You are a therapist in an outpatient clinic and have been assigned to evaluate a 24 year old female patient status post TBI 15 months ago. The patient is living at home with family members and would like to increase her physical functioning in order to return to work as a sales associate for Macy’s. During a test of upper extremity rapid alternating movement, the movements of the hands and elbows become irregular with wider excursions than expected. As speed is increased, the movements become more disorganized. What are these findings indicative of?

                  You are working on gait training without an assistive device with a TBI patient who requires supervision for safety during ambulation due to tendencies to wander from the treatment area. While walking in the hallway, the patient heads toward the exit of the hospital, reporting he wants to go see his daughter’s softball game. When you attempt to explain that he cannot leave the hospital, he starts loudly yelling and saying if you don’t let me leave you will be in trouble. Which of the following is the most appropriate de-escalation approach for this patient?

Which of the following approaches should be used to manage Internal Triggers that may be impacting a patient with escalating behaviors at the start of a therapy session?

A patient with a TBI is demonstrating signs of escalating agitated behavior. They perseverate on attempting to remove their rear-locking seatbelt (restraint) and stand, even though they require minimal assistance for balance. The volume of the patient’s voice is becoming louder, with them repeatedly saying “Get this thing off me.” The MOST APPROPRIATE response from the therapist would be:

A patient has a reported SaO2 of 90%, hemoglobin 15, PaO2 of 61 mmHg, cardiac output of 6 L/min, and CvO2 of 14.2 vol%. What would the C(a-v)O2 equal?

A patient is admitted to the emergency department following a motor vehicle crash.  Physical assessment and chest radiograph indicate significant air and fluid in the pleural space.  A respiratory therapist should FIRST recommend 

A patient is intubated after a motor vehicle crash.  A respiratory therapist palpates asymmetrical chest movement during inspiration, but no crepitus.  Breath sounds are diminished on the left.  Which of the following should the therapist do FIRST?

Chest physiotherapy is initiated for a patient who is alert and oriented.  As therapy progresses, a respiratory therapist notices the patient is no longer responsive to verbal stimuli.  The therapist checks the patient’s pulse and finds that the heart rate is 30.  The patient has a respiratory rate of 6.  Which of the following should the therapist do NEXT?

An alert adult patient is receiving CPAP with PS of 5 cm H2O and an FIO2 of 0.28.  The patient has a heart rate of 88 and a respiratory rate of 25. Blood gas analysis results are as follows: pH                7.43PaCO2        35 torrPaO2           95 torrHCO3-        23 mEq/LBE                -1 mEq/LWhich of the following is a respiratory therapist’s most appropriate action?

A patient presents with a history of loud snoring and daytime sleepiness.  Which of the following is most important for a respiratory therapist to evaluate while the patient is sleeping?