ATI RN
EMT Vital Signs Assessment Questions
Question 1 of 5
The direction of blood flow through the heart is best described by which of these?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because it accurately describes the path of blood flow through the heart. Blood enters the right atrium from the vena cava, then goes to the right ventricle, gets pumped to the lungs through the pulmonary artery, returns to the heart from the lungs via the pulmonary vein, enters the left atrium, and finally flows to the left ventricle for systemic circulation. The other choices have inaccuracies in the sequence of chambers and blood vessels through which the blood flows, making them incorrect. Choice A has the pulmonary artery leading to the left atrium, which is incorrect. Choice C has the aorta before entering the right atrium, which is also incorrect. Choice D has the pulmonary vein leading to the pulmonary artery, which is incorrect.
Question 2 of 5
Which of the following conditions involves a tight prepuce which, once retracted, cannot be returned?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Paraphimosis. This condition occurs when the foreskin is retracted behind the glans and becomes trapped, leading to swelling and an inability to return it to its original position. Phimosis (A) is the inability to retract the foreskin over the glans. Balanitis (C) is inflammation of the glans while Balanoposthitis (D) is inflammation of both the glans and foreskin. Paraphimosis specifically refers to the foreskin being stuck in a retracted position, making it the correct choice.
Question 3 of 5
A 67-year-old patient states that he recently began to have pain in his left calf when climbing the 10 stairs to his apartment. This pain is relieved by sitting for approximately 2 minutes; then he is able to resume his activities. The nurse interprets that this patient is most likely experiencing:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Claudication. This patient is likely experiencing intermittent claudication, which is pain or discomfort in the muscles of the leg, typically the calf, that occurs during physical activity and is relieved by rest. The key clues in the question are the pain in the left calf specifically with activity (climbing stairs), relief with rest, and the patient's age of 67 which is a risk factor for peripheral artery disease (PAD) leading to claudication. Sore muscles (B) and muscle cramps (C) do not typically present with this pattern of pain and relief. Venous insufficiency (D) usually manifests with swelling, skin changes, and may worsen with prolonged standing, not specifically with activity like in this case.
Question 4 of 5
During an assessment, a patient tells the nurse that her fingers often change color when she goes out in cold weather. She describes these episodes as her fingers first turning white, then blue, then red with a burning, throbbing pain. The nurse suspects that she is experiencing:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Raynaud disease. This condition is characterized by a triphasic color change in the fingers (white, blue, red) due to vasospasms in response to cold or stress. The white color indicates decreased blood flow, the blue color is due to lack of oxygen, and the red color signifies reactive hyperemia. The burning, throbbing pain is also a common symptom. Lymphedema (A) is swelling due to lymphatic system dysfunction, not color changes. Deep-vein thrombosis (C) involves blood clots in the deep veins, not color changes. Chronic arterial insufficiency (D) would typically present with a pale or dusky color due to reduced blood flow, rather than the described color changes.
Question 5 of 5
Despite having high BP readings in the office, Mr. Kelly tells you that his readings at home are much lower. He checks them twice a day at the same time of day and has kept a log. How do you respond?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: You diagnose "white coat hypertension." White coat hypertension refers to elevated blood pressure readings in a clinical setting due to anxiety or stress. Mr. Kelly's lower readings at home suggest this phenomenon. 1. White coat hypertension is a common occurrence, affecting about 20% of people with high office BP readings. 2. Mr. Kelly's consistent lower readings at home indicate that his true BP is likely lower than what is measured in the office. 3. Checking BP at home twice a day at the same time increases reliability and accuracy. 4. Assuming nervousness or questioning the accuracy of his measurements or yours does not address the discrepancy between office and home readings.