ATI RN
Vital Signs Assessment ATI Quizlet Questions
Question 1 of 5
The following patients require routine vital signs to be obtained by the nursing assistive personnel (NAP). You instruct the NAP to obtain vital signs on which patient first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Priority is the 65-year-old post-treadmill test, out of breath , indicating potential distress needing immediate assessment. The man eating needs delay for BP accuracy but isn't urgent. The teen watching TV is stable. The mother post-argument may have elevated BP but lacks acute signs. Choice B is correct, per triage principles prioritizing respiratory or exertion-related symptoms in older adults, who are at higher risk for cardiac or pulmonary issues.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is assessing a client's pulse rate. Which location should the nurse use to accurately measure the pulse rate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The carotid artery is easily palpable and close to the surface, offering accurate pulse rate measurement, especially in emergencies. Radial is common but less central. Femoral and popliteal are deeper, used in specific cases. Choice B is correct, per the explanation, aligning with nursing preference for carotid in critical or routine checks due to its reliability and accessibility.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is assessing a client's pain and determines that the pain is neuropathic in nature. Which medication would be most appropriate for the nurse to administer?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The most appropriate medication for neuropathic pain is Gabapentin (Neurontin) (Option D). Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication that is commonly used to treat neuropathic pain conditions by stabilizing electrical activity in the brain and altering the way the body perceives pain. It is particularly effective for conditions like diabetic neuropathy and post-herpetic neuralgia. Acetaminophen (Option A) and Ibuprofen (Option B) are both over-the-counter pain relievers that are more effective for nociceptive pain, which results from tissue damage or inflammation, rather than neuropathic pain. Morphine sulfate (Option C) is an opioid analgesic that is more suitable for severe acute pain or pain related to cancer rather than neuropathic pain. In an educational context, understanding the differences between types of pain and the appropriate medications for each type is crucial for nurses to provide effective pain management for their patients. Nurses need to have a strong knowledge base to assess pain accurately and choose the most appropriate interventions to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse walks into a patients room and finds him having difficulty breathing and complaining of chest pain. He has bradycardia and hypotension. What should the nurse do next?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Immediate reporting is critical for dyspnea, chest pain, bradycardia, and hypotension, per the answer key, signaling potential cardiac or respiratory emergency. Waiting , delaying , or questioning anxiety risks patient safety. Nurses prioritize rapid escalation per ABC protocol to ensure timely intervention.
Question 5 of 5
All of the following patients have a body temperature of 38 C (100.4 F). About which patient would a nurse be most concerned?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In this scenario, the correct answer is D) a 2-month-old infant. The rationale behind this choice is that infants, especially those under 6 months of age, have immature immune systems which makes them more vulnerable to infections. A body temperature of 38 C (100.4 F) in an infant could indicate a serious underlying infection that needs immediate medical attention. Option A) an older adult: While older adults may have weakened immune systems, a temperature of 38 C is not as concerning as it would be in an infant due to their relatively stronger immune response. Option B) a pregnant adolescent: Pregnancy can sometimes cause a slightly elevated body temperature, but it would not be as concerning as in a 2-month-old infant. Option C) a junior high football player: Physical activity can increase body temperature, and a temperature of 38 C in this context is not necessarily worrisome unless other symptoms are present. Educationally, this question highlights the importance of understanding age-specific considerations when assessing vital signs. It emphasizes the critical nature of recognizing abnormal vital sign values in vulnerable populations like infants, where even a slight deviation can indicate a significant health issue. Nurses need to be vigilant and prompt in their assessment and response to abnormal vital signs in infants to ensure early intervention and prevent serious complications.