ATI RN
Vital Signs Physical Assessment Techniques Questions
Question 1 of 5
Cyanosis is ...
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cyanosis is pale/blue/gray skin , signaling low oxygen , often perioral all apply. It reflects hypoxemia or poor perfusion. Choice D is correct, per nursing recognition of cyanosis as a critical sign requiring immediate oxygenation assessment and action to restore circulation or breathing.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is caring for an elderly patient and notes that his temperature is 96.8°F (36°C). She understands that this patient is
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Elderly often have lower baselines; 96.8°F is normal. Hypothermia is <95°F. Hyperthermia requires elevation. Metabolism slows with age. Choice B is correct, per geriatric norms.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is assessing a client's pulse rate using a stethoscope. Where should the nurse place the stethoscope to auscultate the pulse?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The brachial artery is auscultated with a stethoscope during BP measurement to hear Korotkoff sounds, indirectly assessing pulse. Chest is for heart sounds, abdomen for bowel sounds. Radial is palpated, not auscultated. Choice C is correct, per the explanation, aligning with BP technique in nursing practice.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is assessing a client's pain and notes that the client has dilated pupils, increased blood pressure, and increased heart rate. Which type of pain is the client likely experiencing?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Dilated pupils, high BP, and HR indicate acute pain , a sudden stress response. Chronic lacks acute signs. Visceral and neuropathic aren't defined by these. Choice A is correct, per the explanation, reflecting acute pain physiology.
Question 5 of 5
A student is reading the medical record of an assigned patient and notes the patient has been afebrile for the past 12 hours. What does the term afebrile indicate?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Afebrile means normal temperature (no fever), per the answer key. Decreased suggests hypothermia, increased fever, and fluctuating instabilitynone match. Nurses use this term to confirm absence of fever, guiding care decisions.