Question 1

A systolic blood pressure (BP)less than 90 mm Hg or a diastolic BP less than 60 mm Hg is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  hypertension. 
B)  hypotension. 
C)  orthostatic hypotension. 
D)  postural hypotension. 
A)  hypertension. 
B)  hypotension. 
C)  orthostatic hypotension. 
D)  postural hypotension. B

Question 2

The movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the red blood cells is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  diffusion. 
B)  perfusion. 
C)  respiration. 
D)  eupnea. 
A)  diffusion. 
B)  perfusion. 
C)  respiration. 
D)  eupnea. A

Question 3

The patient has just returned to the postsurgical unit after undergoing surgery to remove a lung tumor.During one of the postoperative vital sign checks,the nurse notes that the patient's systolic blood pressure had dropped by 30 points.In addition to the drop in systolic blood pressure,the patient's skin is pale and "clammy." The nurse should do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Report the findings to the health care provider immediately. 
B)  Understand that the patient's arteries are constricting, causing pallor. 
C)  Wait to see if the blood pressure increases in 30 minutes. 
D)  Nothing; this is a normal occurrence following a thoracic surgery. 
A)  Report the findings to the health care provider immediately. 
B)  Understand that the patient's arteries are constricting, causing pallor. 
C)  Wait to see if the blood pressure increases in 30 minutes. 
D)  Nothing; this is a normal occurrence following a thoracic surgery. A

Question 4

When the ventricles relax,the blood remaining in the arteries exerts a minimum or:

Accepted Answer

A)  diastolic pressure. 
B)  pulse pressure. 
C)  hypertension. 
D)  systolic pressure. 
A)  diastolic pressure. 
B)  pulse pressure. 
C)  hypertension. 
D)  systolic pressure.

Question 5

A 6-year-old was taken to the hospital after having a seizure at home.The patient's mother tells the nurse that she has been ill for the past week and has had a fever with nausea and vomiting.The patient's mother believes that the seizure was caused by a fever of 99.5° F,which the patient had during the course of her illness.What is the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

A)  "With a temperature that high, we can only hope that there is no permanent damage." 
B)  "Fevers in this range are part of the body's natural defense system" 
C)  "Febrile seizures are common in children Nancy's age." 
D)  "The child will need antibiotics. Does she have any allergies?" 
A)  "With a temperature that high, we can only hope that there is no permanent damage." 
B)  "Fevers in this range are part of the body's natural defense system" 
C)  "Febrile seizures are common in children Nancy's age." 
D)  "The child will need antibiotics. Does she have any allergies?"

Question 6

When the fever "breaks," the temperature returns to an acceptable range and the patient becomes:

Accepted Answer

A)  febrile. 
B)  afebrile. 
C)  fever of unknown origin (FUO). 
D)  pyrexic. 
A)  febrile. 
B)  afebrile. 
C)  fever of unknown origin (FUO). 
D)  pyrexic.

Question 7

Under high pressure,the left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta; the peak pressure is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  diastolic pressure. 
B)  pulse pressure. 
C)  hypertension. 
D)  systolic pressure. 
A)  diastolic pressure. 
B)  pulse pressure. 
C)  hypertension. 
D)  systolic pressure.

Question 8

A nurse is ready to take the temperature of an adult patient rectally.The nurse's realizes that rectal temperatures are which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Preferable to oral temperatures 
B)  Safer than oral temperatures if the patient has neutropenia 
C)  The best way to obtain temperatures in newborns 
D)  That readings can be influenced by impacted stool 
A)  Preferable to oral temperatures 
B)  Safer than oral temperatures if the patient has neutropenia 
C)  The best way to obtain temperatures in newborns 
D)  That readings can be influenced by impacted stool

Question 9

Blood pressure depends on the interrelationships of which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Cardiac output 
B)  Peripheral vascular resistance 
C)  Blood volume 
D)  Blood viscosity 
E)  Pulse pressure 
A)  Cardiac output 
B)  Peripheral vascular resistance 
C)  Blood volume 
D)  Blood viscosity 
E)  Pulse pressure

Question 10

While being tested for orthostatic hypotension,the patient stands up and begins to feel light-headed and feels faint.The nurse should do which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Have the patient lie down. 
B)  Report findings to the health care provider. 
C)  Have the nursing assistive personnel (NAP) check orthostatic blood pressure. 
D)  Instruct the patient not to get out of bed without assistance. 
E)  Take the BP in each arm and use the arm with the lowest systolic reading. 
A)  Have the patient lie down. 
B)  Report findings to the health care provider. 
C)  Have the nursing assistive personnel (NAP) check orthostatic blood pressure. 
D)  Instruct the patient not to get out of bed without assistance. 
E)  Take the BP in each arm and use the arm with the lowest systolic reading.

Question 11

An elevated body temperature related to the body's inability to promote heat loss or reduce heat production is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  hyperthermia. 
B)  heat stroke. 
C)  hypothermia. 
D)  fever of unknown origin. 
A)  hyperthermia. 
B)  heat stroke. 
C)  hypothermia. 
D)  fever of unknown origin.

Question 12

A nurse notices that a patient has an irregular pulse.The nurse should do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Count the number of "lub-dubs" occurring in 30 seconds. 
B)  Assess how often the dysrhythmia is occurring. 
C)  Assess the radial pulse for a pulse deficit. 
D)  Chart the abnormally low heart rate as tachycardia. 
A)  Count the number of "lub-dubs" occurring in 30 seconds. 
B)  Assess how often the dysrhythmia is occurring. 
C)  Assess the radial pulse for a pulse deficit. 
D)  Chart the abnormally low heart rate as tachycardia.

Question 13

The body's tissues and cells function efficiently within a relatively narrow temperature range,from 36° to 38° C (96.8° to 100.4° F).Factors that cause fluctuations in body temperature include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  The body's core temperature 
B)  Age 
C)  Time of day 
D)  Circadian rhythm 
E)  physical activity 
A)  The body's core temperature 
B)  Age 
C)  Time of day 
D)  Circadian rhythm 
E)  physical activity

Question 14

Upon a patient's admission to the nursing unit,the registered nurse delegated to the nursing assistive personnel to take her vital signs.What is the registered nurse's responsibility regarding delegating this task?

Accepted Answer

A)  This is inappropriate delegation; the nurse should always take the vital signs. 
B)  Have the NAP repeat the measurement if vital signs appear abnormal. 
C)  The nurse should review and interpret the vital sign measurements. 
D)  This task has been delegated so the nurse is not responsible. 
A)  This is inappropriate delegation; the nurse should always take the vital signs. 
B)  Have the NAP repeat the measurement if vital signs appear abnormal. 
C)  The nurse should review and interpret the vital sign measurements. 
D)  This task has been delegated so the nurse is not responsible.

Question 15

Any injury to the hypothalamus impairs heat loss mechanisms.Educate patients at risk for hyperthermia to do which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Avoid strenuous exercise in hot, humid weather. 
B)  Avoid exercising in areas with poor ventilation. 
C)  Drink clear fluids before and after exercising, not during. 
D)  Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. 
E)  Do not visit hot climates. 
A)  Avoid strenuous exercise in hot, humid weather. 
B)  Avoid exercising in areas with poor ventilation. 
C)  Drink clear fluids before and after exercising, not during. 
D)  Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. 
E)  Do not visit hot climates.

Question 16

Two common abnormalities in heart rate are:

Accepted Answer

A)  dysrhythmia. 
B)  apical pulse. 
C)  tachycardia. 
D)  bradycardia. 
E)  pulse deficit. 
A)  dysrhythmia. 
B)  apical pulse. 
C)  tachycardia. 
D)  bradycardia. 
E)  pulse deficit.

Question 17

An inefficient contraction of the heart that fails to transmit a pulse wave to the peripheral pulse site creates:

Accepted Answer

A)  dysrhythmia. 
B)  tachycardia. 
C)  bradycardia. 
D)  a pulse deficit. 
A)  dysrhythmia. 
B)  tachycardia. 
C)  bradycardia. 
D)  a pulse deficit.

Question 18

What is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure?

Accepted Answer

A)  Diastolic pressure 
B)  Pulse pressure 
C)  Hypertension 
D)  Systolic pressure 
A)  Diastolic pressure 
B)  Pulse pressure 
C)  Hypertension 
D)  Systolic pressure

Question 19

A 36-year-old African-American patient has been admitted to the hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis.The nurse who is admitting him notes that his blood pressure is 164/98.Which of the following should the nurse do next?

Accepted Answer

A)  Call the health care provider because the patient's values differ from the standard range. 
B)  Immediately call the health care provider and request antihypertensive medication. 
C)  Ask the patient what his blood pressure normally measures for comparison. 
D)  Do nothing; this is within a normal range for a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis. 
A)  Call the health care provider because the patient's values differ from the standard range. 
B)  Immediately call the health care provider and request antihypertensive medication. 
C)  Ask the patient what his blood pressure normally measures for comparison. 
D)  Do nothing; this is within a normal range for a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Question 20

The nurse is having difficulty hearing his patient's apical pulse with his stethoscope.Which of the following would best maximize the sound quality of what is heard through the stethoscope?

Accepted Answer

A)  Positioning the diaphragm very lightly on the area to which he is listening 
B)  Placing the stethoscope chest piece directly on the patient's skin 
C)  Make sure that the earpieces fit loosely in the ear canals 
D)  Use a stethoscope with the longest tubing available 
A)  Positioning the diaphragm very lightly on the area to which he is listening 
B)  Placing the stethoscope chest piece directly on the patient's skin 
C)  Make sure that the earpieces fit loosely in the ear canals 
D)  Use a stethoscope with the longest tubing available

Exam 15: Vital Signs

A systolic blood pressure (BP)less than 90 mm Hg or a diastolic BP less than 60 mm Hg is known as:

The movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the red blood cells is known as:

When the ventricles relax,the blood remaining in the arteries exerts a minimum or:

When the fever "breaks," the temperature returns to an acceptable range and the patient becomes:

Under high pressure,the left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta; the peak pressure is known as:

A nurse is ready to take the temperature of an adult patient rectally.The nurse's realizes that rectal temperatures are which of the following?

Blood pressure depends on the interrelationships of which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

While being tested for orthostatic hypotension,the patient stands up and begins to feel light-headed and feels faint.The nurse should do which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

An elevated body temperature related to the body's inability to promote heat loss or reduce heat production is known as:

A nurse notices that a patient has an irregular pulse.The nurse should do which of the following?

The body's tissues and cells function efficiently within a relatively narrow temperature range,from 36° to 38° C (96.8° to 100.4° F).Factors that cause fluctuations in body temperature include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Upon a patient's admission to the nursing unit,the registered nurse delegated to the nursing assistive personnel to take her vital signs.What is the registered nurse's responsibility regarding delegating this task?

Any injury to the hypothalamus impairs heat loss mechanisms.Educate patients at risk for hyperthermia to do which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Two common abnormalities in heart rate are:

An inefficient contraction of the heart that fails to transmit a pulse wave to the peripheral pulse site creates:

What is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure?

A 36-year-old African-American patient has been admitted to the hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis.The nurse who is admitting him notes that his blood pressure is 164/98.Which of the following should the nurse do next?

The nurse is having difficulty hearing his patient's apical pulse with his stethoscope.Which of the following would best maximize the sound quality of what is heard through the stethoscope?

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