ATI RN
Vital Signs Assessment for Nurses Questions
Question 1 of 5
The respiratory rate is...
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Respiratory rate is breaths per minute , typically 12-20 for adults, counting full cycles. Inhaling or exhaling alone isn't standard. Oxygen saturation is a separate metric. Choice C is correct, per nursing definitions, a vital sign tracked to assess breathing adequacy and detect respiratory issues.
Question 2 of 5
The physician order reads 'Lopressor (metoprolol) 50 mg PO daily. Do not give if blood pressure is less than 100 mm Hg systolic.' The patient's blood pressure is 92/66. The nurse does not give the medication and
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Holding metoprolol for BP 92/66 (<100 systolic) requires documentation of reason for accountability. Not telling is optional. BP alone lacks context. Not informing risks oversight. Choice C is correct, per nursing documentation standards.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is assessing a client's oxygen saturation level. What is the most common method used to measure oxygen saturation?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Pulse oximetry is the most common, non-invasive method for oxygen saturation. ABG is invasive. Capnography measures CO2. Spirometry assesses lung function. Choice C is correct, per the explanation, reflecting standard nursing practice.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse has an order to take the core temperature of a patient. At which of the following sites would a core body temperature be measured?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Tympanic measures core temperature via the eardrum, close to the hypothalamus, per the answer key. Oral approximates core but varies with intake. Axillary and skin surface reflect peripheral temp, less accurate for core. Tympanic's proximity to central blood flow makes it reliable for quick, non-invasive core readings, aligning with nursing practice for accuracy in critical assessments, distinguishing it from less precise peripheral sites.
Question 5 of 5
As adults age, the walls of their arterioles become less elastic, increasing resistance and decreasing compliance. How does this affect the blood pressure?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Increased resistance from less elastic arterioles raises blood pressure , per the answer key, common in aging. No change , erratic , or decrease don't fit. Nurses monitor this age-related rise for hypertension management.