ATI RN
Vital Signs in Nursing Assessment Questions
Question 1 of 4
A nurse is assessing a client's body temperature using a tympanic thermometer. How should the nurse position the thermometer for accurate measurement?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Tympanic thermometers measure ear canal temperature , reflecting core readings via the tympanic membrane. Oral and rectal are for different devices. Forehead is for temporal thermometers. Choice D is correct, per the explanation and manufacturer guidelines, ensuring accurate placement by aligning with the eardrum for reliable, non-invasive core temperature assessment.
Question 2 of 4
What anatomic site regulates the pulse rate and force?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The sinoatrial node regulates pulse rate and force as the heart's pacemaker, per the answer key. The thermoregulatory center controls temperature. Atria and valves don't set rhythm. Chemoreceptors adjust respiration. The SA node's electrical impulses drive heartbeats, a critical nursing concept for understanding pulse dynamics in health assessments.
Question 3 of 4
Various sounds are heard when assessing a blood pressure. What does the first sound heard through the stethoscope represent?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The first sound is systolic pressure, per the answer key, marking arterial opening during cuff deflation (Korotkoff Phase I). Diastolic is later, auscultatory gap a silence, pulse pressure a calculation. Nurses identify this for BP documentation.
Question 4 of 4
The nurse palpating the skin of a patient documents a firm 1.5 cm mass on the lower right leg. What type of skin lesion does this describe?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A nodule , per the answer key, is a firm, palpable mass >1 cm. Macule is flat, wheal raised and transient, vesicle fluid-filled. Nurses, per Taylor, classify lesions by characteristics for accurate diagnosis.