Think you are ready for the RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) exam? Our deck rates 519 of its 1040 flashcards as hard — testing concepts like SCD, African American, Sickle Cell Disease. Try the free samples below; if they feel comfortable, you are in good shape.
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A 32-year-old non-smoker presents with progressive dyspnea and wheezing. Family history reveals a sibling with early liver disease. PFTs show a panacinar emphysema pattern. Which specific demographic/historical finding most strongly supports testing for AAT deficiency?
Show answer →Early-onset emphysema (typically <45 years) in a non-smoker or minimal smoker, combined with a family history of liver disease or premature COPD, is the hallmark for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. Panacinar emphysema primarily affects the lower lobes (unlike centriacinar in smokers). NBRC Tip: Always screen young patients with COPD symptoms for AAT. Distractor: Do not assume asthma just because of wheezing in a young patient; look at the age and family history.
A 19-year-old African American male with a history of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) presents with chest pain, a temperature of 38.5°C, and new infiltrates on CXR. What is the most likely diagnosis, and what is the primary respiratory therapy goal?
Show answer →Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS). This is a leading cause of death in SCD. History of SCD + Fever/Chest Pain + New Infiltrate = ACS. Primary goal: Maintain SpO2 >92% (or 95% per 2026 protocols) to prevent further sickling, aggressive incentive spirometry (10 breaths every 2 hours while awake), and judicious fluid management. NBRC Strategy: Differentiate ACS from simple pneumonia in SCD patients; ACS requires more aggressive pulmonary hygiene to prevent respiratory failure.
A 58-year-old patient with hypertension and CHF presents with a persistent, non-productive cough but no wheezing or fever. Lung sounds are clear. Which category of the patient's medication history should be scrutinized first to prevent unnecessary diagnostic testing?
Show answer →ACE Inhibitors (e.g., Lisinopril, Enalapril). Up to 20% of patients develop a dry, hacking cough due to increased bradykinin levels. NBRC Pearl: Before ordering PFTs or Bronchoscopy for a dry cough in a cardiac patient, check the med list. Switching to an ARB (Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker) usually resolves the cough. Distractor: Heart failure itself causes cardiac asthma, but ACE-I cough is characteristically dry and lacks wheezing or crackles.
A 22-year-old presents with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, bilateral ground-glass opacities, and a history of vaping THC-containing products. What is the suspected diagnosis, and what historical exclusion is necessary to confirm it?
Show answer →EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury). Diagnosis of exclusion: You must rule out pulmonary infection (viral/bacterial, including COVID-19/Influenza) and other causes (cardiac, neoplastic) via history and testing. NBRC 2026 Focus: Vaping history is now a standard part of social history for any young patient with unexplained diffuse lung injury or ARDS-like presentation.
A male patient with a BMI of 36, age 52, and a neck circumference of 18 inches presents with daytime somnolence. Using the STOP-BANG criteria, which demographic/historical factors are already present, and what is the next step?
Show answer →Present: BMI >35, Age >50, Neck >17 inches (male threshold), Gender (Male). This patient is high risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Next step: Referral for a Polysomnography (PSG) or Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT). NBRC Tip: STOP-BANG is a high-yield screening tool. Knowing the thresholds (Neck >16in females, >17in males) and the importance of BMI is essential for RRTs in the 2026 blueprint.
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1,040 RRT question-and-answer cards across 8 topics, written for this exam. Refund policy.
519 of the 1040 flashcards in the RRT deck carry a "hard" difficulty rating. 5 free samples are on this page.
Difficulty ratings describe our deck, not the official exam. Practicing above test level builds a margin of safety — check the official NBRC materials for representative difficulty.
Assessment
110 cards
Basics
50 cards
Diagnostics
250 cards
Management
220 cards
Pathology
90 cards
Pharmacology
80 cards
Physiology
10 cards
Procedures
230 cards
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