Vital Signs and Patient Monitoring Quiz

Prior to exercise, the PTA checks the patient’s vital signs, and records the blood pressure, pulse, and respiration and then checks it again after exercise. The initial recording is known as the?

• Baseline value

• Final value

• Average value

• Peak value

Following surgery, the PTA checks the patient's BP and records 85/65mm Hg. What does this value indicate?

• Hypotension

• Hypertension

• Normal blood pressure

• Prehypertension

In what section of your documentation do you put the fact that you checked vital sign readings?

• Objective

• Introduction

• Summary

• Conclusion

The PTA is taking a patient’s pulse who is in the Intensive Care Unit and notes that it is irregular. How long should the PTA measure the patient’s pulse?

• 60 seconds

• 15 seconds

• 30 seconds

• 45 seconds

Which of the following describes the greatest pressure exerted by the heart?

• Systole

• Diastole

• Pulse pressure

• Mean arterial pressure

The chart indicates that the patient is experiencing bradycardia. How is this defined?

• A heart rate that is slower than normal

• A heart rate that is faster than normal

• A normal heart rate

• An irregular heart rate

A patient is asked to describe his pain using a semantic pain scale. This type of pain scale requires the patient to rate their pain by?

• Using numbers to indicate pain intensity

• Describing pain in words

• Pointing to a diagram

• Selecting from a list of activities

Pain is?

• A feeling of discomfort

• Subjective

• Can be emotional

• An illusion

The PTA records Mr. Breathe Right’s vitals as the following: BP 118/80 mm Hg, pulse 88 beats/min, respiration 26 breaths per minute. What is your assessment of Mr. Breathe Right’s vitals?

• Blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiratory rate are all elevated

• BP is too low while his pulse and respiratory rate are normal

• Blood pressure and pulse normal, but respiratory rate is elevated

• BP and pulse are low, but is respiratory rate is elevated

The chart indicates that the patient has 3 pillow orthopnea. What must the PTA consider before treating this patient?

• The patient has difficulty breathing while laying flat and needs 3 pillows to breath comfortably

• The patient has trouble breathing while elevated with 3 pillows

• The Patient has trouble breathing while laying flat. "three pillows" is unnecessary information

• The patient has pain with laying flat and requires 3 pillows for comfort