Chapter 29: Vital Signs // Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
A patient has a head injury and damages the hypothalamus. Which
vital sign will the nurse monitor most closely?
a. Pulse
b. Respirations
c. Temperature
d. Blood pressure -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
Disease or trauma to the hypothalamus or the spinal cord, which
carries hypothalamic messages, causes serious alterations in
temperature control. The hypothalamus does not control pulse,
respirations, or blood pressure.
A patient presents with heatstroke. The nurse uses cool packs,
cooling blanket, and a fan. Which technique is the nurse using
when the fan produces heat loss?
a. Radiation
b. Conduction
c. Convection
d. Evaporation -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
,Chapter 29: Vital Signs // Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Convection is the transfer of heat away from the body by air
movement. Conduction is the transfer of heat from one object to
another with direct contact. Radiation is the transfer of heat from
the surface of one object to the surface of another without direct
contact between the two. Evaporation is the transfer of heat energy
when a liquid is changed to a gas.
The patient has a temperature of 105.2ºF. The nurse is attempting
to lower temperature by providing tepid sponge baths and placing
cool compresses in strategic body locations. Which technique is the
nurse using to lower the patient's temperature?
a. Radiation
b. Conduction
c. Convection
d. Evaporation -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
Applying an ice pack or bathing a patient with a cool cloth increases
conductive heat loss because of the direct contact. Radiation is the
transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of
another without direct contact between the two. Evaporation is the
transfer of heat energy when a liquid is changed to a gas.
,Chapter 29: Vital Signs // Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Convection is the transfer of heat away from the body by air
movement.
A nurse is focusing on temperature regulation of newborns and
infants. Which action will the nurse take?
a. Apply just a diaper.
b. Double the clothing.
c. Place a cap on their heads.
d. Increase room temperature to 90 degrees. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
A newborn loses up to 30% of body heat through the head and
therefore needs to wear a cap to prevent heat loss. Temperature
control mechanisms in newborns are immature and respond
drastically to changes in the environment; do not increase the room
temperature to 90 degrees. Take extra care to protect newborns
from environmental temperatures. Provide adequate clothing; do
not double the clothing or apply just a diaper.
The nurse is working the night shift on a surgical unit and is making
4:00 AM rounds. The nurse notices that the patient's temperature
, Chapter 29: Vital Signs // Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
is 96.8ºF (36ºC), whereas at 4:00 PM the preceding day, it was
98.6ºF (37ºC). What should the nurse do?
a. Call the health care provider immediately to report a possible
infection.
b. Administer medication to lower the temperature further.
c. Provide another blanket to conserve body temperature.
d. Realize that this is a normal temperature variation. -
correct answer ✅ANS: D
Body temperature normally changes 0.5º to 1ºC (0.9º to 1.8ºF)
during a 24-hour period and is usually lowest between 1:00 and
4:00 AM, with a maximum temperature at 4:00 PM, making this
variation normal for the time of day. Unless the patient reports
being cold, there is no physiological need for providing an extra
blanket or medication to lower the body temperature further. There
is also no need to call a health care provider to report a normal
temperature variation.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a temperature reading of
100.4ºF (38ºC). The patient's last two temperature readings were
98.6ºF (37ºC) and 96.8ºF (36ºC). Which action will the nurse take?
a. Wait 30 minutes and recheck the patient's temperature.
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
A patient has a head injury and damages the hypothalamus. Which
vital sign will the nurse monitor most closely?
a. Pulse
b. Respirations
c. Temperature
d. Blood pressure -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
Disease or trauma to the hypothalamus or the spinal cord, which
carries hypothalamic messages, causes serious alterations in
temperature control. The hypothalamus does not control pulse,
respirations, or blood pressure.
A patient presents with heatstroke. The nurse uses cool packs,
cooling blanket, and a fan. Which technique is the nurse using
when the fan produces heat loss?
a. Radiation
b. Conduction
c. Convection
d. Evaporation -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
,Chapter 29: Vital Signs // Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Convection is the transfer of heat away from the body by air
movement. Conduction is the transfer of heat from one object to
another with direct contact. Radiation is the transfer of heat from
the surface of one object to the surface of another without direct
contact between the two. Evaporation is the transfer of heat energy
when a liquid is changed to a gas.
The patient has a temperature of 105.2ºF. The nurse is attempting
to lower temperature by providing tepid sponge baths and placing
cool compresses in strategic body locations. Which technique is the
nurse using to lower the patient's temperature?
a. Radiation
b. Conduction
c. Convection
d. Evaporation -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
Applying an ice pack or bathing a patient with a cool cloth increases
conductive heat loss because of the direct contact. Radiation is the
transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of
another without direct contact between the two. Evaporation is the
transfer of heat energy when a liquid is changed to a gas.
,Chapter 29: Vital Signs // Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Convection is the transfer of heat away from the body by air
movement.
A nurse is focusing on temperature regulation of newborns and
infants. Which action will the nurse take?
a. Apply just a diaper.
b. Double the clothing.
c. Place a cap on their heads.
d. Increase room temperature to 90 degrees. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
A newborn loses up to 30% of body heat through the head and
therefore needs to wear a cap to prevent heat loss. Temperature
control mechanisms in newborns are immature and respond
drastically to changes in the environment; do not increase the room
temperature to 90 degrees. Take extra care to protect newborns
from environmental temperatures. Provide adequate clothing; do
not double the clothing or apply just a diaper.
The nurse is working the night shift on a surgical unit and is making
4:00 AM rounds. The nurse notices that the patient's temperature
, Chapter 29: Vital Signs // Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
is 96.8ºF (36ºC), whereas at 4:00 PM the preceding day, it was
98.6ºF (37ºC). What should the nurse do?
a. Call the health care provider immediately to report a possible
infection.
b. Administer medication to lower the temperature further.
c. Provide another blanket to conserve body temperature.
d. Realize that this is a normal temperature variation. -
correct answer ✅ANS: D
Body temperature normally changes 0.5º to 1ºC (0.9º to 1.8ºF)
during a 24-hour period and is usually lowest between 1:00 and
4:00 AM, with a maximum temperature at 4:00 PM, making this
variation normal for the time of day. Unless the patient reports
being cold, there is no physiological need for providing an extra
blanket or medication to lower the body temperature further. There
is also no need to call a health care provider to report a normal
temperature variation.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a temperature reading of
100.4ºF (38ºC). The patient's last two temperature readings were
98.6ºF (37ºC) and 96.8ºF (36ºC). Which action will the nurse take?
a. Wait 30 minutes and recheck the patient's temperature.
