A 36-year-old female patient with a history of asthma is admitted to the ICU from the emergency department. Her respirations are 30, very labored, with accessory muscle use and bilateral inspiratory and expiratory wheezing. There is bilateral hyperresonance during chest percussion. A blood gas taken in the ICU after 1 hour of continuous aerosolized albuterol (15 mg) reveals: pH 7.38, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) 42mm Hg, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) 53 mm Hg, oxygen saturation (SaO2) 88%, bicarbonate (HCO3-) 25 mEq/L with nasal cannula 6 L/min. The patient is 5’5” and weighs 135 lbs. The most appropriate action at this time is which of the following?

Delayed termination during pressure support ventilation (PSV) can be avoided with patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by doing which of the following?

If lung compliance decreases while a patient is receiving mechanical ventilation with pressure-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation (PC-CMV) which of the following would occur?

The respiratory therapist observes the volume-time curve shown in the figure. What action should the respiratory therapist take at this time?

Which of the following clinical signs are included in the APGAR score for clinically evaluating a neonate?I. Heart rateII. ventilatory rateIII. colorIV. reflex irritabilityV. muscle tone

The least accurate but most practical method of monitoring hydration status in athletes is ____.

A 43 week meconium stained infant has been receiving positive pressure ventilation at 100% oxygen via BMV after sutioning of the airway until no meconium was aspirated for two minutes. The initial heart rate upon delivery was 80 bpm and is now 55 bpm. Which of the following actions should be taken FIRST?

Vygotsky was a social constructivist who believed that cognitive development is a ___________________ process. 

BONUS: An RT has just intubated a patient with the assistance of another respiratory therapist who is monitoring a capnograph during the procedure. Throughout the intubation procedure and after insertion of the ETT the ETCO2 monitor maintained a reading of 0%. What interpretation can be made at this time?

Which of the following medications have been effective in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea?I. narcanII. protriptylineIII. pyridostigmineIV. pentamidine