpm

Nasal cannula delivers low-flow oxygen between 1–5 Lpm. Higher flows dry mucosa and lower flows fail to improve oxygenation.

Explanation

Nasal cannula delivers low-flow oxygen between 1–5 Lpm. Higher flows dry mucosa and lower flows fail to improve oxygenation.

10. Which electrolyte indicates dehydration from GI loss?

Potassium

Chloride

Sodium

Calcium

Sodium reflects fluid balance and losses from GI routes.

Explanation

Sodium reflects fluid balance and losses from GI routes.

11. What EKG change indicates hyperkalemia?

Prolonged QT

Peaked T waves

Tall R waves

Short PR

Elevated potassium alters cardiac conduction, causing peaked T waves.

Explanation

Elevated potassium alters cardiac conduction, causing peaked T waves.

12. Large tongue noted before intubation. What should be done?

Ignore

Jaw thrust

Attempt anyway

Sedate

Jaw thrust moves the tongue anteriorly, clearing obstruction.

Explanation

Jaw thrust moves the tongue anteriorly, clearing obstruction.

13. What precautions are required for SARS patients?

Contact plus standard

Mask only

No precautions

Airborne only

SARS spreads via contact, requiring enhanced infection control.

Explanation

SARS spreads via contact, requiring enhanced infection control.

14. Which waveform detects air trapping on a ventilator?

Volume

Flow

Pressure

Temperature

Pressure waveform shows incomplete exhalation, indicating air trapping.

Explanation

Pressure waveform shows incomplete exhalation, indicating air trapping.

15. What should a patient do after using inhaled corticosteroids?

Skip doses

Use as rescue

Rinse mouth

Share medication

Mouth rinsing prevents oral candidiasis from steroid residue.

Explanation

Mouth rinsing prevents oral candidiasis from steroid residue.

16. Why calculate airway resistance?

Assess BP

Measure temperature

Evaluate breathing effort

Determine heart rate

Increased airway resistance raises breathing effort, signaling obstruction or disease severity.

Explanation

Increased airway resistance raises breathing effort, signaling obstruction or disease severity.

17. Why is postural drainage beneficial?

Raises blood pressure

Decreases lung function

Mobilizes secretions via gravity

Causes discomfort

Gravity-assisted positioning improves secretion clearance across lung segments.

Explanation

Gravity-assisted positioning improves secretion clearance across lung segments.

18. When should head-tilt chin-lift not be used?

Facial swelling

Suspected cervical injury

Limited space

Conscious patient

Head-tilt chin-lift risks spinal damage if cervical injury exists.

Explanation

Head-tilt chin-lift risks spinal damage if cervical injury exists.

19. Resistance is felt while inserting an NPA. What should be done?

Force insertion

Leave in place

Stop attempt

Try the other nostril

Resistance indicates obstruction or anatomy mismatch. Switching nostrils avoids trauma.

Explanation

Resistance indicates obstruction or anatomy mismatch. Switching nostrils avoids trauma.

20. What bedside test measures lung volumes?

Blood test

MRI

Spirometry

Chest X-ray

Spirometry measures lung volumes and airflow noninvasively at bedside.

Explanation

Spirometry measures lung volumes and airflow noninvasively at bedside.

21. What values are measured in an ABG?

Glucose

White cells

Blood pressure

PH, PaCO₂, PaO₂, HCO₃

ABG measures acid-base balance and oxygenation using pH, PaCO₂, PaO₂, and bicarbonate levels.

Explanation

ABG measures acid-base balance and oxygenation using pH, PaCO₂, PaO₂, and bicarbonate levels.

22. What does DLCO measure?

Blood pressure

Lung volume

Heart rate

Gas transfer from alveoli to blood

DLCO evaluates gas diffusion efficiency from alveoli into blood, reflecting alveolar-capillary membrane integrity.

Explanation

DLCO evaluates gas diffusion efficiency from alveoli into blood, reflecting alveolar-capillary membrane integrity.

23. How does a pulse oximeter work?

Measures skin temperature

Uses red and infrared light

Measures arterial pressure

Measures cardiac electricity

Pulse oximeters emit red and infrared light to detect hemoglobin oxygen saturation based on light absorption differences.

Explanation

Pulse oximeters emit red and infrared light to detect hemoglobin oxygen saturation based on light absorption differences.

24. What is the purpose of a cuff on an endotracheal tube?

Structural support

Creates airway seal and prevents leakage

Measures oxygen saturation

Filters inhaled air

The cuff on an endotracheal tube seals the airway, allowing positive pressure ventilation while preventing aspiration of fluids. This seal ensures efficient oxygen delivery and protects the lungs from secretions.

Explanation

The cuff on an endotracheal tube seals the airway, allowing positive pressure ventilation while preventing aspiration of fluids. This seal ensures efficient oxygen delivery and protects the lungs from secretions.