Respiratory Lab Practice Test- Questions and Answer Key

What This Practice Test Covers

If you're training to become a respiratory therapist, you need to face facts: the lab practical is where your knowledge gets tested under pressure. This isn't a multiple-choice exam where you can second-guess yourself. You have to perform. This practice test mirrors the real thing—airway management, ventilation setup, ABG interpretation, and patient assessment scenarios.

Use this as a study tool, not a crutch. Work through every question before checking the answers. If you don't know why an answer is correct, look it up. That's where real learning happens.

Core Topics on the Respiratory Lab Practical

The exam covers five main areas. Most programs test all of them, though some weight certain sections heavier than others.

• Airway management and suctioning techniques
• Ventilator setup and troubleshooting
• Arterial blood gas interpretation
• Physical assessment and chart review
• Medication calculations and delivery

Practice Questions and Answer Key

Question 1: Airway Management

A patient presents with severe respiratory distress, GCS of 8, and secretions pooling in the oropharynx. What is your first intervention?

A) Intubate immediately
B) Suction the airway first
C) Apply non-rebreather mask
D) Request a respiratory therapist backup

Answer: B

Suction first. You cannot ventilate through a blocked airway. Clear the secretions, then establish a definitive airway if needed. Intubation without a clear pathway is useless.

Question 2: Ventilator Settings

A patient on volume-cycled ventilation shows declining SpO2 despite increasing FiO2. Peak inspiratory pressures are rising. What does this indicate?

A) Air leak in the circuit
B) Decreased lung compliance
C) Need for higher PEEP
D) Tube dislodgement

Answer: B

Rising PIP with stable plateau pressure points to decreased compliance—something is making the lungs stiffer. This means either lung consolidation, pneumothorax, or patient-ventilator dyssynchrony. Check your breath sounds and get a chest X-ray.

Question 3: ABG Interpretation

ABG results: pH 7.28, PaCO2 58 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L. What is the acid-base disorder?

A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Respiratory acidosis
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Mixed acid-base disorder

Answer: B

pH is low (acidemic), PaCO2 is high. The HCO3 is normal, so there's no metabolic compensation yet. This is acute respiratory acidosis—likely hypoventilation from airway obstruction, CNS depression, or neuromuscular failure.

Question 4: Medication Calculation

You need to administer albuterol via SVN. The order is 2.5 mg in 3 mL normal saline. Your albuterol concentration is 0.083%. How much do you draw up?

A) 0.5 mL
B) 1.5 mL
C) 3 mL
D) 2.5 mL

Answer: C

0.083% albuterol contains 0.83 mg/mL. To get 2.5 mg, you need 3 mL. The vial already contains 3 mL at the correct concentration. No math required—just know your drug concentrations cold.

Question 5: Patient Assessment

During morning assessment, you notice a ventilated patient has bilateral crackles, increased FIO2 requirements, and yellow secretions. Vital signs show fever. What is your priority action?

A) Increase PEEP
B) Obtain sputum culture and notify physician
C) Decrease tidal volume
D) Switch to pressure support ventilation

Answer: B

Yellow secretions plus fever in a ventilated patient means VAP until proven otherwise. You need a culture before starting antibiotics—don't guess. Notify the physician and document everything.

Respiratory Conditions Quick Reference

Know the difference between these conditions. Programs love testing your ability to distinguish them.

Getting Started: How to Use This Practice Test

Don't just read through the questions. Simulate test conditions.

• Set a timer for each question—most practical stations give you 5-10 minutes
• Write out your answer before looking at the key
• If you get it wrong, identify exactly why and review that concept for 10 minutes
• Practice with a partner who can quiz you on the rationale, not just the answer

Common Mistakes That Cost Students Points

These errors show up every semester. Don't be that student.

Skipping the assessment. You cannot treat what you haven't evaluated. Listen to breath sounds, check vital signs, review the chart before touching anything.

Forgetting to calibrate. Always verify equipment settings against physician orders. Wrong parameters kill patients.

Panicking during troubleshooting. Ventilator alarms have causes. Work through the checklist systematically: airway, breathing, circuit, settings. Don't just silence the alarm and walk away.

Messing up drug calculations. These are pass/fail. If you can't calculate a dose correctly, you fail that station. Practice until the math is automatic.

What Happens If You Fail

Most programs allow one retake. You will need to remediate before attempting again. Some schools require additional clinical hours. Check your program's policy now, before you need it.

The practical exists to make sure you can function when a patient's life depends on you. If you didn't pass, figure out your weak spot and fix it. There's no shame in retaking—shame is graduating and hurting someone because you weren't ready.

Study Resources Beyond This Test

Use these to fill gaps this practice test doesn't cover:

• Clinical Manifestations of Disease (Jardins and Burton)
• RSNA chest X-ray tutorials for interpretation
• Your program's skills checklist—know every procedure
• NBRC detailed content outline for exam alignment

Work through the questions above until you can answer each one in under two minutes with the correct rationale. That's the baseline competency you need.