RRT Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What is "informed consent" in a clinical context? → Obtaining permission before treatment with full understanding of risks and benefits
2. A patient with ARDS on mechanical ventilation has a PaO2/FiO2 ratio of 85. According to the Berlin Definition, this classifies as which severity? → Severe ARDS
3. Which finding during inspection is the most classic sign of accessory muscle recruitment in a distressed patient? → Sternocleidomastoid muscle use during inspiration
4. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is best treated with which intervention? → Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and optimized ventilation
5. The Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale is specifically used to: → Quantify the degree of breathlessness in relation to activities of daily living
6. Which bronchodilator class works by inhibiting acetylcholine receptors to reduce bronchoconstriction? → Anticholinergics
7. What is the purpose of "sterile dressing" in wound care? → To protect the wound from infection
8. Auto-PEEP (intrinsic PEEP) is MOST commonly caused by: → Insufficient expiratory time leading to air trapping
9. Which of the following might a respiratory therapist do during a bronchoscopy? → Administer anesthesia
10. What is the primary goal of lung-protective ventilation in ARDS? → Limit tidal volume to 6 mL/kg IBW to prevent volutrauma
11. Which oxygen delivery device provides the most precise and consistent FiO2? → Venturi mask
12. Which of the following scenarios might require the expertise of a respiratory therapist during surgery? → Heart surgery
13. A maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP or NIF) of -20 cmH2O in a neuromuscular disease patient suggests what? → Severely reduced inspiratory muscle strength with high intubation risk
14. When using a helium-oxygen (heliox) mixture to treat upper airway obstruction, the MOST appropriate concentration is: → 70% He / 30% O2
15. Which blood gas result is consistent with acute respiratory alkalosis? → pH 7.52, PaCO2 28, HCO3 22
16. A patient on volume-controlled ventilation has a sudden rise in peak airway pressure with no change in plateau pressure. What is the most likely cause? → Increased secretions in the airway
17. A patient requires nitric oxide (iNO) therapy for pulmonary hypertension. The MOST important monitoring parameter specific to iNO administration is: → Methemoglobin levels
18. What is the primary purpose of mechanical ventilation? → Supporting breathing
19. What does "SOAP" stand for in clinical documentation? → Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
20. What does "IV" stand for in medical terminology? → Intravenous (inside a vein)
21. A spontaneously breathing patient with neuromuscular disease has MIP of -18 cmH2O. This indicates: → Severely weakened inspiratory muscles
22. What does "H&P" stand for in medical documentation? → History and Progress
23. When calculating the alveolar-arterial (A-a) oxygen gradient, which formula is used to find PAO2? → PAO2 = FiO2 (PB - PH2O) - PaCO2/RQ
24. Which inhaled medication is classified as an anticholinergic bronchodilator and is commonly used in COPD maintenance therapy? → Tiotropium
25. What is the purpose of "medical triage" in emergency situations? → Assessing and prioritizing patients based on severity of condition
26. What is the primary purpose of a "DNR" order in a medical context? → Do Not Resuscitate
27. What is the significance of the "Nursing Process" in clinical care? → Assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care
28. A newborn has Apgar scores of 3 at 1 minute and 5 at 5 minutes. The FIRST priority intervention is: → Stimulate and open the airway with positive pressure ventilation if needed
29. What is the purpose of performing the nitrogen washout test? → Measure lung volumes including FRC when a body box is unavailable
30. Which ventilator parameter best reflects small airway resistance in a mechanically ventilated patient? → Peak inspiratory pressure