ATI RN
Vital Signs Assessment for Nurses Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which of the following findings during a respiratory assessment is considered abnormal?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Use of accessory muscles during breathing. This finding is considered abnormal because it indicates increased work of breathing and respiratory distress. Accessory muscles should not be used during normal breathing. A: Symmetrical chest expansion, B: Resonance on percussion, and D: Clear breath sounds are all normal findings indicating proper lung function and ventilation.
Question 2 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 3 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 4 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
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notices rebound tenderness. What condition does this finding suggest?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rebound tenderness, where pain worsens upon releasing pressure, is a sign of peritonitis, inflammation of the abdominal lining. This suggests an urgent medical issue involving the peritoneum. Cholecystitis (A) is inflammation of the gallbladder, not the peritoneum. Appendicitis (C) involves the appendix, not the peritoneum. Diverticulitis (D) is inflammation of diverticula in the colon, not the peritoneum. Peritonitis is the correct answer due to the specific association of rebound tenderness with peritoneal inflammation.