ANSWER 1. What is the normal range for adult oral temperature? ANSWER
A) 95.0-97.0°F
B) 96.8-98.6°F
C) 97.8-99.1°F
D) 99.5-100.4°F
ANSWER ANSWER : C) 97.8-99.1°F ANSWER
Rationale: Normal adult oral temperature ranges from 97.8-99.1°F (36.5-
37.3°C).
ANSWER 2. A patient's blood pressure is 88/56 mmHg. This is classified as:
ANSWER
A) Normal
B) Prehypertension
C) Hypotension
D) Stage 1 hypertension
ANSWER ANSWER : C) Hypotension ANSWER
Rationale: Normal BP is <120/<80. This reading indicates hypotension (low
blood pressure).
,ANSWER 3. When taking an apical pulse, the stethoscope should be placed:
ANSWER
A) At the second intercostal space, right sternal border
B) At the fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
C) At the xiphoid process
D) At the fourth intercostal space, right sternal border
ANSWER ANSWER : B) At the fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
ANSWER
Rationale: This is the location of the apex of the heart (point of maximal
impulse).
ANSWER 4. Normal respiratory rate for an adult is: ANSWER
A) 8-12 breaths/min
B) 12-20 breaths/min
C) 20-30 breaths/min
D) 30-40 breaths/min
ANSWER ANSWER : B) 12-20 breaths/min ANSWER
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute.
ANSWER 5. Which pulse site is most commonly used for assessing heart rate?
ANSWER
A) Carotid
B) Radial
C) Apical
D) Femoral
ANSWER ANSWER : B) Radial ANSWER
,Rationale: The radial pulse is the most commonly assessed peripheral pulse site.
ANSWER 6. Orthostatic hypotension is defined as: ANSWER
A) A drop in systolic BP of 10 mmHg when standing
B) A drop in systolic BP of 20 mmHg or diastolic BP of 10 mmHg when
standing
C) An increase in heart rate of 10 bpm when standing
D) A drop in diastolic BP of 5 mmHg when standing
ANSWER ANSWER : B) A drop in systolic BP of 20 mmHg or diastolic BP
of 10 mmHg when standing ANSWER
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is a significant drop in BP upon position
change.
ANSWER 7. Tachycardia in adults is defined as a heart rate greater than:
ANSWER
A) 80 bpm
B) 90 bpm
C) 100 bpm
D) 110 bpm
ANSWER ANSWER : C) 100 bpm ANSWER
Rationale: Tachycardia is a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute in adults.
ANSWER 8. The most accurate site for measuring core body temperature is:
ANSWER
A) Oral
B) Axillary
C) Rectal
, D) Temporal
ANSWER ANSWER : C) Rectal ANSWER
Rationale: Rectal temperature most closely reflects core body temperature.
ANSWER 9. When assessing respirations, the nurse should: ANSWER
A) Tell the patient to breathe normally
B) Count respirations while appearing to take the pulse
C) Ask the patient to take deep breaths
D) Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 2
ANSWER ANSWER : B) Count respirations while appearing to take the pulse
ANSWER
Rationale: Patients may alter breathing patterns if aware they're being assessed.
ANSWER 10. A patient has a temperature of 101.5°F. This is classified as:
ANSWER
A) Hypothermia
B) Normal
C) Low-grade fever
D) High fever
ANSWER ANSWER : D) High fever ANSWER
Rationale: Temperatures above 101°F are considered high-grade fevers.
ANSWER 11. The oxygen saturation (SpO2) normal range is: ANSWER
A) 85-90%
B) 90-95%
A) 95.0-97.0°F
B) 96.8-98.6°F
C) 97.8-99.1°F
D) 99.5-100.4°F
ANSWER ANSWER : C) 97.8-99.1°F ANSWER
Rationale: Normal adult oral temperature ranges from 97.8-99.1°F (36.5-
37.3°C).
ANSWER 2. A patient's blood pressure is 88/56 mmHg. This is classified as:
ANSWER
A) Normal
B) Prehypertension
C) Hypotension
D) Stage 1 hypertension
ANSWER ANSWER : C) Hypotension ANSWER
Rationale: Normal BP is <120/<80. This reading indicates hypotension (low
blood pressure).
,ANSWER 3. When taking an apical pulse, the stethoscope should be placed:
ANSWER
A) At the second intercostal space, right sternal border
B) At the fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
C) At the xiphoid process
D) At the fourth intercostal space, right sternal border
ANSWER ANSWER : B) At the fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
ANSWER
Rationale: This is the location of the apex of the heart (point of maximal
impulse).
ANSWER 4. Normal respiratory rate for an adult is: ANSWER
A) 8-12 breaths/min
B) 12-20 breaths/min
C) 20-30 breaths/min
D) 30-40 breaths/min
ANSWER ANSWER : B) 12-20 breaths/min ANSWER
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute.
ANSWER 5. Which pulse site is most commonly used for assessing heart rate?
ANSWER
A) Carotid
B) Radial
C) Apical
D) Femoral
ANSWER ANSWER : B) Radial ANSWER
,Rationale: The radial pulse is the most commonly assessed peripheral pulse site.
ANSWER 6. Orthostatic hypotension is defined as: ANSWER
A) A drop in systolic BP of 10 mmHg when standing
B) A drop in systolic BP of 20 mmHg or diastolic BP of 10 mmHg when
standing
C) An increase in heart rate of 10 bpm when standing
D) A drop in diastolic BP of 5 mmHg when standing
ANSWER ANSWER : B) A drop in systolic BP of 20 mmHg or diastolic BP
of 10 mmHg when standing ANSWER
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is a significant drop in BP upon position
change.
ANSWER 7. Tachycardia in adults is defined as a heart rate greater than:
ANSWER
A) 80 bpm
B) 90 bpm
C) 100 bpm
D) 110 bpm
ANSWER ANSWER : C) 100 bpm ANSWER
Rationale: Tachycardia is a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute in adults.
ANSWER 8. The most accurate site for measuring core body temperature is:
ANSWER
A) Oral
B) Axillary
C) Rectal
, D) Temporal
ANSWER ANSWER : C) Rectal ANSWER
Rationale: Rectal temperature most closely reflects core body temperature.
ANSWER 9. When assessing respirations, the nurse should: ANSWER
A) Tell the patient to breathe normally
B) Count respirations while appearing to take the pulse
C) Ask the patient to take deep breaths
D) Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 2
ANSWER ANSWER : B) Count respirations while appearing to take the pulse
ANSWER
Rationale: Patients may alter breathing patterns if aware they're being assessed.
ANSWER 10. A patient has a temperature of 101.5°F. This is classified as:
ANSWER
A) Hypothermia
B) Normal
C) Low-grade fever
D) High fever
ANSWER ANSWER : D) High fever ANSWER
Rationale: Temperatures above 101°F are considered high-grade fevers.
ANSWER 11. The oxygen saturation (SpO2) normal range is: ANSWER
A) 85-90%
B) 90-95%
