Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________

ID: A

Vital Signs
Multiple Choice Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. ____ 1. The health care worker who is responsible for taking vital signs is the a. nursing assistant. c. charge nurse. b. physician. d. team leader. 2. A small after the temperature value indicates a. that the temperature was taken orally. c. that the Fahrenheit scale was used. b. that the Celsius scale was used. d. the degrees of temperature. 3. Body temperature is highest a. in the morning. c. in the evening. b. from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. d. during the night. 4. Body temperature is closest to the core temperature at the a. mouth. c. skin. b. rectum. d. tympanic membrane. 5. Body temperature may be affected by a. mental status. c. hydration. b. mood. d. behavior. 6. The average oral Fahrenheit temperature is a. 95.8 degrees. c. 98.6 degrees. b. 101.4 degrees. d. 103.6 degrees. 7. Body temperature is most accurate when measured in the a. mouth. c. rectum. b. ear. d. armpit. 8. Which method would you select for taking the temperature of an unconscious patient? a. Oral c. Rectal b. Axillary d. Groin 9. You are assigned to take Mr. Lippincott's temperature orally every four hours. At 8:00 AM it is 99.2F. At 12:00 PM it is 102.6F. You should a. document it on the clipboard or flow sheet at the end of your shift. b. continue taking temperatures on the other patients you are assigned to. c. report Mr. Lippincott's temperature to the nurse at once. d. refill the water pitcher and instruct the patient to drink plenty of ice water. 10. What color is the dot at the end of the stem on a rectal thermometer? a. Red c. Green b. Yellow d. Blue 11. The tympanic thermometer measures body temperature in the a. mouth. c. rectum. b. nostril. d. ear. 12. The tympanic thermometer measures the temperature in a. Fahrenheit. c. neither of the above. b. Celsius. d. both of the above. 13. If a patient has been drinking hot coffee, how long should you wait before taking the temperature orally? a. 5 minutes c. 20 minutes b. 15 minutes d. 30 minutes 1

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Name: ________________________ ____ 14. When measuring temperatures, use a. sterile technique. c. standard precautions. b. aseptic technique. d. contact precautions. ____ 15. When taking a rectal temperature with a glass thermometer, a. lubricate and insert the bulb 2 inches into the rectum. b. hold the thermometer in place with your hand. c. leave the thermometer in place for 1 to 2 minutes. d. apply the principles of transmission-based precautions. ____ 16. The normal rectal Fahrenheit temperature is a. 97.6 c. 99.6 b. 98.6 d. 100.6 ____ 17. The normal axillary Fahrenheit temperature is: a. 96.7. c. 98.6. b. 97.6. d. 99.6. ____ 18. The pulse is counted by a. palpating a vein. b. placing a stethoscope over the antecubital space. c. palpating an artery. d. auscultating a capillary. ____ 19. The pulse a. varies in different parts of the body. b. indicates how well the cardiovascular system is working. c. is a measurement of the velocity of the blood. d. indicates how well the tissue absorbs oxygen. ____ 20. Bradycardia is a. a slow pulse. c. a fast pulse. b. a normal pulse rate. d. an irregular heart rate. ____ 21. The character of the pulse is the a. rate. c. speed. b. volume. d. main indicator of illness. ____ 22. The apical pulse is measured a. at the wrist. c. over the heart. b. in the groin area. d. behind the knee. ____ 23. An apical pulse is checked a. for one full minute. b. after the nurse gives a heart medication. c. on children 12 or younger. d. on patients over age 65. ____ 24. The average pulse rate in an infant is a. 80 to 100 beats per minute. c. 140 to 180 beats per minute. b. 100 to 120 beats per minute. d. 120 to 160 beats per minute. ____ 25. The average pulse rate in an adult female is a. 40 to 80 beats per minute. c. 65 to 80 beats per minute. b. 66 to 96 beats per minute. d. 80 to 120 beats per minute. ____ 26. Stertorous respirations are a. difficult and labored. c. moist. b. snoring. d. rapid and shallow.

ID: A

Name: ________________________ ____ 27. Apnea is a. noisy. c. rapid and shallow. b. difficult or labored respiration. d. no respiration. ____ 28. The average respiratory rate for adults is a. 12 to 24 per minute. c. 16 to 20 per minute. b. 14 to 22 per minute. d. 16 to 24 per minute. ____ 29. The site at which the pulse is most commonly taken is the a. radial artery. c. carotid capillary. b. pedal vein. d. apical venule. ____ 30. When counting the apical pulse, a. place the stethoscope over the brachial area. b. listen for a pulse deficit. c. count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2. d. count each lub-dub sound as one beat. ____ 31. When counting respirations, a. count each inhalation and each expiration and add them together. b. wear gloves. c. count one inhalation and one expiration as one respiration. d. tell the patient what you are doing. ____ 32. Blood pressure depends on the a. rate of the heartbeat. c. respiratory rate. b. force of the heartbeat. d. amount of oxygen in the blood. ____ 33. The apparatus for measuring blood pressure is called a a. sphygmomanometer. c. stethoscope. b. aneroid device. d. thermometer. ____ 34. Blood pressure is usually measured over the a. radial artery. c. brachial artery. b. carotid artery. d. temporal artery. ____ 35. When taking the blood pressure, the highest point at which sound is heard is called a. diastolic pressure. c. tachypneic pressure. b. systolic pressure. d. pulse deficit. ____ 36. Hypertension is a. high blood pressure. c. normal blood pressure. b. low blood pressure. d. absence of blood pressure. ____ 37. Hypotension is when the blood pressure is a. 120/80 or above. c. 110/60 or above. b. 130/70 or below. d. 100/70 or below. ____ 38. When reading a mercury blood pressure gauge, a. view the gauge at eye level. c. read the gauge in the center. b. slightly tilt the gauge. d. deflate the cuff rapidly. ____ 39. The blood pressure cuff should be applied a. one inch above the elbow. c. three inches above the elbow. b. two inches above the elbow. d. four centimeters above the elbow. ____ 40. When inflating the blood pressure cuff a. quickly inflate the cuff until it reaches 150mm Hg. b. inflate the cuff until you can no longer feel the pulse, then add 30mm to that reading. c. always inflate the cuff to 200mm Hg. d. inflate the cuff to at least 150, add 40, then release. 3

ID: A

Name: ________________________

ID: A

____ 41. The lower bar of the upright scale is calibrated in increments of a. 1 pound. c. 25 pounds. b. 5 pounds. d. 50 pounds. ____ 42. When measuring the patient's height in bed, a. use a yardstick for greatest accuracy. b. make a small mark on the sheet at the top of the patient's head and another mark even with the heels. c. place the tape measure on the top of the patient's forehead and extend it down the body to the feet. d. use a ruler to mark off inches on the sheet. ____ 43. When weighing a patient on a wheelchair scale, a. transport the patient up the ramp backward. b. lock the wheels when the patient is on the ramp. c. lock the ramp in the closed position when weighing the patient. d. transfer the patient to the sling on the scale. ____ 44. When weighing a patient on a bed scale, a. keep the patient's body in contact with the bed for safety. b. reassure the patient that he will not fall. c. maintain the lift in the closed-leg position. d. have the patient sit in the sling with feet on the bed. ____ 45. The small lines on the upper bar of the balance scale indicate a. 1/4 pound. c. 3/4 pound. b. 1/2 pound. d. 1 pound. ____ 46. The long line between the even-numbered pounds on the upper bar of the balance scale indicates a. 1/2 pound. c. odd-numbered pounds. b. 3/4 pound. d. even-numbered pounds. ____ 47. You are assigned to obtain the admission height and weight for Mrs. Lopez. This patient is ambulatory and her balance is good. Which scale will you use to weigh the patient? a. Upright scale c. Wheelchair scale b. Chair scale d. Electronic bed scale ____ 48. Mrs. Tang weighs 110 pounds. You will record this on the flow sheet as a. 110" c. 110 lb. b. 110' d. 110 kg ____ 49. Mrs. Seriya is 5 feet, 2 inches tall. You will record this on the flow sheet as a. 52". c. 5"2'. b. 5'2". d. 52'. ____ 50. Your facility requires you to chart the patient's height in inches. You will record Mrs. Seriya's height as: a. 52 inches. c. 60 inches. b. 55 inches. d. 62 inches. True/False Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false. ____ 51. Body temperature normally varies 1 to 4 degrees during the course of the day. ____ 52. Body temperature is less stable in children than it is in adults. ____ 53. An axillary temperature is the least accurate method of taking a temperature.

Name: ________________________ ____ 54. It is not necessary to wear gloves when taking the temperature in the groin area. ____ 55. When you are disinfecting thermometers, you should wear gloves. ____ 56. Prior to disinfecting glass thermometers, rinse them with hot, soapy water to remove germs. ____ 57. A patient should not be left alone with a thermometer in place. ____ 58. Breathing is partially under voluntary control. ____ 59. Slight irregularities in the character of the pulse need not be reported.

ID: A

____ 60. The nursing assistant should write down the patient's TPR on a notepad and then transfer it to the patient's chart. ____ 61. Pulses can be felt in locations where large veins come close to the skin. ____ 62. Pulse is usually taken by compressing an artery over a bone. ____ 63. If you are unable to feel the pulse at the wrist, assume that the patient is dead. ____ 64. The stethoscope diminishes sounds and external noises. ____ 65. Age, weight, and sleep can influence blood pressure readings. ____ 66. Electronic blood pressure devices require the use of a stethoscope. ____ 67. Diuretics are given to increase the patient's urine output. ____ 68. On the upright scale, the patient's height is read at the fixed height of the ruler. ____ 69. The even-numbered pounds on the upright scale are marked with long lines. ____ 70. Each small line on the upper bar of the upright scale indicates 4 ounces of weight. Matching Match each term to the statement below. a. 98.6 b. 97.6 c. rectal thermometer ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. Normal Celsius oral temperature Normal Fahrenheit axillary temperature Normal Fahrenheit rectal temperature Normal Fahrenheit oral temperature Blue tip

d. e. f.

99.6 oral thermometer 37

Name: ________________________ Match each term to the definition below. a. aneroid gauge b. antecubital space c. auscultatory gap d. blood pressure e. brachial artery f. depressant g. diastole h. diastolic pressure i. elasticity ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91.

ID: A

j. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r.

fasting hypertension hypotension pulse pressure sphygmomanometer stethoscope stimulant systole systolic pressure

ability to stretch contraction drug that speeds up body function difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure blood pressure measuring device fourth vital sign low blood pressure instrument that magnifies sound location for measuring blood pressure round dial relaxation sound fadeout when taking blood pressure; sound begins again after 10 to 15mm Hg high blood pressure last sound you hear when measuring blood pressure not eating inner elbow Match each term to the statement below. a. balance bar b. baseline c. centimeter d. increment e. kilogram

f. g. h. i. j.

pound upright scale wheelchair scale chair scale bed scale

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92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100.

metric measurement of weight used to weigh ambulatory patients used to weigh patients who are unsteady and cannot stand area on the scale that measures the weight amount original measurement of height and weight used to weigh patients who cannot easily stand or transfer from the wheelchair to a chair common weight unit metric measurement of height

ID: A

Vital Signs Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: A D C D C C B C C A D D B C B C B C B A B C A D C B D C A D C B A C B A D A A B PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: PTS: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1