ATI RN
ATI Vital Signs Assessment Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's pupils and notes that the pupils constrict when exposed to light but do not constrict when focused on a near object. What does this finding suggest?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Failure of the accommodation reflex. When the pupils constrict in response to light but do not constrict when focused on a near object, it indicates a failure of the accommodation reflex. This reflex is responsible for adjusting the shape of the lens to focus on near objects. In this scenario, the pupils are reacting to light (normal pupillary response) but not adjusting properly for near vision, ruling out A. Failure of the consensual light reflex (B) would result in both pupils failing to constrict when exposed to light. Increased intracranial pressure (D) would typically present with other neurological signs and symptoms.
Question 2 of 5
During a cardiovascular assessment, the nurse auscultates a murmur that occurs during diastole. What is the most likely cause of this finding?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mitral stenosis. During diastole, the mitral valve should be closed, allowing blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. A murmur during diastole indicates turbulent blood flow across a stenotic mitral valve. Mitral stenosis causes decreased flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle during diastole, leading to increased pressure in the left atrium and the pulmonary circulation. Aortic regurgitation (A) would present with a murmur during diastole, but it is typically heard in early diastole. Tricuspid regurgitation (C) would present with a murmur during systole. Systolic heart failure (D) is not associated with a diastolic murmur.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's cranial nerve function and asks the patient to raise both eyebrows. Which cranial nerve is being tested?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. Choice B, Cranial nerve VII (facial nerve), is correct. This nerve innervates the muscles responsible for facial expressions, including raising the eyebrows. 2. Cranial nerve III (choice A) controls eye movements, not eyebrow elevation. 3. Cranial nerve IX (choice C) is involved in swallowing and taste sensation, not eyebrow movement. 4. Cranial nerve X (choice D) is responsible for various functions including regulating the heart and digestive system, not eyebrow movement. Summary: Choice B is correct as the facial nerve controls the muscles involved in raising the eyebrows. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they are not specifically associated with eyebrow movement.
Question 4 of 5
A rise of 1-degree Fahrenheit of temperature will increase the pulse rate by how many beats per minute?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A well-established physiological principle states that for every 1°F increase in body temperature, the pulse rate typically rises by about 5 beats per minute, making Choice C correct. This occurs because fever increases metabolic demand, prompting the heart to pump faster to deliver oxygen and nutrients. 3, and 4, underestimate this effect, while 6, slightly overestimates it based on standard clinical observations. For example, a person with a normal pulse of 70 bpm at 98.6°F might see it rise to 75 bpm at 99.6°F. This relationship is part of the bodys compensatory response to heat stress or infection, mediated by the autonomic nervous system. While individual variations exist due to age or fitness, 5 bpm is the widely accepted average in nursing and medical literature, making C the most accurate choice here.
Question 5 of 5
Which groups body temperature changes more rapidly in response to both heat and cold air temperatures?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Infants and children, is correct because their higher surface-area-to-mass ratio and immature thermoregulation cause rapid temperature shifts. Infants lack shivering efficiency and sweat less, while childrens thin skin and high metabolism amplify responses to heat/cold. Older adults, adapt slowly due to reduced metabolism and circulation. Women, and Men, vary less by sex than age. Pediatric nursing notes infants can drop to hypothermia or spike to hyperthermia fastere.g., a cold room lowers temperature in minutes. This vulnerability requires close monitoring, making A the precise answer per developmental physiology.