2025 VITAL SIGNS AND PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
apical pulse - CORRECT ANSWER>>>AP-i-cal PÜLS, p. 295
auscultate - CORRECT ANSWER>>>AW-skul-tāt, p. 291
blood pressure - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 297
bradycardia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>brad-1-KAR-de-ǎ, p. 292
bradypnea - CORRECT ANSWER>>>brád-ip-NE-ǎ, p. 296
orthostatic hypotension - CORRECT ANSWER>>>ŏr-thō-STAT-ik hi-po-TEN-shun, p. 299
oxygen saturation - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 303
Cheyne-Stokes respirations - CORRECT ANSWER>>>CHÂN STOKS, p. 297
diastolic - CORRECT ANSWER>>>di-ǎ-STŎL-ik, p. 297
dyspnea - CORRECT ANSWER>>>DISP-nē-ǎ, p. 297
dysrhythmia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>dis-RITH-me-ǎ, p. 292
febrile - CORRECT ANSWER>>>FEB-ril, p. 284
hypertension - CORRECT ANSWER>>>hi-půr-TEN-shun, p. 298
hyperthermia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>hi-pur-THÜR-me-ǎ, p. 284
hypotension - CORRECT ANSWER>>>hi-po-TEN-shun, p. 299
hypothermia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>hi-po-THUR-mê-ǎ, p. 285
Korotkoff sounds - CORRECT ANSWER>>>kŏ-RŎT-kof, p. 300
pulse - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 292
pulse deficit - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 295
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,pulse oximeter - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 303
pulse pressure - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 298
respiration - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 295
sphygmomanometer - CORRECT ANSWER>>>sfig-mo-mă-NŎM-ě-tur, p. 300
stethoscope - CORRECT ANSWER>>>STETH-ō-sköp, p. 290
systolic - CORRECT ANSWER>>>sis-TOL-ik, p. 297
tachycardia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>tǎk-i-KÅR-de-ǎ, p. 292
tachypnea - CORRECT ANSWER>>>tǎk-ip-NE-ǎ, p. 296
temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 283
tympanic - CORRECT ANSWER>>>tim-PAN-ik, p. 286
vital signs - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 280
Vital Signs (VS) - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Measurements that reflect the body's basic
functions, including heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and temperature.
Normal Adult Heart Rate - CORRECT ANSWER>>>60-100 beats per minute.
Normal Adult Respiratory Rate - CORRECT ANSWER>>>12-20 breaths per minute.
Normal Adult Blood Pressure - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Systolic 100-120 mm Hg / Diastolic
70-80 mm Hg.
Pain as a Vital Sign - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Pain is considered the 5th vital sign and must be
evaluated each time other vital signs are taken.
Frequency of Assessing VS - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Determined by the healthcare policy at
the institution, which may dictate intervals such as every 4, 6, or 8 hours.
When to Assess Vital Signs - CORRECT ANSWER>>>When a patient is admitted, discharged,
when a condition change is observed, at the nurse's discretion, before and after surgery, or when
symptoms are reported.
Equipment for VS Measurement - CORRECT ANSWER>>>All equipment must be in proper
working condition to ensure accuracy.
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, Patient's Normal Ranges - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Nurses should know the patient's normal
ranges, as some patients may have atypical values.
Medical History and Medications - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Knowledge of the patient's
medical history and medications is crucial as they may affect vital signs.
Communication of Abnormal Findings - CORRECT ANSWER>>>All abnormal findings must
be reported immediately to the nurse manager, charge nurse, or healthcare provider.
Home Care Considerations for VS - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Assess environmental factors,
such as temperature and noise level, that can influence vital signs.
Electronic Cuff - CORRECT ANSWER>>>An electronic blood pressure cuff with a digital
display may be recommended for home use.
Pulse Oximetry - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Used to monitor the effectiveness of home oxygen
therapy.
Mercury Thermometers - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Patients should be instructed on the proper
use and safety of mercury-containing thermometers.
Body Temperature Regulation - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The body strives to maintain a
temperature of 98.6°F (37°C), historically considered normal.
Assessment of Environmental Factors - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Assess factors like
secondhand smoke and inadequate ventilation that can affect respiratory rate.
Significant Changes in VS - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Nurses must communicate any
significant changes in vital signs to the healthcare provider.
Organized Approach to Obtaining VS - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Developing a systematic
approach is essential for accurate and consistent vital sign assessment.
Standard Precautions - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Standard precautions should be followed
during the assessment of vital signs to ensure safety.
Factors that can cause variances in body temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Environment,
Time of day, Patient's state of health and activity level, Stage of the patient's monthly menstrual
cycle
Normal oral temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>98.6 F or 37.0 C
Normal rectal temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>99.6 F or 37.5 C
Normal axillary temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>97.6 F or 36.4 C
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ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
apical pulse - CORRECT ANSWER>>>AP-i-cal PÜLS, p. 295
auscultate - CORRECT ANSWER>>>AW-skul-tāt, p. 291
blood pressure - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 297
bradycardia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>brad-1-KAR-de-ǎ, p. 292
bradypnea - CORRECT ANSWER>>>brád-ip-NE-ǎ, p. 296
orthostatic hypotension - CORRECT ANSWER>>>ŏr-thō-STAT-ik hi-po-TEN-shun, p. 299
oxygen saturation - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 303
Cheyne-Stokes respirations - CORRECT ANSWER>>>CHÂN STOKS, p. 297
diastolic - CORRECT ANSWER>>>di-ǎ-STŎL-ik, p. 297
dyspnea - CORRECT ANSWER>>>DISP-nē-ǎ, p. 297
dysrhythmia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>dis-RITH-me-ǎ, p. 292
febrile - CORRECT ANSWER>>>FEB-ril, p. 284
hypertension - CORRECT ANSWER>>>hi-půr-TEN-shun, p. 298
hyperthermia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>hi-pur-THÜR-me-ǎ, p. 284
hypotension - CORRECT ANSWER>>>hi-po-TEN-shun, p. 299
hypothermia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>hi-po-THUR-mê-ǎ, p. 285
Korotkoff sounds - CORRECT ANSWER>>>kŏ-RŎT-kof, p. 300
pulse - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 292
pulse deficit - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 295
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,pulse oximeter - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 303
pulse pressure - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 298
respiration - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 295
sphygmomanometer - CORRECT ANSWER>>>sfig-mo-mă-NŎM-ě-tur, p. 300
stethoscope - CORRECT ANSWER>>>STETH-ō-sköp, p. 290
systolic - CORRECT ANSWER>>>sis-TOL-ik, p. 297
tachycardia - CORRECT ANSWER>>>tǎk-i-KÅR-de-ǎ, p. 292
tachypnea - CORRECT ANSWER>>>tǎk-ip-NE-ǎ, p. 296
temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 283
tympanic - CORRECT ANSWER>>>tim-PAN-ik, p. 286
vital signs - CORRECT ANSWER>>>p. 280
Vital Signs (VS) - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Measurements that reflect the body's basic
functions, including heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and temperature.
Normal Adult Heart Rate - CORRECT ANSWER>>>60-100 beats per minute.
Normal Adult Respiratory Rate - CORRECT ANSWER>>>12-20 breaths per minute.
Normal Adult Blood Pressure - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Systolic 100-120 mm Hg / Diastolic
70-80 mm Hg.
Pain as a Vital Sign - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Pain is considered the 5th vital sign and must be
evaluated each time other vital signs are taken.
Frequency of Assessing VS - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Determined by the healthcare policy at
the institution, which may dictate intervals such as every 4, 6, or 8 hours.
When to Assess Vital Signs - CORRECT ANSWER>>>When a patient is admitted, discharged,
when a condition change is observed, at the nurse's discretion, before and after surgery, or when
symptoms are reported.
Equipment for VS Measurement - CORRECT ANSWER>>>All equipment must be in proper
working condition to ensure accuracy.
2
, Patient's Normal Ranges - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Nurses should know the patient's normal
ranges, as some patients may have atypical values.
Medical History and Medications - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Knowledge of the patient's
medical history and medications is crucial as they may affect vital signs.
Communication of Abnormal Findings - CORRECT ANSWER>>>All abnormal findings must
be reported immediately to the nurse manager, charge nurse, or healthcare provider.
Home Care Considerations for VS - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Assess environmental factors,
such as temperature and noise level, that can influence vital signs.
Electronic Cuff - CORRECT ANSWER>>>An electronic blood pressure cuff with a digital
display may be recommended for home use.
Pulse Oximetry - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Used to monitor the effectiveness of home oxygen
therapy.
Mercury Thermometers - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Patients should be instructed on the proper
use and safety of mercury-containing thermometers.
Body Temperature Regulation - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The body strives to maintain a
temperature of 98.6°F (37°C), historically considered normal.
Assessment of Environmental Factors - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Assess factors like
secondhand smoke and inadequate ventilation that can affect respiratory rate.
Significant Changes in VS - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Nurses must communicate any
significant changes in vital signs to the healthcare provider.
Organized Approach to Obtaining VS - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Developing a systematic
approach is essential for accurate and consistent vital sign assessment.
Standard Precautions - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Standard precautions should be followed
during the assessment of vital signs to ensure safety.
Factors that can cause variances in body temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Environment,
Time of day, Patient's state of health and activity level, Stage of the patient's monthly menstrual
cycle
Normal oral temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>98.6 F or 37.0 C
Normal rectal temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>99.6 F or 37.5 C
Normal axillary temperature - CORRECT ANSWER>>>97.6 F or 36.4 C
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