ATI RN
Rn Vital Signs Assessment ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
During a cardiovascular assessment, the nurse palpates a thrill at the base of the heart. What does this finding suggest?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Turbulent blood flow. A thrill at the base of the heart indicates turbulent blood flow, which is often associated with structural abnormalities like stenosis or regurgitation of heart valves. However, the presence of a thrill does not specifically point to a particular valve issue like mitral valve stenosis (A) or aortic regurgitation (B). It is a general indicator of turbulent blood flow, which can occur in various conditions. Heart failure (D) is a broader diagnosis that may have multiple signs and symptoms, but a thrill specifically suggests turbulent blood flow rather than heart failure.
Question 2 of 5
During a musculoskeletal assessment, the nurse observes that a patient has joint redness, warmth, and swelling. What is the most likely cause of these findings?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, joint redness, warmth, and swelling are common due to inflammation of the synovial membrane. This causes pain and stiffness in multiple joints. Osteoarthritis (A) typically presents with joint pain and stiffness but less inflammation. Gout (B) is characterized by sudden, severe pain, redness, and swelling in one joint, often the big toe. Bursitis (D) involves inflammation of the bursae causing localized pain and swelling, not typically seen with redness and warmth in multiple joints.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is auscultating heart sounds and notes a third heart sound (S3) in an adult. What condition is this most likely associated with?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The presence of a third heart sound (S3) in an adult is most commonly associated with heart failure. This sound occurs during early diastole when the ventricles are resistant to filling due to increased volume. In heart failure, the ventricles are often dilated and have impaired function, leading to the S3 sound. Aortic stenosis (B) typically presents with a systolic murmur, not an S3 sound. Mitral valve regurgitation (C) may present with a murmur but not typically an S3 sound. Pulmonary embolism (D) is associated with symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and tachycardia, not an S3 sound.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's mental status and asks the patient to remember three words and repeat them after five minutes. Which aspect of memory is being tested?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Recent memory. This test assesses the ability to retain and recall information over a short period, typically within minutes. Immediate memory (choice C) refers to the ability to hold information briefly in the mind, but the question specifically mentions a delay of five minutes. Long-term memory (choice B) involves remembering information over a longer period. Remote memory (choice D) refers to the recall of information from the distant past, not recent events. By testing the patient's ability to remember and repeat three words after five minutes, the nurse is evaluating the patient's recent memory function.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is auscultating the lungs and hears coarse crackles during inspiration. What condition is most likely associated with this finding?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The presence of coarse crackles during inspiration indicates fluid or secretions in the lungs, which are typically associated with pneumonia. Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lung parenchyma leading to inflammation and consolidation, causing crackles. Pulmonary fibrosis presents with fine crackles, not coarse crackles. Heart failure may present with crackles, but they are typically associated with expiratory crackles. COPD does not typically present with crackles on auscultation. Therefore, based on the symptom of coarse crackles during inspiration, the most likely condition is pneumonia.