ATI RN
Vital Signs Assessment Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is examining a patient who is complaining of "feeling cold." Which is a mechanism of heat loss in the body?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Radiation. Heat loss through radiation occurs when the body emits infrared radiation to the surrounding environment. This is a passive process and can account for a significant amount of heat loss. Exercise (choice A) generates heat due to muscle activity, leading to increased body temperature. Metabolism (choice C) is the process by which the body converts food into energy and does not directly result in heat loss. Food digestion (choice D) also contributes to metabolic processes and energy production, rather than heat loss.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is examining a patient who tells the nurse, 'I sure sweat a lot, especially on my face and feet but it doesn't have an odor.' The nurse knows that this condition could be related to:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Eccrine glands. Eccrine glands are responsible for producing sweat that is mostly composed of water and salts. Excessive sweating on the face and feet without odor is characteristic of eccrine gland activity. Eccrine glands are distributed throughout the body and help regulate body temperature through sweat production. Apocrine glands, choice B, produce a thicker sweat that can lead to body odor. Choices C and D are related to the skin's outer layers and not directly associated with sweating.
Question 3 of 5
A 35-year-old pregnant woman comes to the clinic for a monthly appointment. During the assessment, the nurse notices that she has a brown patch of hyperpigmentation on her face. The nurse continues the skin assessment aware that another finding may be:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Chloasma. Chloasma, also known as melasma, is a common skin condition characterized by brown patches of hyperpigmentation on the face, particularly during pregnancy. This is due to hormonal changes that increase melanin production. Keratoses (A) are rough, scaly skin growths. Xerosis (B) is dry skin. Acrochordons (D) are skin tags. The nurse should be aware that chloasma is a common finding during pregnancy and continue the assessment accordingly.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse needs to pull the portion of the ear that consists of movable cartilage and skin down and back when administering eardrops. This portion of the ear is called the:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Auricle. The auricle is the visible part of the outer ear that consists of movable cartilage and skin. When administering eardrops, pulling the auricle down and back helps straighten the ear canal for proper medication delivery. The other choices are incorrect because: B: Concha is the concave bowl-shaped depression in the outer ear, C: Outer meatus is the ear canal, and D: Mastoid process is a bony prominence behind the ear.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is preparing to perform an otoscopic examination of a newborn infant. Which statement is true regarding this examination?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale: C is correct because in newborns, the normal tympanic membrane can appear thick and opaque due to a thinner eardrum and presence of amniotic fluid remnants. A: Immobility of the drum is not normal. B: An injected membrane indicates a hemorrhage, not necessarily infection. D: The appearance of the membrane differs in newborns due to their unique anatomy.