Respiratory Therapist Exam Review-chapters 1 & 2

54 Questions | By M4morey | Last updated: Mar 21, 2022 | Total Attempts: 415

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Chapter one review questions, both entry level and written exam

Questions and Answers

1.

You have finished charting on your patient when you notice that an error was made. You should do which of the following?
- A.
  
  Tell the nurse so that she will tell the physician
- B.
  
  Tell the nurse so that she will chart the correct information
- C.
  
  Place a line through the error, initial it, and write in the correct information
- D.
  
  Have your supervisor chart the correct information
2.

In listening to a patient's lungs, you notice bronchial breath sounds in her right lower lobe. These would indicate which of the following?
- A.
  
  Normal lungs
- B.
  
  Pneumothorax
- C.
  
  Consolidation in her right lower lobe
- D.
  
  Pleural effusion in her right lower lobe
3.

You are called to start a new aerosolized medication treatment. After reading the physician's order, you notice that the drug dosage is outside the normal department guidelines. You should do which of the following?
- A.
  
  Give the treatment as ordered
- B.
  
  Contact the physician to confirm that the order is indeed correct
- C.
  
  Give the treatment as ordered, and leave a note in the chart asking for clarification for the next treatment
- D.
  
  Have the nurse rewrite the order
4.

You are called to the Emergency Department to help care for a patient who was in a car accident and has chest injuries, including broken ribs. While palpating her neck, you feel crepitation. What is the most likely cause of this?
- A.
  
  She has a laryngeal tumor
- B.
  
  Blood is in the back of her throat
- C.
  
  She has aspirated a tooth
- D.
  
  She has an air leak from her lung
5.

You are called ot help in the evaluation of a 55-year old male patient. You notice the following signs and symptoms: oral temperature of 40 degrees C (104.5 F), diaphoresis, respiratory rate of 22, the use of accessory muscles of respiration, and palpable rhonchi in teh right lower love. You would suspect which of the following diagnoses:
- A.
  
  Bacterial pneumonia
- B.
  
  Heart attack
- C.
  
  Pneumothorax
- D.
  
  Viral pneumonia
6.

Since being told of the diagnosis of cancer, a patient has become argumentative about his care and threatens to hit the nurse and therapist. He should be evaluated for:
- A.
  
  Language barrier problems
- B.
  
  Hypercarbia
- C.
  
  Emotional state
- D.
  
  Hypoxemia
7.

To help determine your patient's level of consciousness, you should ask which of the following questions? 1. Do you you know what day this is? 2. Can I see your identification wristband? 3. Do you know where you are? 4. How are you feeling today? 5. Do you know who the president is?
- A.
  
  2, 4
- B.
  
  3
- C.
  
  5
- D.
  
  1, 3
8.

To help you determine whether your patient has orthopnea, you would ask which of the following?
- A.
  
  How many flights of stairs can you climb before you become short of breath?
- B.
  
  Do you know who the governor is?
- C.
  
  Do you need to use extra pillows behind your head and back to keep from getting short of breath when you sleep?
- D.
  
  Do any particular foods seem to make it harder for you to cough up your secretions?
9.

In observing an infant's chest configuration, you notice that it is the same size in both the AP and lateral dimensions. This would indicate that the patient has:
- A.
  
  A normal chest
- B.
  
  Funnel chest/pectus excavatum
- C.
  
  Pulmonary emphysema with air trapping
- D.
  
  Lordosis
10.

In examining your patient, you notice that she has greatly diminished breath sounds in her right lower lobe, and her trachea has shifted to the right. These signs indicate which condition?
- A.
  
  Right-sided pneumothorax
- B.
  
  Right-sided atelectasis
- C.
  
  Left-sided pneumothorax
- D.
  
  Left-sided pneumonia
11.

In palpating your patient for symmetrical chest movements, you notice that his left side does not move as much as his right side. This indicates that he has which condition or conditions? 1. Emphysema 2. Congestive heart failure 3. Left-sided pneumonia 4. Left-sided pneumothorax 5. Right sided pneumonia
- A.
  
  1, 2
- B.
  
  3, 4
- C.
  
  4, 5
- D.
  
  2
12.

You are called to the Emergency Department to help evaluate a pediatric patient. On entering the room you observe the patient's breathing effort and can hear a harsh, high-pitched sound on inspiration. Which of the following is true?
- A.
  
  Sounds are tracheal and normal
- B.
  
  Sounds are bronchovesicular and not normal
- C.
  
  Sounds are stridorous and indicate a respiratory emergency
- D.
  
  Sounds are bronchial and indicate a respiratory emergency
13.

You are called to evaluate a patient's breathing pattern. You notice that the patient's tidal volumes go from small to large to small and then stop for 10 seconds before starting up again. The pattern repeats itself. This patient's breathing pattern would be best called:
- A.
  
  Eupnea
- B.
  
  Obstructed expiration
- C.
  
  Kussmaul's respiration
- D.
  
  Cheyne-Stokes respiration
14.

A tension pneumothorax is identified by which of the following? 1. Chest x-ray film shows a shift of the mediastinum toward the affected lung 2. chest x-ray film shows elevation of the hemidiaphragm on the affected side 3. The patient's vital signs suddenly deteriorate 4. chest x-ray film shows a depression of the hemidiaphragm on the affected side. 5. Chest x-ray film shows a shift of the mediastinum away from the affected lung. 6. Vital signs are essentially unchanged.
- A.
  
  1, 2, 6
- B.
  
  3, 4, 5
- C.
  
  1, 2, 3
- D.
  
  1, 3, 4
15.

Your patient is complaining of localized pain over the lower right area of the chest while breathing. when you auscultate her chest, you hear a rasping noise at her point of pain on both inspiration and expiration. This is most likely:
- A.
  
  Pleural friction rub
- B.
  
  Normal breath sounds
- C.
  
  Wheeze
- D.
  
  Rhonchi
16.

Your patient has distended external jugular veins, even though her head and body are raised 45 degrees above her legs. This would indicate that she:
- A.
  
  Is hypertensive
- B.
  
  Is fluid overloaded
- C.
  
  Has emphysema
- D.
  
  Is dehydrated
17.

Tactile fremitus would be reduced in all of the following conditions EXCEPT:
- A.
  
  Pneumothorax
- B.
  
  COPD
- C.
  
  Pulmonary edema
- D.
  
  Pleural effusion
18.

A frail, thin patient known to have lung cancer is admitted ot the hospital. His family members are also present. What should be asked of them to make sure the proper level of care is delivered?
- A.
  
  The last time he ate
- B.
  
  The last time he had a bowel movement
- C.
  
  Whether any advance directives have been documented
- D.
  
  Whether he has brought his home care medications with him
19.

It is most important to ask a patient with a broken ankle form a recent slip on an icy sidewalk about which of the following?
- A.
  
  Level of pain
- B.
  
  Level of consciousness
- C.
  
  Work of breathing
- D.
  
  Emotional state
20.

All of the following could result in a mediastinal shift on a chest x-ray EXCEPT
- A.
  
  Right-sided hemothorax
- B.
  
  Bilateral lower lobe pneumonia
- C.
  
  Left-sided tension pneumothorax
- D.
  
  Right lower lobe atelectasis
21.

A patient who is suffering respiratory distress would exhibit all of the following EXCEPT:
- A.
  
  Normal respiratory rate
- B.
  
  Nasal flaring
- C.
  
  Intercostal retractions
- D.
  
  Use of accessory muscles of inspiration
22.

An adult patient with a history of smoking has shown an increased anteroposterior diameter and depressed hemidiaphragms on a PA chest radiograph. It is most likely that hte patient
- A.
  
  Has pulmonary fibrosis
- B.
  
  Has emphysema
- C.
  
  Would have normal findings if an AP chest radiograph were taken.
- D.
  
  Has left ventricular failure
23.

After 2 days of vomiting and diarrhea caused by the flu, a 50-year-old patient is admitted. Her ECG shows five PVCs in 1 minute and flat T waves. What laboratory test would you recommend?
- A.
  
  Urinalysis
- B.
  
  Arterial blood gas analysis
- C.
  
  Electrolytes
- D.
  
  Complete blood count
24.

A 48-year-old patient with an extensive smoking history usually coughs out about 20 mL of sputum every day. He developed a "chest cold" 4 days ago and has noticed increased shortness of breath and thicker secretions. What should be done at this time?
- A.
  
  Have him increase the flow on his home oxygen concentrator
- B.
  
  Get a sputum sample for a culture-and sensitivity study
- C.
  
  Have him perform a 6-minute walk test
- D.
  
  Perform percussion to determine the hemidiaphragm positions
25.

A recently home-delivered baby is brought in to the Emergency Department by the paramedics. The physician asks you to hellp evaluate her condition. Normal vital signs for a term newborn include all of the following EXCEPT:
- A.
  
  Heart rate of 130/min
- B.
  
  Rectal temperature of 36.5 degrees Celsius
- C.
  
  Blood pressure of 64/40 mm Hg
- D.
  
  Respiratory rate of 20/min