Related: How to Prepare for (and Pass) the TMC Exam

1. During the assessment of a 64-year-old female patient, you note the following signs: dyspnea, hypotension, and a tracheal shift to the right. The patient has absent breath sounds, reduced chest expansion, and a hyperresonant percussion note, all on the left side. These findings suggest which of the following?
A. Pleural effusion on the left side
B. Pneumothorax on the left side
C. Atelectasis on the left side
D. Consolidation on the left side

2. A 39-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with a fever and SpO2 of 87% on room air. Upon auscultation, rhonchi is heard, and the patient has a productive cough. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Intubate and provide mechanical ventilation with 40% oxygen
B. Provide noninvasive positive pressure ventilation using a full face mask
C. Implement postural drainage and percussion with directed coughing
D. Provide oxygen therapy and obtain a sputum sample for culture and sensitivity

3. A 50-year-old male patient is intubated with a size 8 endotracheal tube and is receiving volume-controlled A/C ventilation. Upon assessment, you note that the patient’s cuff pressure is measured at 38 cmH2O. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Withdraw the tube 1-2 cm and reassess the patient’s breath sounds
B. Recommend reintubation with a smaller endotracheal tube
C. Lower the cuff pressure to < 30 cmH2O
D. Recommend ventilation via a tracheostomy instead

4. During the assessment of a 52-year-old female patient who is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 4 L/min, you hear the bubble humidifier making a whistling noise. What is the most likely cause of this finding?
A. There is an obstruction in the delivery tube
B. The patient’s ventilation has increased
C. There is a clogged system diffuser
D. The flowmeter pressure is set too high

5. A pre and post-bronchodilator test was ordered on a 48-year-old female patient. The forced expiratory measurement that was obtained after the bronchodilator shows an increase in the patient’s FEV1 from 60% to 80% of the predicted value. This suggests which of the following?
A. Fixed airway obstruction
B. Reversible airway obstruction
C. Normal diffusion capacity
D. Restrictive process

6. A 58-year-old female patient is intubated and appears to be breathing asynchronously with the ventilator. Her breath sounds are absent on the left side, and the trachea is shifted to the left. The patient has a dull percussion note on the left side as well. Which of the following is the most likely explanation of these findings?
A. A tracheoesophageal fistula has developed
B. A tension pneumothorax has developed on the left side
C. The endotracheal tube is in the right mainstem bronchus
D. The patient is experiencing diffuse bronchospasm

7. A 63-year-old female patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation in the pressure-controlled A/C mode. If the patient’s compliance were to decrease, which of the following would you expect to occur?
A. The delivered volume will decrease
B. The peak pressure will increase
C. The inspiratory time will increase
D. The PEEP level will decrease

8. A 70-year-old male patient is intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation in the volume-controlled A/C mode. After performing endotracheal suctioning, which of the following would indicate the effective clearance of retained secretions?
A. An increased tidal volume
B. A decreased inspiratory time
C. A decreased plateau pressure
D. A decreased peak pressure

9. An adult patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation suddenly started showing signs of tachypnea. Upon assessment, you noticed tracheal deviation to the right and decreased breath sounds and hyperresonance on the left. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Endotracheal suctioning
B. Flexible bronchoscopy
C. The insertion of a chest tube
D. Thoracentesis

10. A 57-year-old female patient with acute pulmonary edema is dyspneic and shows signs of wheezing. The resident physician has ordered an albuterol breathing treatment via SVN. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Administer acetylcysteine instead of albuterol
B. Perform the therapy with supplemental oxygen
C. Perform the treatment as ordered
D. Administer a diuretic and oxygen therapy

11. An intubated 39-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department, and the nurse could not start an intravenous line during CPR. It is believed that the patient is suffering from a narcotic overdose, and the physician wants to administer Naloxone. Which of the following is an alternative route that can be used to deliver this medication?
A. Through the feeding tube
B. Aerosolized via SVN
C. Through the nasogastric tube
D. Through the endotracheal tube

12. An 80 kg male patient is receiving volume-controlled ventilation with an FiO2 of 40%, a rate of 12/min, and a set tidal volume of 500 mL. An ABG was analyzed with the following results: ABG Results: pH 7.38, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L, PaO2 108 mmHg. Ventilator Settings: Spontaneous Rate 23/min, Minute Ventilation 11.5 L/min, Vital Capacity 500 mL, MIP/NIF -15 cmH2O. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Place the patient on a 40% T-piece and monitor closely
B. Switch the patient to SIMV at a rate of 5/min
C. Place the patient on CPAP and monitor closely
D. Maintain the current ventilator settings

13. An adult patient was admitted to the emergency department after involvement in a motor vehicle accident. The patient is hyperventilating and appears to have a flail chest. Which of the following ABG results would you expect for this patient?
A. Increased pH and decreased SaO2
B. Increased pH and increased SaO2
C. Decreased pH and decreased SaO2
D. Decreased pH and increased SaO2

14. A 51-year-old female patient with a history of asthma is receiving mechanical ventilation in the assist-control mode. Upon assessment, you note that she is struggling to initiate inspiration. Which of the following settings would you check first to resolve this problem?
A. Tidal volume
B. Pressure limit
C. Sensitivity
D. PEEP

15. The physician has requested the insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway in an adult patient. This type of airway is helpful in supporting which of the following?
A. Mechanical ventilation
B. Frequent suctioning
C. Incentive spirometry
D. Aerosol drug therapy

16. You would expect it to be difficult establishing a patent airway in a patient with which of the following conditions?
A. ARDS
B. Morbid obesity
C. Pleural effusion
D. Ventilator-associated pneumonia

17. A premature infant receiving positive pressure ventilation appears to be in acute respiratory distress with signs of hypotension and asymmetrical chest movement. Which of the following would you recommend first?
A. An arterial blood gas
B. A chest radiograph
C. A capillary heal stick
D. Chest transillumination

18. During the assessment of an adult patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation, you suddenly notice the simultaneous sounding of both the high pressure and low volume alarms. What is the most likely cause of this finding?
A. There is a disconnection in the ventilator circuit
B. There is a leak in the ET tube cuff
C. There is a mucous plug in the ET tube
D. The patient has developed pneumonia

19. A 16-year-old male patient has been admitted to the emergency department and shows signs of poor body development. Upon assessment, you also note digital clubbing, hyperresonance to percussion, and a productive cough. It has also been reported that the patient has foul-smelling stools. These findings are consistent in which of the following?
A. Acute respiratory distress syndrome
B. Bronchiectasis
C. Chronic bronchitis
D. Cystic fibrosis

20. During the assessment of a 56-year-old female patient, you noticed distinct distention of the jugular veins in the neck. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this finding?
A. Systolic hypertension
B. Hypovolemia
C. Obstruction of the pulmonary vein
D. Right ventricular failure

21. An adult patient performed an FVC maneuver. After reviewing the flow-volume loop tracing, the doctor describes the appearance of the loop as “tall” and “skinny.” Which of the following best describes the patient’s respiratory physiology?
A. Normal lungs
B. Small airway obstruction
C. Large airway obstruction
D. Restrictive disease

22. A 68-year-old male patient with COPD is receiving volume control SIMV with the following settings:
Tidal volume 480 mL
Rate 12/min
Pressure support 10 cmH2O
PEEP 5 cmH2O
During a spontaneous breathing trial via T-tube, the patient’s breathing rate increased drastically, requiring him to be placed back on the ventilator. Which of the following would you recommend during the subsequent breathing trial?
A. Increase the sedation dosage
B. CPAP with pressure support via ET tube
C. CPAP without pressure support via ET tube
D. Extubate and provide BiPAP via full face mask

23. An order was placed to collect a blood sample from a neonatal patient in the NICU. It is determined that you should obtain the sample from a capillary instead of an artery. Which of the following is true regarding a capillary blood gas sample?
A. To obtain the sample, you need to milk the puncture site
B. The sample must be drawn from the first drop of surface blood
C. The pH and PaCO2 correlate well with arterial blood
D. The puncture is typically performed on the ball of the foot

24. A newly admitted adult patient with pneumonia has an oxygen saturation of 87% on a nasal cannula at 2 L/min. Which of the following is a potential cause of the patient’s hypoxemia?
A. Fever and chills
B. Diffusion defect
C. Alveolar consolidation
D. Hypoventilation

25. A 59-year-old female postoperative patient is recovering from surgery that occurred less than 24 hours ago. Which of the following would you recommend for this patient to prevent atelectasis?
A. Albuterol via SVN four times daily
B. Pursed-lip breathing as needed
C. Inspiratory resistance exercises three times daily
D. Incentive spirometry 10 times per hour

26. A 63-year-old male patient with a tracheostomy is being mechanically ventilated in the ICU. Upon assessment, you noticed that as the patient coughs, blood and secretions were blown back into the circuit. What action should you take at this time?
A. Flush the blood out of the circuit with normal saline
B. Sedate the patient to prevent more coughing
C. Nebulize a local anesthetic to reduce surgical pain
D. Replace the circuit with a new one

27. A 56-year-old male patient has been admitted and diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. To determine the patient’s need for ventilatory support, which of the following values is the most critical to monitor?
A. Residual volume
B. Inspiratory capacity
C. Peak inspiratory flow
D. Expiratory reserve volume

28. A 64-year-old female patient with a history of CHF has been admitted to the emergency department on a nasal cannula at 4 L/min. She is coughing up large amounts of pink, frothy secretions and presents the following ABG results:
pH 7.42
PaCO2 32 mmHg
HCO3 19 mEq/L
BE -3 mEq/L
PaO2 46 mmHg
SaO2 81%
Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Nonrebreathing mask at 15 L/min
B. Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV)
C. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
D. Intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB)

29. While attempting to wean an adult patient from mechanical ventilation, you switched them from the volume control A/C mode to CPAP with pressure support. 30 minutes later, the high respiratory rate alarm begins to sound, and the patient is breathing at a rate of 29 breaths/min. Which of the following changes would you make to the ventilator settings?
A. Increase the pressure support level
B. Increase the high-pressure alarm to 50 cmH2O
C. Increase the high rate alarm to 30–35 breaths/min
D. Switch the patient back to volume control A/C

30. A 57-year-old female patient who was admitted and diagnosed with emphysema displays the following ABG results:
pH 7.34
PaCO2 65 torr
PaO2 47 torr
HCO3 31 mEq/L
The patient appears to be dyspneic and inspiratory crackles can be heard during auscultation. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Nonrebreathing mask at 10 L/min
B. Air-entrainment mask at 28%
C. Albuterol via a small-volume nebulizer
D. Nasal cannula at 4 L/min

31. A 43-year-old female patient in the emergency department was just orally intubated with an endotracheal tube. Which of the following would you INITIALLY recommend in order to confirm that the tube is in the proper position?
A. Auscultate the patient’s chest and abdomen
B. Perform a STAT chest x-ray
C. Use capnography to verify exhaled CO2
D. Observe chest wall movement

32. While assisting with the delivery of a newborn infant, the physician asks for you to obtain an Apgar score on the patient. Which of the following ranges is considered to be a normal score?
A. 1–4
B. 4–7
C. 7–10
D. 10–13

33. After orally intubating an adult patient in the ICU, you are asked to confirm that the tube is in the correct place. Upon auscultation, you note that the breath sounds are absent on the patient’s left side. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to take at this time?
A. Obtain a stat chest radiograph
B. Withdraw the endotracheal tube by 1–2 cm
C. Reintubate the patient
D. Insert a large-bore needle in the left upper chest

34. A 58-year-old female patient has arrived in the emergency department with an extremely deep and fast breathing rate. Which of the following best classifies this type of breathing?
A. Apneustic breathing
B. Kussmaul breathing
C. Biot’s breathing
D. Cheyne-Stokes breathing

35. A 71-year-old male patient is receiving ventilatory support. His secretions are yellow and have gotten thicker over the past 24 hours. The patient has a white blood cell count of 17,000/mm3 and a temperature of 102 °F. Which of the following would you suggest?
A. Decrease the humidifier temperature
B. Administer an aerosolized bronchodilator
C. Schedule suctioning twice per hour
D. Obtain a sputum sample for culture and sensitivity

36. While reviewing the medical record of a 55-year-old female patient, you note that her FEV1/FVC ratio was reported as being severely decreased. Which of the following conditions would you expect to be present with this finding?
A. Pulmonary hypertension
B. Morbid obesity
C. Chronic asthma
D. Pneumonia

37. An intubated 60-year-old female patient is undergoing a spontaneous breathing trial. Which of the following would indicate the need to stop the trial and return the patient back to full ventilatory support?
A. An increase in heart rate from 96 to 114/min
B. An increase in respiratory rate from 17 to 27/min
C. An increase in arterial PCO2 from 44 to 52 torr
D. A decrease in SpO2 from 92% to 83%

38. The physician has requested the dynamic compliance measurement for an adult patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation. This value can be obtained by dividing the patient’s tidal volume by which of the following:
A. (Pplat – PEEP)
B. (PIP – PEEP)
C. (PIP – Paw)
D. (Paw – Pplat)

39. A 63-year-old male patient was admitted to the ICU. Upon auscultation, you note that bronchial breath sounds are present over the right lower lobe. This finding indicates which of the following?
A. The patient has normal lungs
B. A pneumothorax is present in the right lung
C. A pleural effusion is present in the right lower lobe
D. Consolidation is present in the right lower lobe

40. An alert 59-year-old male patient is orally intubated with an endotracheal tube. During a weaning trial, the patient was switched to CPAP mode with an FiO2 of 40%. Within the first 5 minutes, the patient’s respiratory rate has increased from 22 to 31 breaths/min with increased usage of accessory muscles while breathing. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Return the patient to full ventilatory support
B. Increase the FiO2 to 50%
C. Apply 5-10 cmH2O of pressure support
D. Extubate the patient and reassess

41. After administering aerosolized albuterol to a 38-year-old female patient, which of the following side effects would you expect?
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Bronchospasm
D. Shaking and tremors

42. A 23-year-old male patient with a severe head cold is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 4 L/min. The pulse oximeter reveals an SpO2 of 85%. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Increase the oxygen flow until the SpO2 equals or exceeds 90%
B. Decrease the oxygen flow until the patient is more comfortable
C. Switch to a simple mask
D. Recommend an ABG before considering any changes

43. A stable adult patient who is receiving mechanical ventilation displays the following results:
pH 7.49
PaCO2 29 mmHg
HCO3 24 mEq/L
BE +1
PaO2 87 mmHg
SaO2 96%
Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Add 10 cmH2O of PEEP
B. Increase the minute ventilation
C. Decrease the tidal volume
D. Maintain the current settings

44. A 68-year-old female patient in the ICU is receiving mechanical ventilation but appears to be breathing asynchronously with the ventilator. Which of the following medications would you recommend?
A. Fluoxetine (Prozac)
B. Lorazepam (Ativan)
C. Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
D. Cisatracurium (Nimbex)

45. A 70-year-old male patient with COPD is receiving ventilatory support in a volume-controlled mode. Upon assessment, the high-pressure alarm suddenly begins to sound. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Increase the flow setting
B. Increase the pressure limit setting
C. Suction the airway
D. Remove air from the endotracheal tube cuff

46. A 55-year-old female patient with pneumonia is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 4 L/min. The physician asks for your suggestion on the best way to evaluate the patient’s overall ability to breathe. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Perform pulse oximetry
B. Draw an arterial blood sample for analysis
C. Perform a forced vital capacity measurement
D. Perform a full set of pulmonary function tests

47. While reviewing the chest x-ray of a 57-year-old male patient, you note blunting of the left costophrenic angle. It’s also noted that the patient has a history of CHF. Which of the following best describes this patient’s condition?
A. There is a pneumothorax on the left side
B. There is a pleural effusion on the left side
C. There is pulmonary edema in the left lung
D. There is pneumonia in the left lower lobe

48. A 69-year-old male patient is undergoing a spontaneous breathing trial for weaning from mechanical ventilation. Which of the following changes in the patient’s status would be acceptable?
A. A decrease in SpO2 from 91% to 81%
B. An increased usage of the scalene muscles during breathing
C. An increase in heart rate from 97 to 115/min
D. A decrease in the systolic blood pressure from 115 to 76 mmHg

49. An adult patient with fluid overload was given a dose of furosemide intravenously. After the drug was given, the patient displayed an arrhythmia on the EKG that was not present before. Which of the following would you recommend in this situation?
A. Defibrillate the patient
B. Administer another dose of furosemide
C. Administer a dose of epinephrine
D. Check the patient’s potassium level

50. After the extubation of a 54-year-old male patient, he begins to complain of a sore throat. Which of the following drugs would you recommend for this patient?
A. Levalbuterol
B. Isoetharine
C. Racemic epinephrine
D. Acetylcysteine

51. An oropharyngeal airway is being used on a 39-year-old male patient. Within two minutes after insertion, the patient begins to gag. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Perform the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver
B. Insert a bite block
C. Remove the airway
D. Replace the current tube with a smaller airway

52. A 66-year-old female was admitted to the emergency department showing signs of dyspnea, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Lab tests were ordered to check her troponin and BNP levels, but the results were negative. Additionally, her ABG results indicated partially compensated respiratory acidosis. Which of the following is the most likely problem for this patient?
A. Pneumonia
B. CHF
C. Exacerbation of COPD
D. Myocardial infarction

53. A 51-year-old male patient is receiving volume-controlled A/C mechanical ventilation while being monitored with a continuous pulse oximeter. He was briefly removed from the ventilator so that suctioning could be performed, and his SpO2 dropped from 95% to 88%. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Initiate PEEP at 5 cmH2O
B. Increase the FiO2 to 80%
C. Perform bedside hemodynamic monitoring
D. Change to an in-line suctioning catheter

54. During the assessment of an adult patient with chronic asthma, their results displayed the following:
SVC of 3,500 mL
FVC of 2,500 mL
What is the most likely reason for the difference in these values?
A. Increased compliance during a forced expiration
B. Poor instruction by the previous respiratory therapist
C. Muscle fatigue during a forced expiration
D. Air trapping during a forced exhalation

55. The physician has ordered acetylcysteine for a 66-year-old female patient with COPD who has a large amount of thick secretions. Upon assessment, you note that the patient has a weak, inadequate cough. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Perform a bronchoalveolar lavage
B. Nasotracheal suctioning after the treatment
C. Postpone the therapy until the patient can cough effectively
D. Administer dornase alpha instead of acetylcysteine

56. On discharge, a 52-year-old male patient was prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid via MDI for two puffs twice a day. In order to decrease the likelihood of an oral infection, which of the following would you recommend?
A. An antibiotic prescription
B. Decrease the frequency to once per day
C. A Bronchodilator before the corticosteroid
D. Rinse the mouth after inhalation

57. A 60-year-old female patient is receiving assist-control mechanical ventilation. Which of the following is the most common problem associated with this ventilatory mode?
A. Hypoventilation
B. Hyperventilation
C. The need for neuromuscular paralysis
D. Increased work of breathing

58. During the ventilator check of an adult patient who weighs 77 kg, you note the following settings:
Exhaled tidal volume 550 mL
PIP 35 cmH2O
High-pressure limit 64 cmH2O
Low-pressure alarm 25 cmH2O
Low tidal volume alarm 500 mL
Which of the following changes should be made at this time?
A. Increase the set tidal volume to 700 mL
B. Increase the low tidal volume alarm to 600 mL
C. Decrease the high-pressure limit to 45-50 cmH2O
D. Decrease the low-pressure alarm to 10 cmH2O

59. An adult patient undergoing a mild asthma attack was admitted to the ER. Which of the following ABG results would you expect to see?
A. pH = 7.30 PaCO2 = 49 torr PaO2 = 61 torr
B. pH = 7.32 PaCO2 = 51 torr PaO2 = 51 torr
C. pH = 7.46 PaCO2 = 47 torr PaO2 = 52 torr
D. pH = 7.49 PaCO2 = 30 torr PaO2 = 62 torr

60. A 61-year-old female patient has an FEV1/FVC ratio that is lower than the predicted value. Her FVC value is also lower than normal as well. What is the most likely cause of these findings?
A. Normal lungs
B. Restrictive lung disease
C. Obstructive lung disease
D. Combined obstructive and restrictive lung disease

61. Which of the following tidal volume settings for mechanical ventilation would be most appropriate for a 5’2″ female patient with normal lungs?
A. 200 mL
B. 400 mL
C. 600 mL
D. 700 mL

62. A 15-year-old male patient who has been diagnosed with asthma is in need of medication to help prevent future asthma attacks. All of the following drugs would be helpful EXCEPT:
A. Cromolyn sodium
B. Zafirlukast
C. Epinephrine
D. Zileuton

63. The physician has chosen to use the SIMV mode of ventilation over the Assist/Control mode. Which of the following is an advantage of the SIMV mode?
A. SIMV maintains respiratory muscle strength
B. SIMV prevents hyperventilation
C. SIMV increases pleural pressures
D. SIMV increases the need for sedation

64. A newly admitted adult patient in the emergency department who is intubated appears to have copious amounts of frothy pink secretions. This most likely indicates which of the following:
A. ARDS
B. Cor pulmonale
C. Left ventricular failure
D. An electrolyte imbalance

65. An adult patient arrived at the emergency department in respiratory distress with diminished breath sounds. The patient has a history of asthma. After continuous bronchodilator therapy, wheezing is now heard during auscultation. This change suggests which of the following?
A. The onset of pneumonia
B. The development of a pneumothorax
C. The improvement of air flow
D. The development of pulmonary edema

66. A 71-year-old female patient is intubated and receiving positive-pressure ventilation. To prevent barotrauma, you should strive to keep the plateau pressure below which of the following thresholds?
A. 20 cmH2O
B. 30 cmH2O
C. 40 cmH2O
D. 50 cmH2O

67. While monitoring a 67-year-old male patient who is receiving volume-controlled SIMV, you note bilateral wheezes during auscultation with an increased peak airway pressure. Which of the following would you recommend for this patient?
A. Suction the patient’s airway
B. Order a stat chest x-ray
C. Check the cuff pressure
D. Administer a bronchodilator

68. A 61-year-old female was orally intubated and is now receiving positive pressure ventilatory support. A chest radiograph was ordered to confirm the proper placement of the endotracheal tube. Where should the tip of the tube be positioned?
A. No more than 2 cm above the carina
B. At the same level as the carina
C. Level with the fifth cervical vertebra
D. Between the 2nd and 4th thoracic vertebra

69. An adult patient was admitted to the emergency department with an opiate narcotic overdose. Which of the following medications would you recommend to help return the patient’s breathing back to normal?
A. Naloxone (Narcan)
B. Fentanyl (Sublimaze)
C. Indomethacin (Indocin)
D. Vecuronium (Norcuron)

70. Immediately after intubation, a 64-year-old female patient is showing signs of asymmetrical chest movement while being ventilated with a bag-valve resuscitator. After auscultation, you note that no breath sounds are heard on the left side. These findings are consistent with which of the following?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Atelectasis
C. Right mainstem intubation
D. Pleural effusion

71. An adult patient with a tracheostomy in place is receiving ventilatory support in the volume-controlled SIMV mode with a set rate of 10/min. Upon assessment, the patient has started to use their accessory muscles during spontaneous breaths. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Increase the level of pressure support
B. Decrease the SIMV rate to 8/min
C. Switch the patient to pressure-controlled SIMV
D. Switch the patient to a pressure-limited mode

72. While selecting the initial ventilatory settings for a newly intubated patient, which of the following is most important?
A. The type of device that is being used
B. The quality and amount of nursing supervision
C. The patient’s size and clinical condition
D. The amount of spontaneous ventilatory effort

73. A 60-year-old male patient is receiving ventilatory support in the SIMV mode. A blood gas sample was collected, and analysis shows a PaCO2 of 60 mmHg. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Increase the frequency
B. Increase the FiO2
C. Increase the mechanical deadspace in the ventilator circuit
D. Decrease the tidal volume

74. An ABG was collected on a 71-year-old female patient with a history of chronic COPD. After reviewing the results, which of the following values would be most reflective of the severity of the patient’s chronic condition?
A. pH
B. PaCO2
C. HCO3-
D. PaO2

75. An adult patient in the emergency room is unconscious with an SpO2 of 95%. After re-checking with a CO-oximeter, it reveals that the patient’s SaO2 is 67%. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this discrepancy?
A. Opiate drug overdose
B. Diabetic ketoacidosis
C. Acute pulmonary edema
D. Carbon monoxide poisoning

76. A 64-year-old female patient has arrived in the emergency department with chest tightness and radiating left shoulder pain. Which of the following would you recommend?
A. Obtain a stat chest