Asthma is one of the most commonly tested topics on the respiratory therapy board exam because it requires a strong understanding of pathophysiology, patient assessment, and evidence-based treatment. Respiratory therapists must be able to recognize the signs of asthma, interpret clinical data, and select appropriate therapies during both acute and chronic management.
Questions on the board exam often focus on bronchodilator use, corticosteroid therapy, airway inflammation, and identifying worsening symptoms.
The asthma practice questions below are designed to help reinforce key concepts, improve your clinical reasoning, and prepare you to answer similar questions with confidence on exam day.
Note: We intentionally did not include the correct answers on this page so you can challenge yourself and assess your understanding of the material. If you’d like to access the correct answers and detailed explanations, you can download the digital study guide using the link below.
Access our quiz that includes sample TMC practice questions and detailed explanations to master the key concepts of asthma.
Why Asthma Is an Essential Topic for the Board Exam
Asthma is a high-yield topic for the respiratory therapy board exam because it requires you to apply knowledge from several core areas of respiratory care. You must understand airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus production, as well as how these changes affect ventilation and gas exchange.
The exam often tests your ability to recognize asthma symptoms, interpret clinical findings, and choose the most appropriate treatment. This includes selecting bronchodilators, corticosteroids, oxygen therapy, and other supportive interventions.
You may also encounter questions related to asthma severity, triggers, and signs of a worsening attack. A strong understanding of asthma helps you answer clinical scenario questions and make safe, effective decisions for patient care.
Asthma Board Exam Practice Questions
Review the following asthma practice questions to strengthen your understanding of key clinical concepts tested on the respiratory therapy board exam.
Each question is designed to help you think through patient scenarios, treatment decisions, and core respiratory care principles.
1. While reviewing the medical record of a 55-year-old female patient, you observe that her FEV1/FVC ratio is significantly decreased. Based on this finding, which of the following conditions is most likely present?
A. Pulmonary hypertension
B. Morbid obesity
C. Chronic asthma
D. Pneumonia
2. A 21-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department with an acute asthma exacerbation and is experiencing moderate to severe dyspnea. Which of the following medications would you recommend for nebulized administration?
A. Montelukast
B. Beclomethasone
C. Magnesium sulfate
D. Metaproterenol
3. A 6-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department with dyspnea and bilateral wheezing. Which of the following would you recommend as the initial treatment?
A. Furosemide (Lasix)
B. Rigid bronchoscopy
C. Aerosolized albuterol
D. Aerosolized Pulmicort
4. During the evaluation of an adult patient with chronic asthma, the following pulmonary function test results are observed: SVC of 3,500 mL; FVC of 2,500 mL. What is the most likely explanation for the difference between these two 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
5. 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
6. A 15-year-old male patient with a history of asthma needs a medication to help prevent future asthma attacks. Which of the following drugs would not be appropriate for this purpose?
A. Cromolyn sodium
B. Zafirlukast
C. Epinephrine
D. Zileuton
7. An adult patient presents to the emergency department in respiratory distress with diminished breath sounds. The patient has a history of asthma. After receiving continuous bronchodilator therapy, wheezing is now audible during auscultation. What does this change most likely indicate?
A. The onset of pneumonia
B. The development of a pneumothorax
C. The improvement of air flow
D. The development of pulmonary edema
8. A 22-year-old female patient arrives at the emergency department experiencing acute bronchospasm with significant wheezing and difficulty breathing. She has a history of asthma but no other major comorbidities. Which of the following medications would be the most appropriate to administer at this time?
A. Albuterol (Proventil)
B. Racemic epinephrine
C. Cromolyn sodium (Intal)
D. Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
9. A 2-year-old girl is experiencing a severe asthma attack, and the physician has prescribed a short-acting bronchodilator that can be delivered via either a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or a small-volume nebulizer (SVN). Which delivery method would be most appropriate for this patient?
A. An SVN using the “blow by” technique
B. An MDI with a holding chamber and mask
C. A small volume nebulizer with a mouthpiece
D. A breath-actuated MDI with a mask
10. A 41-year-old female presents with wheezing and symptoms suggestive of asthma, though the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed. Which of the following diagnostic tests would be the most appropriate to confirm asthma?
A. Airway resistance
B. Flow-volume loop
C. Bronchoprovocation study
D. Pre-and-post bronchodilator study
11. A 26-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department with severe dyspnea, accessory muscle use, and wheezing. Her condition is diagnosed as status asthmaticus, an acute exacerbation of asthma unresponsive to initial treatment. The physician orders nebulized therapy to provide immediate relief. Which of the following medications would you recommend?
A. Levalbuterol
B. Montelukast
C. Beclomethasone
D. Magnesium sulfate
12. An 8-year-old female with a history of asthma has been prescribed Proventil (albuterol) via MDI for home use to manage acute symptoms. During the patient’s follow-up visit, her parent reports difficulty ensuring the child is using the inhaler properly. Which of the following would you recommend to improve medication delivery and ensure proper technique?
A. Add a spacer or holding chamber to the MDI
B. Remove the mouthpiece from the MDI
C. Have the child inhale as quickly as possible
D. Switch from an MDI to a DPI
13. A 50-year-old male patient is admitted to the hospital for asthma management. During the medication history review, the respiratory therapist gathers details about the patient’s asthma treatment regimen. Which of the following factors is the least critical to address during this assessment?
A. Self-administration techniques
B. Frequency of rescue inhaler usage
C. Use of generic vs. brand name medications
D. Patient understanding of controllers vs. relievers
14. You are called to administer a STAT bronchodilator treatment for a male patient experiencing a severe asthma attack. While reviewing the physician’s written order, you notice that the dosage is unclear and could be interpreted as either “5 mL of albuterol” or “0.5 mL of albuterol.” The prescribing physician is currently attending to a critical code and cannot clarify the order. How should you proceed?
A. Have the nurse review the note to clarify the order
B. Cross out the prohibited notations and initial and date the changes
C. Wait until the physician is done with the code so that you can clarify the improper notation and the correct order
D. Administer the treatment using the standard albuterol dosage of 0.5 mL and clarify the order as soon as possible thereafter
15. A 51-year-old male patient with asthma has been prescribed an albuterol breathing treatment via small-volume nebulizer to manage acute symptoms. Upon reviewing the patient’s chart, you note severe hypertension and a history of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Which of the following actions should you take before initiating therapy?
A. Provide acetylcysteine instead of albuterol
B. Dilute the albuterol with extra saline
C. Postpone the treatment and consult the physician
D. Administer the treatment as ordered
16. A female patient experiencing an acute asthma attack was administered an adrenergic bronchodilator to relieve her symptoms. However, her condition appears to have worsened following the treatment, with increased airway obstruction and heightened respiratory distress. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this adverse reaction?
A. A paradoxical response to the agent
B. Tachyphylaxis or tolerance to the agent
C. Alterations in the V/Q ratio
D. The additive effect of other drug agents
17. A 29-year-old female patient with suspected asthma has been referred for pulmonary function testing to confirm the diagnosis. Several diagnostic tests are being considered. Which of the following would be least helpful in determining whether the patient has asthma?
A. Lung diffusion study
B. Flow-volume loop
C. Bronchoprovocation testing
D. Pre- and post-bronchodilator testing
18. Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement is a diagnostic tool used in respiratory care. For which of the following clinical purposes is exhaled nitric oxide testing most commonly indicated?
A. Treating refractory hypoxemia
B. Titrating asthma drugs and dosages
C. Treating pulmonary hypertension
D. Assessing the presence of air trapping
19. You are preparing to perform a methacholine challenge test on an adult patient who is suspected of having asthma. This test evaluates airway hyperreactivity by measuring the patient’s response to inhaled methacholine. During the procedure, the patient’s FEV1 is monitored after each dose of methacholine. What percentage decrease in FEV1 must occur to conclude that the test is positive for airway hyperreactivity?
A. 10%
B. 15%
C. 20%
D. 25%
20. A 52-year-old female patient undergoes spirometry testing to assess her pulmonary function. Spirometry is performed before and after administering a bronchodilator. Her FEV1 increases from 62% to 83% of her predicted value after the bronchodilator is given. Based on these results, which of the following conclusions can be made?
A. The patient has a fixed airway obstruction
B. The patient has a normal diffusion capacity
C. The patient has a reversible airway obstruction
D. The patient has a restrictive lung disease
21. As a respiratory therapist, you are tasked with reviewing patients’ eligibility for an annual influenza vaccination. Which of the following patients would you recommend receive the flu shot based on current guidelines?
A. A 21-year-old female with asthma
B. A 5-month-old infant
C. A 65-year-old male with Guillain-Barré syndrome
D. A 25-year-old pregnant female patient
22. A 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency room in respiratory distress due to an asthma attack. The attending physician orders immediate management of the condition. Which of the following medications is NOT recommended for initial treatment in this scenario?
A. Epinephrine
B. Albuterol (Proventil)
C. Terbutaline (Brethaire)
D. Cromolyn sodium (Intal)
23. A 33-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department in the early stages of an asthma attack. She reports increasing difficulty breathing and a tight feeling in her chest. Upon initial assessment, which of the following findings would you most likely expect in this patient?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Moderate hypoxemia
C. Decreased expiratory flow rates
D. No response to beta-adrenergic medications
24. A 42-year-old female patient has been experiencing persistent dyspnea and wheezing for the past 24 hours. Despite receiving bronchodilator therapy, her symptoms have not improved. On examination, she exhibits signs of respiratory distress, including the use of accessory muscles and difficulty speaking in full sentences. Based on this clinical presentation, which of the following conditions best describes her current state?
A. Chronic bronchitis
B. Status asthmaticus
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Emphysema
25. A 47-year-old female patient has been admitted to the hospital for an acute asthma attack. She is currently being treated with bronchodilator medications and oxygen therapy. Her ABG results show a PaCO2 of 50 mmHg and a pH of 7.27, indicating respiratory acidosis. Although the patient appears anxious, she remains alert and cooperative. Based on this information, which of the following actions would you recommend?
A. Administer nebulized corticosteroids
B. Administer a CNS respiratory depressant
C. Intubate and provide mechanical ventilation
D. Maintain their current therapy and continue to monitor closely
Access our quiz that includes sample TMC practice questions and detailed explanations to master the key concepts of asthma.
Final Thoughts
Asthma is an important topic for the respiratory therapy board exam because it requires a solid understanding of airway physiology, patient assessment, and treatment strategies.
By reviewing practice questions and reinforcing key concepts, you can improve your ability to recognize symptoms, interpret clinical information, and select appropriate therapies.
Consistent practice will help strengthen your clinical reasoning and increase your confidence when answering asthma-related questions on the board exam. Keep studying the fundamentals and continue testing your knowledge to ensure you are well prepared for exam day.
Written by:
John Landry is a registered respiratory therapist from Memphis, TN, and has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. He enjoys using evidence-based research to help others breathe easier and live a healthier life.
References
- Goldin J, Cataletto ME. Asthma. [Updated 2024 May 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026.