VITAL SIGNS TEST REVIEW-HEALTH SCIENCE AND CLINICAL SERVICES

VITAL SIGNS SKILLS REVIEW

STIREWALT

Open Ended

WHY DO YOU THINK VITAL SIGNS ARE SO IMPORTANT?

Multiple Choice

WHICH READING IS CONSIDERED NORMAL ADULT BLOOD PRESSURE?

• 110/65

• 90/60

• 120/80

• 160/90

Multiple Choice

WHICH TERMS MEANS NO FEVER

• PYREXIA

• HYPOTHERMIA

• FEBRILE

• AFEBRILE

Multiple Choice

WHAT LOCATION ON THE HEART DO YOU ACCESS THE APICAL PULSE

• APEX

• 3 VENTRICULAR SPACE

• 2 INTERCOSTAL SPACE

• MID CLAVICULAR LINE

Multiple Choice

WHAT TERM IS DEFINED AS PRESSURE FELT AGAINST AN ARTERY

• BLOOD PRESSURE

• PULSE

Multiple Choice

WHERE IS THE BRACHIAL PULSE SITE AT

• INNER WRIST NEAR THUMB

• CREASE OF ELBOW

• BEHIND KNEE

• ON SIDE OF NECK

Multiple Choice

WHAT PULSE RATE IS BRADYCARDIC IN ADULTS

• MORE THAN 60

• LESS THAN 60

Multiple Choice

WHICH TERM DESCRIBES THE PULSE CHARACTERISTIC OF REGULARITY OR SPACING OF BEATS

• RYTHM

• VOLUME

Multiple Choice

WHICH TERM DESCRIBES THE AMOUNT OF BREATHS YOU COUNT PER MINUTE

• CHARACTERISTIC

• RATE

• RYTHM

Multiple Choice

WHICH TERM DESCRIBES THE REGULARITY OF BREATHING

• RATE

• RYTHM

Multiple Choice

WHICH TERM DESCRIBES THE STRENGTH OR INTENSITY OF A PULSE

• RYTHM

• VOLUME

Multiple Choice

WHICH TERM DESCRIBES THE FORCE FELT AND RECORDED WHEN THE HEART CONTRACTS

• SYSTOLIC

• DIASTOLIC

Multiple Choice

You were assigned to take vital signs on an 80-year-old male nursing home resident who was recently admitted after having a stroke. Vital signs were B/P 130/90, T 99 .40 F, P 92, R 32. Which vital sign reflects a measurement within normal limits?

• BLOOD PRESSURE

• PULSE

• RESPIRATIONS

• TEMPERATURE

Multiple Choice

Of the following, which person is MOST likely to develop hypertension based on risk factors?

• Underweight 12-year-old Indian female student

• 30-year-old Asian male distance runner who works as an air traffic controller

• Obese 40-year-old African American male smoker

• 45-year-old Caucasian mother of triplets who is on a low carbohydrate diet

Multiple Choice

A patient with tachycardia MOST likely has a/an

• FAST RESPIRATIONS

• FAST HEARTBEAT

• ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE

• ELEVATED TEMPERATURE

Multiple Choice

Which patient is the BEST candidate for an oral temperature?

• A PATIENT THAT IS SEMICONSCIOUS

• 16 YEAR OLD RECIEVING HIS ANNUAL EXAM

• A 1 YEAR OLD HEALTHY INFANT

• PATIENT ON SEIZURE PRECAUTIONS

Multiple Choice

The LEAST accurate route for measuring temperature is:

• AXILLARY

• ORAL

• AURAL

• RECTAL

HOW TO CONVERT CELSIUS TO FAHRENHEIT

X 9

DIVIDE BY 5

ADD 32

PRACTICE ON NEXT SLIDE

LETS PRACTICE

Axillary 38.4 C

Rectal 37.8 C

Aural 37.2 C

Oral 37 C

Multiple Choice

Which is considered an elevated temperature

• Axillary 38.4 C

• Rectal 37.8 C

• Aural 37.2 C

• Oral 37 C

Multiple Choice

A nursing assistant notes a patient’s blood pressure to be 148/96. Which is the BEST action the assistant can take?

• Tell the patient the blood pressure reading

• Report the reading to the patient’s nurse

• Wait 15 minutes and repeat the procedure

• Immediately repeat the procedure in the other arm

Multiple Choice

What is the respiratory rate of a patient who is observed to have 16 inspirations and 16 expirations?

• 8

• 16

• 64

• 32

Multiple Choice

In a blood pressure measurement of 132/86, the number 86 is the:

• BRADIACARDIA

• TACHYCARDIA

• DIASTOLIC

• SYSTOLIC

Multiple Choice

Before taking vital signs on a patient, what should you do FIRST?

• CLOSE THE PRIVACY CURTIN

• INTRODUCE YOURSELF

• EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURE

• GET CONSENT TO TAKE VITALS

Multiple Choice

In order to avoid errors, whose approved list of abbreviations should you use when documenting vital signs?

• BOARD OF NURSING

• YOUR EMPLOYERS

• AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

• NATIONAL ABBREVIATION TEXT REFERENCE

Multiple Select

How does the pulse rate and respiratory rate of a healthy toddler compare to that of a healthy 21-year-old?

• Higher pulse, equal respirations

• Higher pulse, higher respirations

• Lower pulse, lower respirations

• NO DIFFERENCE

Multiple Choice

The terms, weak and thready, are MOST usually associated with which vital sign measurement?

• RESPIRATIONS

• PULSE

• BLOOD PRESSURE

• TEMPERATURE

Multiple Choice

Which thermometer requires it be “shaken down”?

• AURAL

• TYMPANIC

• DIGITAL

• GLASS

Multiple Choice

When taking a pulse, why should the thumb NOT be used

• The thumb has a pulse and can be confused with the patient’s pulse

• There is more dexterity in the fingers than there is in the thumb

• The width of the thumb impedes an accurate feel for the pulse

• The sensation of the thumb is not as good as it is in the middle two fingers

Multiple Choice

Which statement about the size of a blood pressure cuff is TRUE

• Cuffs should cover about 80% of the length of the upper arm.

• The bladder of the cuff needs to cover about 80% of the circumference of the arm.

• Except for infant cuffs, all adults use the same size cuff.

• Blood pressure cuffs are indicated by the age of the patient.

Multiple Choice

WHAT IS DIFFICULT OR LABORED BREATHING?

• TACHYPNEA

• DYSPNEA

• ORTHOPNEA

• BRADYPNEA

Multiple Choice

WHAT IS THE HIGH-PITCHED WHISTLING OR SIGHING HEARD DURING EXPIRATION USUALLY SEEN IN PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA

• RALES

• RHONCHI

• WHEEZING

Multiple Choice

WHERE DO YOU LISTEN TO TAKE AN APICAL PULSE

• 90 S

• 30 S

• 60 S

• 15 S

Multiple Choice

WHAT TEMPERATURE IS CONSIDERED HYPERTHERMIA

• 96 F

• 104.5 F

• 100.1 F

• 103.5 F