CRE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CRE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. When documenting respiratory education in a patient's medical record, accuracy is essential because: → Medical records are legal documents and communication tools for the care team
2. Which inhaled medication requires the patient to rinse their mouth after each use to prevent oral candidiasis? → Fluticasone (inhaled corticosteroid)
3. In an electronic health record (EHR), a respiratory educator documents a patient education session. Which entry best supports care coordination? → A structured note using standardized terminology linked to the patient's care plan
4. When educating a patient on pursed-lip breathing, which physiologic effect should the respiratory educator emphasize as the primary benefit? → Prevents dynamic airway collapse by maintaining positive expiratory pressure
5. Sensitivity of a respiratory education screening tool is 85%. This means: → 85% of true positives are correctly identified
6. Which chemoreceptors are MOST sensitive to acute changes in PaCO₂? → Central chemoreceptors in the medulla oblongata
7. Which auscultation finding is most commonly associated with pulmonary fibrosis? → Fine, late-inspiratory crackles (Velcro crackles)
8. Which finding on the volume-time curve of a spirometry maneuver indicates premature termination of effort? → No volume plateau and forced expiratory time less than 6 seconds
9. Why is a thorough physical examination essential in respiratory care? → It provides essential information for diagnosing and planning care
10. A systematic review differs from a narrative review primarily because it: → Uses predetermined criteria to identify and critically appraise studies
11. Which federal agency is primarily responsible for enforcing workplace safety standards that affect respiratory therapy practice? → OSHA
12. Under HIPAA regulations, which of the following is considered protected health information (PHI)? → A patient's name combined with their asthma diagnosis
13. When assessing fall risk in an elderly patient with COPD on supplemental oxygen, which factor most directly increases that risk? → Oxygen tubing on the floor
14. A patient with asthma is asked to complete an Asthma Control Test (ACT). A score of 15 out of 25 indicates which level of asthma control? → Not well controlled
15. In CRE practice, what is a needs assessment? → A systematic process to identify gaps between current conditions and desired outcomes
16. The blood supply to the bronchi and conducting airways (as opposed to the alveolar tissue) is provided by the: → Bronchial arteries arising from the aorta
17. Which metric is a LEADING indicator of a respiratory education program's success rather than a lagging indicator? → Number of education sessions completed per week during program rollout
18. Which finding on pulmonary function testing suggests a fixed upper airway obstruction such as tracheal stenosis? → Flattening of both the inspiratory and expiratory limbs of the flow-volume loop
19. The primary purpose of a control group in a randomized clinical trial is to: → Provide a comparison baseline for the experimental intervention
20. What is tidal volume in respiratory physiology? → The amount of air exchanged during normal breathing
21. Which type of law primarily governs respiratory therapy licensure requirements in the United States? → State statutory and regulatory law
22. Which approach BEST supports self-management in a patient with chronic lung disease who has low self-efficacy? → Setting small, achievable goals and providing frequent positive reinforcement
23. In the alveolar gas equation, if PaCO₂ is 40 mmHg and FiO₂ is 0.21 at sea level, what is the approximate PAO₂? → 100 mmHg
24. The Hering-Breuer reflex is triggered by stretch receptors in the lung and primarily acts to: → Terminate inspiration as the lung reaches adequate inflation
25. In the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve, a rightward shift indicates: → Reduced hemoglobin affinity for oxygen, facilitating tissue unloading
26. What part of the respiratory system is responsible for gas exchange? → Alveoli
27. Which element is NOT required for a patient's informed consent to be legally valid? → Presence of a witness who is a licensed clinician
28. According to ATS/ERS spirometry quality criteria, what is the minimum number of acceptable maneuvers required to obtain reproducible results? → 3
29. What is the role of the mucous membranes in the respiratory system? → To trap dust and pathogens, protecting the lungs
30. Which capnography waveform pattern is characteristic of bronchospasm or COPD exacerbation? → A 'shark fin' waveform with a sloped, gradual rise to peak ETCO2