ATI RN
Vital Signs Assessment Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 45-year-old man is in the clinic for a routine physical examination. During the recording of his health history, the patient states that he has been having difficulty sleeping. 'I'll be sleeping great, and then I wake up and feel like I can't get my breath.' The nurse's best response to this would be:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'Do you have any history of problems with your heart?' Rationale: 1. Difficulty sleeping and waking up feeling breathless can be indicative of cardiac issues like heart failure or arrhythmias. 2. Asking about a history of heart problems is crucial to assess the patient's risk factors and determine the need for further cardiac evaluation. 3. This response shows the nurse's understanding of the potential seriousness of the symptoms and the need to investigate cardiac health. Summary: - Option A (Electrocardiogram) is not the best initial response as it jumps to a specific test without gathering more information. - Option B (Hot at night) dismisses the symptoms without considering underlying health issues. - Option D (Sinus or respiratory infection) does not address the potential cardiac cause of the symptoms.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is preparing to assess the dorsalis pedis artery. Where is the correct location for palpation?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct location for palpating the dorsalis pedis artery is lateral to the extensor tendon of the great toe. This is because the dorsalis pedis artery is located on the dorsum of the foot, slightly lateral to the midline, and can be palpated just lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon. This location allows for accurate assessment of the pulse. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not correspond to the correct anatomical location of the dorsalis pedis artery.
Question 3 of 5
When auscultating over a patient's femoral arteries, the nurse notices the presence of a bruit on the left side. The nurse knows that bruits:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. When a bruit is heard over the femoral arteries, it indicates turbulent blood flow, which is often a result of partial occlusion in the artery. This turbulent flow causes vibrations that can be heard as a bruit. This finding suggests that there may be a narrowing or blockage in the femoral artery, which can lead to decreased blood flow to the lower extremities. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because bruits are not typically associated with venous disease, lymphadenopathy, or hypermetabolic states in the context of femoral artery auscultation.
Question 4 of 5
Jason is a 41-year-old electrician who presents to the clinic for evaluation of shortness of breath. The shortness of breath occurs with exertion and improves with rest. It has been going on for several months and initially occurred only a couple of times a day with strenuous exertion; however, it has started to occur with minimal exertion and is happening more than a dozen times per day. The shortness of breath lasts for less than 5 minutes at a time. He has no cough, chest pressure, chest pain, swelling in his feet, palpitations, orthopnea, or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Which of the following symptom attributes was not addressed in this description?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Severity. The description of the patient's shortness of breath includes information on the setting (exertion), timing (improves with rest, occurs more frequently), and associated manifestations (no cough, chest pain, etc.). Severity of the symptom, which refers to how intense or distressing it is for the patient, is not explicitly mentioned. In this case, severity may be implied by the progression of symptoms from occurring with strenuous exertion to minimal exertion, but it is not directly addressed in the description. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they were all addressed in the patient's presentation.
Question 5 of 5
What is the expected moisture and texture of the skin of a patient with hypothyroidism?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, dry and rough. In hypothyroidism, there is a decrease in thyroid hormone production, leading to reduced metabolic activity. This results in decreased oil and sweat gland function, leading to dry skin. Additionally, the reduced metabolic rate can cause a buildup of dead skin cells, contributing to rough texture. Choices A and B are incorrect because moisture levels are decreased in hypothyroidism. Choice C is incorrect as dryness is a key characteristic of hypothyroidism, and smooth skin is less likely due to the rough texture caused by decreased cell turnover.