CRT (CREST) case studies
CRT · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential is issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) to candidates who pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination, which the board describes as objectively measuring the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities required of respiratory therapists at entry into practice. All 49 states that regulate respiratory care use the CRT or RRT credential as the basis for licensure, so the exam functions as a licensure gateway as well as a professional distinction. The CRT case studies are 5 cases and about 3,307 words.
1Pulse Oximetry Looks Normal After a House Fire
A 34-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after firefighters pulled him from a ground-floor bedroom fire. He is confused and combative, with soot around the nares and singed nasal hair.
663 words, about 3 min2Air Travel Planning With a Pulse-Dose Concentrator
A 68-year-old woman with COPD (FEV1 38% predicted, FVC 62%) is seen in clinic before a planned trip. She lives at sea level and uses continuous-flow oxygen at 2 L/min by nasal cannula around the clock.
704 words, about 4 min3When a Normal PaCO2 in Asthma Is a Warning
A 24-year-old woman with a 12-year history of asthma presents with a 3-day history of a viral upper respiratory infection and worsening wheeze. She has used her albuterol inhaler at 8 puffs every 4 hours for 2 days with no relief and has not slept.
640 words, about 3 min4Lung-Protective Ventilation and Prone Positioning in ARDS
A 52-year-old man with influenza A pneumonia has been intubated for 48 hours. He is on volume-control ventilation with a set tidal volume of 500 mL, respiratory rate 24, PEEP 12 cmH2O, FiO2 0.70, and inspiratory flow 60 L/min.
627 words, about 3 min5Decannulation and Speaking Valve Readiness After Prolonged Ventilation
A 63-year-old woman has been in the intensive care unit for 3 weeks after an aspiration event complicated by ARDS and prolonged ventilation. A size 8.0 cuffed tracheostomy tube was placed 14 days ago.
673 words, about 3 min