A 35-year-old man presents with a complaint of dizziness and fainting. His blood pressure is found to be 100/60 mm Hg when he is standing up. What is the most likely cause of his symptoms?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Postural hypotension. This is likely the cause of the man's symptoms because his blood pressure drops when standing, causing dizziness and fainting. Postural hypotension is a decrease in blood pressure upon standing, leading to inadequate blood flow to the brain. Arrhythmia (B) can cause similar symptoms but is less likely without other associated signs. Anemia (C) can cause fatigue and weakness but is less likely to result in dizziness and fainting solely based on blood pressure. Hyperthyroidism (D) can cause palpitations and weight loss, but is less likely to cause postural hypotension as the primary symptom.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct next step in assessing a limited range of motion in the shoulder is to palpate the shoulder for tenderness. This is important to identify any underlying causes of the limited range of motion, such as inflammation or injury. Palpation helps the nurse determine if there is any pain or tenderness in the shoulder joint, which can provide valuable information for further assessment and treatment planning. Performing passive range of motion (choice B) would be inappropriate without first assessing for tenderness. Auscultation for crepitus (choice C) is not typically indicated for assessing limited range of motion in the shoulder. Measuring the angle of motion (choice D) is not as relevant in this context as assessing for tenderness.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Fine crackles on auscultation. In ARDS, the alveoli become filled with fluid, leading to the crackling sound. Fine crackles indicate the presence of fluid in the small airways, which is a hallmark of ARDS. Wheezing (B) is more commonly associated with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Decreased tactile fremitus (C) may suggest pleural effusion or pneumothorax, not ARDS. Dullness on percussion (D) is seen in conditions like pneumonia or pleural effusion, not specifically ARDS. Therefore, the presence of fine crackles on auscultation is the most consistent finding with ARDS.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Upper airway obstruction. A prolonged inspiratory phase suggests difficulty with air intake, which is commonly seen in upper airway obstructions such as foreign body aspiration, croup, or epiglottitis. Asthma (A) typically presents with prolonged expiratory phase, COPD (B) with decreased expiratory phase, and pulmonary fibrosis (C) with decreased lung compliance and restrictive pattern, not affecting inspiratory phase.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The hypothalamus is the primary regulator of body temperature, making Choice C correct. Located in the brain, the hypothalamus acts as the bodys thermostat, receiving input from thermoreceptors and initiating responses like sweating or shivering to maintain a stable core temperature around 98.6°F (37°C). Medulla, is incorrect because the medulla oblongata primarily controls autonomic functions like heart rate and breathing, not temperature regulation. Sebaceous glands, refers to oil-producing skin glands with no role in temperature control. Wernickes area, is a brain region involved in language comprehension, unrelated to thermoregulation. The hypothalamus integrates signals from the body and environment, adjusting heat production and loss via mechanisms like vasodilation or muscle activity. Its critical role in homeostasis distinguishes it from the other options, confirming C as the correct answer supported by physiological evidence.