The nurse is performing an otoscopic examination on a child and notes that the tympanic membrane is red and bulging. What condition does this finding suggest?

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Vital Signs Assessment for Nurses Questions

Question 1 of 5

The nurse is performing an otoscopic examination on a child and notes that the tympanic membrane is red and bulging. What condition does this finding suggest?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Otitis media. In otitis media, the middle ear becomes infected and inflamed, causing the tympanic membrane to appear red and bulging. This can be due to the accumulation of fluid and pus behind the eardrum. Otitis externa (choice A) involves inflammation of the ear canal, not the middle ear. A perforated eardrum (choice C) would show a hole or tear in the membrane rather than redness and bulging. Choice D is incorrect as a red and bulging tympanic membrane is not a normal finding in children.

Question 2 of 5

The nurse is assessing a patient's mental status and observes that the patient is disoriented to time but oriented to person and place. How should this finding be documented?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the patient is only disoriented to time, not person and place. Being alert and oriented to person and place but not time indicates a specific level of disorientation. Choice B is incorrect as the patient is not disoriented to all spheres. Choice C is incorrect as the patient is not confused but disoriented. Choice D is incorrect as the patient is not fully oriented due to being disoriented to time. Therefore, the correct documentation should accurately reflect the patient's state of being alert and oriented to person and place but not time.

Question 3 of 5

The nurse is performing a pain assessment and asks the patient to describe the location of their pain. Which dimension of pain is being assessed?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Location. In pain assessment, evaluating the location of pain helps in determining the underlying cause and potential treatment options. Understanding the exact area of pain can provide crucial information for diagnosis and management. Intensity (A) refers to the severity of pain, quality (B) describes the characteristics of pain, and duration (D) indicates how long the pain lasts. These dimensions are important but in this case, the focus is on identifying the specific site of pain to guide further assessment and intervention.

Question 4 of 5

The nurse is assessing a patient's skin and notes a raised, rough lesion with a wart-like appearance. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Seborrheic keratosis. This diagnosis is likely due to the lesion's raised, rough, and wart-like appearance, which is characteristic of seborrheic keratosis. Seborrheic keratosis is a common benign skin growth that typically appears in older individuals and presents as brown, black, or tan growths with a waxy, stuck-on appearance. It is important to note that seborrheic keratosis is non-cancerous and does not require immediate medical treatment. Summary: - B: Basal cell carcinoma typically presents as a pearly or waxy bump, not a raised, rough lesion with a wart-like appearance. - C: Actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin condition characterized by rough, scaly patches, not a raised, wart-like lesion. - D: Squamous cell carcinoma usually appears as a firm red nodule or a flat lesion with a scaly

Question 5 of 5

The nurse is assessing a patient's respiratory status and notes that the patient is using their neck muscles to breathe. What is the most likely cause of this finding?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Severe respiratory distress. When a patient is using their neck muscles to breathe, it indicates that they are struggling to breathe effectively. This is a sign of increased work of breathing, which is commonly seen in severe respiratory distress. The neck muscles are recruited as accessory muscles to help with breathing when the respiratory system is compromised. This finding can be seen in conditions such as severe asthma, acute respiratory failure, or severe pneumonia. Therefore, the most likely cause of a patient using their neck muscles to breathe is severe respiratory distress. Summary: - Choice B (Hyperventilation): Hyperventilation is characterized by rapid and deep breathing, not necessarily the use of neck muscles to breathe. - Choice C (Pneumothorax): Pneumothorax typically presents with chest pain and shortness of breath, but not specifically with the use of neck muscles to breathe. - Choice D (Acute bronchitis): Acute bronchitis

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