ATI RN
Health Assessment Vital Signs Quizlet Questions
Question 1 of 5
During a cardiovascular assessment, the nurse notes that the patient has a rapid, irregular pulse. What condition is most likely associated with this finding?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Atrial fibrillation. A rapid, irregular pulse is a classic hallmark of atrial fibrillation, which is a common arrhythmia characterized by disorganized electrical activity in the atria. This leads to an irregular and often rapid ventricular response. Sinus arrhythmia (B) is a normal variation in heart rate associated with breathing and is typically regular. Ventricular tachycardia (C) is a life-threatening arrhythmia with a regular, fast heartbeat originating in the ventricles. Bradycardia (D) is a slow heart rate, which is the opposite of what is described in the question.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is assessing the vital signs of patients who presented at the emergency department. Based on the knowledge of age-related variations in normal vital signs, which patients would the nurse document as having a vital sign within normal limits?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Normal vital signs vary by age. For a 4-month-old, a temperature of 38.1°C (100.5°F) is within the normal range of 37.1°C to 38.1°C (98.7°F to 100.5°F), making A correct. A 3-year-olds normal blood pressure is around 89/46 mmHg; 118/80 is elevated, so B is incorrect. A 9-year-olds temperature of 39°C (102.2°F) exceeds the normal range of 36.8°C to 37.8°C (98.2°F to 100°F), so C is incorrect. An adolescents pulse of 70 beats/min fits the normal range of 55 to 105, making D correct. Adults have a respiratory rate of 12 to 20 breaths/min, and older adults have a pulse of 40 to 100 beats/min, but these arent options here. Since this is a multiple-choice question with one answer listed as correct, D is the focus, supported by its alignment with age-specific norms.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is using a cooling blanket on an adult patient with an uncontrolled fever. Which of the following statements accurately describes a recommended guideline for using this type of equipment?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cooling blankets manage fever effectively with proper use. Positioning with the top edge at the neck ensures full-body coverage, maximizing cooling, making it correct. A rectal probe for comatose patients is accurate but context-specific. Covering with a thick blanket insulates, counteracting cooling. Avoiding lanolin prevents interference but isn't a primary guideline. Choice A is best as it addresses placement, a fundamental step in hypothermia blanket protocols, ensuring efficient heat exchange per nursing standards.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is caring for an infant and is obtaining the patient's vital signs. Which artery will the nurse use to best obtain the infant's pulse?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In infants, the brachial artery is preferred for pulse due to accessibility and strength; radial is weak and hard to palpate. Femoral and popliteal are less practical. Choice B is correct, per pediatric norms, ensuring accurate infant pulse assessment.
Question 5 of 5
Vital signs are based on....
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vital signs reflect homeostasis , the body's ability to maintain internal stability (e.g., temperature, heart rate). Food processing affects digestion, not vital signs directly. Weight and height inform growth or BMI, not homeostasis monitoring. ‘None of the above' dismisses the correct link. Choice C is correct, as vital signs are physiological markers of homeostatic balance, a principle nurses use to assess health and guide care, per basic pathophysiology.