ATI RN
EMT Vital Signs Assessment Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 60-year-old woman presents with a complaint of joint pain, particularly in the knees. She reports that the pain is worse with activity and improves with rest. She has a history of obesity. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The most likely diagnosis for the 60-year-old woman with joint pain worsened by activity and improved with rest, along with a history of obesity, is osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the most common type of arthritis in older individuals, often affecting weight-bearing joints like the knees. The pain pattern described aligns with OA, as it typically worsens with activity due to the degeneration of cartilage and improves with rest. Rheumatoid arthritis (B) is less likely as it typically presents with symmetrical joint involvement and morning stiffness. Gout (C) is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain in joints due to the buildup of uric acid crystals and is less likely based on the provided information. Psoriatic arthritis (D) is associated with psoriasis skin lesions, which are not mentioned in the scenario, making it less likely.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is performing a respiratory assessment and hears crackles in the lower lung fields. What is the most likely cause of this finding?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The crackles heard in the lower lung fields suggest fluid accumulation, characteristic of pulmonary edema. This condition occurs when there is an excess of fluid in the lungs, often due to heart failure. Pneumothorax (choice B) involves air in the pleural space, not fluid. Asthma (choice C) and COPD (choice D) typically present with wheezing and airway obstruction, not crackles. Overall, crackles in the lower lung fields are most indicative of pulmonary edema.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's lungs and hears a low-pitched gurgling sound during inspiration. What is the most likely cause of this finding?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Rhonchi. Rhonchi are low-pitched continuous lung sounds caused by airway secretions or mucus. They are typically heard during inspiration and expiration. Fine crackles (A) are high-pitched, discontinuous sounds caused by fluid in the alveoli. Wheezing (C) is a high-pitched musical sound caused by narrowed airways. Pleural friction rub (D) is a grating sound heard during inspiration and expiration, caused by inflammation of the pleura. Therefore, the presence of low-pitched gurgling sounds during inspiration points towards rhonchi as the most likely cause.
Question 4 of 5
Which time of day would we have the lowest temperature reading?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 4 am to 6 am, is correct due to the bodys circadian rhythm, which lowers core temperature during early morning hours. Controlled by the hypothalamus, temperature dips to its lowest around 4-6 am (e.g., ~97°F) as metabolism slows during sleep. 4 pm to 6 pm, is near the daily peak (~98.6°F-100°F). 8 pm to 12 midnight, sees a decline but not the nadir. 1 am to 4 am, is close but precedes the lowest point. Studies show this pattern holds across healthy adults, reflecting natural thermoregulatory cycles, making B the precise answer for the lowest reading time.
Question 5 of 5
Prioritization: Place the following descriptions of the phases of Korotkoff sounds in order from phase I to phase V.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Korotkoff sounds measure blood pressure. Phase I starts with faint tapping (systolic pressure). Phase II has muffled/swishing sounds with an auscultatory gap. Phase III features loud, clear sounds as the artery opens. Phase IV (E, not listed) muffles abruptly (first diastolic). Phase V ends with silence (second diastolic). Choice D is correct as it marks Phase I, the initial sound nurses identify as systolic pressure, critical for accurate blood pressure reading in clinical practice.