Deck 29: Vital Signs

Question 1

When you are taking a radial pulse, where should you position the arm relation to the level of the heart?

A) Above or at the same level
B) Below or at the same level
C) Only at the same level
D) It does not matter as long as the patient is comfortable.

Answer 1

Below or at the same level

Question 2

If a patient is diagnosed with secondary hypertension, this means that the

A) condition has worsened from essential hypertension.
B) patient has the most serious form of hypertension.
C) patient has the most common form of hypertension.
D) hypertension is associated with another disease.

Answer 2

hypertension is associated with another disease.

Question 3

Aural temperatures are recommended for adults, when possible, because the

A) tympanic membrane shares the blood supply of the hypothalamus.
B) ear canal is a protected cavity.
C) risk of spreading communicable diseases is reduced.
D) All of the above

Answer 3

All of the above

Question 4

Which of the following pulses is palpated on top of the foot?

A) Apical
B) Brachial
C) Pedal
D) Radial
E) Temporal

Question 5

If a patient is anxious, the medical assistant would expect the pulse to be

A) increased.
B) decreased.
C) the same.
D) dependent on age.

Question 6

Which site for taking an infant's body temperature is considered to give the most accurate results?

A) Axilla
B) Tympanic membrane
C) Sublingual
D) Temporal artery

Question 7

As a blood pressure cuff is deflated, the first tapping sound is the ______ pressure.

A) mean arterial
B) systolic
C) diastolic
D) pulse

Question 8

As a blood pressure cuff is deflated, the last tapping sound heard is the __________ pressure.

A) mean arterial
B) systolic
C) diastolic
D) pulse

Question 9

Which of the following pulses is palpated in the neck?

A) Apical
B) Brachial
C) Carotid
D) Radial
E) Temporal

Question 10

How can you help patients feel comfortable about having their weight measured in the office?

A) Reassure them that their weight is at a healthy level.
B) Place the scale in a private area of the office.
C) Have them remain in their shoes and outer clothing.
D) Allow them to weigh themselves at home and bring the results.

Question 11

The systolic BP is measured during which Korotkoff phase?

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV
E) V

Question 12

What would be considered a normal pulse for an average-sized 37-year-old patient in good health?

A) 50 to 60 beats per minute
B) 60 to 70 beats per minute
C) 50 to 70 beats per minute
D) 60 to 80 beats per minute

Question 13

Which of the following pulses is palpated on either side of the eyes?

A) Apical
B) Brachial
C) Carotid
D) Radial
E) Temporal

Question 14

If a bedridden patient has chills and is shivering, what would you expect the body temperature to be?

A) Increased
B) Decreased
C) The same
D) It would depend on the patient's age.

Question 15

Which of the following pulses is palpated in the antecubital space?

A) Apical
B) Brachial
C) Carotid
D) Radial
E) Temporal

Question 16

When compared to the average patient, the expected resting pulse of a marathon runner would be

A) increased.
B) decreased.
C) the same.
D) dependent on age.

Question 17

How long should the pulse be counted for the most accurate results?

A) 15 seconds
B) 30 seconds
C) 45 seconds
D) 1 minute

Question 18

Which of the following pulses is palpated behind the knee?

A) Apical
B) Brachial
C) Carotid
D) Radial
E) None of the above

Question 19

Which of the following pulses is palpated on the wrist?

A) Apical
B) Brachial
C) Carotid
D) Radial
E) Temporal

Question 20

Which of the following pulses is auscultated with a stethoscope?

A) Apical
B) Brachial
C) Temporal
D) Radial
E) Carotid

Question 21

Mrs. Anderson's BP reading is 132/74 mm Hg. Her pulse pressure would be?

A) 42
B) 58
C) 14
D) 26

Question 22

In a healthy adult at rest, the ratio of respirations to pulse beats is typically which of the following?

A) 1:3
B) 1:5
C) 1:4
D) 1:8

Question 23

An aural thermometer should not be used if the patient has

A) chest pain.
B) bilateral impacted cerumen.
C) tachycardia.
D) pierced ears.

Question 24

While taking vital signs on Mrs. Anderson, you note a difference between her radial and apical pulses. This problem is known as

A) the pulse pressure.
B) arrhythmia.
C) the intermittent pulse.
D) the pulse deficit.

Question 25

The medical term for an oral temperature above 100.5° F is

A) hyperpnea.
B) pyrexia.
C) pyuria.
D) empyema.

Question 26

Mr. Garcia weighs 250 pounds. You are expected to record this weight in kilograms. It is equal to________ kg.

A) 113.6
B) 550
C) 555.5
D) 122.3

Question 27

An infant's pulse typically is taken by which method?

A) Auscultating over the apex of the heart
B) Palpating the brachial artery
C) Palpating the carotid artery
D) Auscultating the brachial artery

Question 28

The instrument used to measure the blood pressure is the

A) stethoscope.
B) sphygmomanometer.
C) spirometer.
D) analog dial.

Question 29

Gil's mother calls to make an appointment for her son. She reports that he has had an elevated temperature for 24 hours, ranging from 99° F to 102.8° F. Mrs. Harris is describing which type of fever?

A) Constant
B) Remittent
C) Intermittent
D) Continuous

Question 30

One reason to not use a tympanic thermometer is

A) middle ear infection.
B) otitis externa.
C) difficulty hearing.
D) smoking.

Question 31

Which blood pressure reading would be seen in an adult with hypotension?

A) Systolic BP below 110 mm Hg
B) Diastolic BP above 60 mm Hg
C) Systolic BP below 90 mm Hg
D) Diastolic BP below 60 mm Hg

Question 32

The instrument that measures the volume of inspired and expired air is called a(n)

A) audiometer.
B) spirometer.
C) breathing machine.
D) CPAP.

Question 33

A newborn is observed in the nursery with periodic episodes of not breathing. This is called

A) bradypnea.
B) apnea.
C) hyperpnea.
D) rales.

Question 34

The diastolic BP is heard during which Korotkoff phase?

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV
E) V

Question 35

The stethoscope typically is placed over which artery when the BP is taken?

A) Radial
B) Aorta
C) Brachial
D) Carotid

Question 36

Dr. Xu is concerned that an elderly patient may be experiencing orthostatic hypotension. How would you check this patient's BP?

A) Instruct the patient to lie flat on her back while you take the BP.
B) Have the patient sit up on the side of the bed for 5 minutes before recording the BP.
C) With the cuff in place, take the BP with the patient lying down and then immediately after she stands.
D) Take the BP bilaterally 2 minutes apart.

Question 37

Your patient is having difficulty breathing. The medical term for this is

A) orthopnea.
B) hyperpnea.
C) apnea.
D) dyspnea.

Question 38

Mrs. Anderson's oral temperature is 99° F. Dr. Xu requests that you record it in Celsius. What would that be?

A) 32.6° C
B) 37.8° C
C) 35.8° C
D) 37.2° C

Question 39

Stertorous breathing often is described as sounding similar to

A) snoring.
B) wheezing.
C) gasping.
D) rales.

Question 40

Your patient has been diagnosed with uncontrolled hypertension. How would you expect his pulse to feel?

A) Strong
B) Weak
C) Bounding
D) Normal

Question 41

Which of the following pulse rates are typically found on well-conditioned athletes?

A) 50 to 60 beats per minute
B) 60 to 70 beats per minute
C) 70 to 80 beats per minute
D) 80 to 90 beats per minute

Question 42

The temperature diurnal variation is typically

A) 95.6 $\degree$ F to 98.3 $\degree$ F
B) 96.7 $\degree$ F to 99 $\degree$ F
C) 97.2 $\degree$ F to 102 $\degree$ F
D) 98.2 $\degree$ F to 98.1 $\degree$ F

Question 43

Which of the following assessments is not referred to as a cardinal sign?

A) Temperature
B) Pulse and respiration
C) Blood pressure
D) Height, weight, and BMI

Question 44

Your office uses thermometers that record temperatures in Celsius, but the mother of a young child doesn't understand what 38.6° C means. Convert the temperature into Fahrenheit for her.

A) 99 $\degree$ F
B) 103.2 $\degree$ F
C) 101.5 $\degree$ F
D) 100.8 $\degree$ F

Question 45

Which of the following respiration characteristics frequently occurs in patients with congestive heart failure and COPD?

A) Orthopnea
B) Wheezing
C) Hyperventilation
D) Hyperpnea

Question 46

The temperature of a 3-year-old child with bilateral otitis externa is best taken with which thermometer?

A) Tympanic
B) Axillary
C) Oral
D) Temporal artery

Question 47

The internal functions of the body are constantly adapting and changing to keep the body in balance. Maintenance of this complex process is called

A) diurnal rhythms.
B) homeostasis.
C) bounding back.
D) intermittent relief.

Question 48

Persistent readings of 90/60 mm Hg or lower usually are considered

A) hypotension.
B) orthostatic hypotension.
C) stage 1 hypertension.
D) stage 2 hypertension.

Question 49

Which of the following is a common rhythm irregularity in children and young adults?

A) Arrhythmia
B) Intermittent pulse
C) Sinus arrhythmia
D) Normal rhythm

Question 50

Which of the following best describes a fever that fluctuates considerably (e.g., by more than 3 degrees) and never returns to the normal range?

A) Continuous fever
B) Intermittent fever
C) Remittent fever
D) Pyrexia

Question 51

A common pediatric pulse arrhythmia that varies with breathing is called

A) intermittent pulse.
B) apnea.
C) sinus arrhythmia.
D) thready.

Question 52

When measuring a pulse, which of the following is not one of the three important characteristics?

A) Rate
B) Rhythm
C) Volume
D) Tone

Question 53

The goal of hypertensive treatment is to keep the blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg in patients with what disease or diseases?

A) Liver disease
B) Kidney complications
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) A and C
E) B and C

Question 54

A safe and accurate method of recording the temperature of a 6-month-old infant is with which thermometer?

A) Rectal
B) Temporal artery
C) Axillary
D) Tympanic

Question 55

Which of the following sites are typically used to obtain a pulse on young children and infants and is heard with a stethoscope?

A) The carotid artery
B) The apical heart rate
C) The radial artery
D) The brachial pulse

Question 56

When documenting a temperature reading on the patient chart, what abbreviation should be used to indicate the site of an oral reading?

A) T
B) A
C) TA
D) The site does not have to be indicated.

Question 57

The process of chemical and physical change in the body that produces heat is called

A) homeostasis.
B) metabolism.
C) dyspnea.
D) pyrexia.

Question 58

You are asking a patient about his reason for visiting the doctor. He says that he has had a fever for 2 days that comes and goes; sometimes his temperature is normal, but other times it is elevated. This is what type of fever?

A) Remittent
B) Pyrexic
C) Frequent
D) Intermittent

Question 59

Which of the following symptoms may indicate that the patient has hypertension?

A) Epistaxis
B) Headache
C) Vertigo
D) Angina
E) All of the above

Question 60

Which of the following systems requires the shortest length of time to obtain an accurate temperature reading?

A) Digital thermometer
B) Tympanic thermometer
C) Temporal artery scanner
D) Axillary thermometer

Question 61

What are the effects of using a blood pressure cuff that is one size larger than appropriate?

A) The systolic and diastolic can be lowered by as much as 5 mm Hg.
B) The BP can be elevated by up to 6 mm Hg.
C) The systolic will be elevated by up to 5 mm Hg, and the diastolic will remain the same.
D) The diastolic will be lowered by up to 5 mm Hg, and the systolic will remain the same.

Question 62

Which phase of sound is associated with a distinct, sharp tapping sound that continues rhythmically?

A) Phase I
B) Phase II
C) Phase III
D) Phase IV
E) Phase V