The therapist is working with a patient who is receiving VC-SIMV and is scheduled to undergo indirect calorimetry in 2 hours. The therapist has received an order from the physician to reduce the mandatory rate from 10 to 8 breaths/minute. What should the therapist do?

A. Wait until after the indirect calorimetry to change the mandatory rate.
B. Change the patient's mandatory rate anytime up to the start of the indirect calorimetry.
C. The therapist can make the ventilator change up to 90 minutes before the indirect calorimetry.
D. The therapist must make sure that the patient is sedated, and is given an analgesic, if necessary, 1 hour before the best.

?ANS: C
A. Incorrect response: See explanation C.
B. Incorrect response: See explanation C.
C. Correct response: A number of routine steps need to be taken to optimize test conditions at the time of an indirect calorimetry study. Patient should be tested in a thermal-neutral environment, and interruptions should be avoided. Standardized physician orders are helpful, and should alert the staff and support personnel to the time of testing. Ventilator settings should not be changed for 90 minutes before the test.
D. Incorrect response: See explanation C.