OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 15: General Survey, Anthropometric Measurement, and Vital Signs
OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills
Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 15: General Survey, Anthropometric Measurement, and Vital Signs
Review Questions
Multiple Choice
1. A 75-year-old patient with no history of mental health disorders is being evaluated at an
urgent care center for shortness of breath. The nurse notices that the patient has a worried
expression and cannot sit still. The nurse notices pale skin and the use of accessory
breathing muscles. Based on the presenting complaint, what is a possible explanation for
these behaviors?
A. heartburn
B. hypoxia*
C. leg pain
D. panic attack
LO: 15.1.1
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Apply
AACN: 1.3a
2. Which nursing therapeutic communication technique is not crucial for nurses to understand
specific details about a patient’s concerns or health status?
A. active listening
B. adaptive questioning
C. direct questioning*
D. nonverbal communication
LO: 15.1.2
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Remember
AACN: 1.2a, 2.2d
3. A nurse is caring for a patient living in a long-term care facility. The patient’s BMI is 25. Per
the healthcare provider's orders, the patient must be weighed daily, but the patient stands
only to be transferred from the bed to the wheelchair and toilet. What type of scale is
appropriate for weighing this patient?
A. a bariatric scale
B. a sling scale*
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1 1/29/2026
, OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 15: General Survey, Anthropometric Measurement, and Vital Signs
C. a standing scale
D. a wheelchair scale
LO: 15.2.1
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Apply
AACN: 1.3a
4. An adolescent presents for a sports physical. What method will the nurse use to obtain an
accurate height?
A. BMI calculation
B. demi-span measurement
C. knee height
D. stadiometer*
LO: 15.2.2.
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Remember
AACN: 1.3a
5. A nurse is caring for a patient who is being treated for wounds after a bear mauling. Vital
signs are ordered every four hours. The patient’s vital signs are stable at the beginning of
the shift. However, one hour into the shift, the nurse notices that the patient is restless and
sweaty and reports nausea. What immediate action should the nurse take?
A. alert the charge nurse about the change in patient status
B. call the doctor to report the change in patient status
C. check a set of vital signs based on nursing judgment*
D. treat the patient with acetaminophen for a fever
LO: 15.3.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Analyze
AACN: 1.3a, 2.3e
6. A nurse takes the vital signs of a 50-year-old patient who needs an inhaler refill. The patient
is talkative and does not have dyspnea or wheezing. The nurse obtains a pulse oximetry
reading of 85 percent. What is the most important next step?
A. alert the healthcare provider
B. ask the patient if they have their inhaler on hand
C. begin administration of oxygen by nasal cannula
D. validate the reading using a different measurement location*
LO: 15.3.3
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
2 1/29/2026
Chapter 15: General Survey, Anthropometric Measurement, and Vital Signs
OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills
Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 15: General Survey, Anthropometric Measurement, and Vital Signs
Review Questions
Multiple Choice
1. A 75-year-old patient with no history of mental health disorders is being evaluated at an
urgent care center for shortness of breath. The nurse notices that the patient has a worried
expression and cannot sit still. The nurse notices pale skin and the use of accessory
breathing muscles. Based on the presenting complaint, what is a possible explanation for
these behaviors?
A. heartburn
B. hypoxia*
C. leg pain
D. panic attack
LO: 15.1.1
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Apply
AACN: 1.3a
2. Which nursing therapeutic communication technique is not crucial for nurses to understand
specific details about a patient’s concerns or health status?
A. active listening
B. adaptive questioning
C. direct questioning*
D. nonverbal communication
LO: 15.1.2
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Remember
AACN: 1.2a, 2.2d
3. A nurse is caring for a patient living in a long-term care facility. The patient’s BMI is 25. Per
the healthcare provider's orders, the patient must be weighed daily, but the patient stands
only to be transferred from the bed to the wheelchair and toilet. What type of scale is
appropriate for weighing this patient?
A. a bariatric scale
B. a sling scale*
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
1 1/29/2026
, OpenStax Clinical Nursing Skills Nursing Test Bank
Chapter 15: General Survey, Anthropometric Measurement, and Vital Signs
C. a standing scale
D. a wheelchair scale
LO: 15.2.1
Difficulty: Moderate
Blooms: Apply
AACN: 1.3a
4. An adolescent presents for a sports physical. What method will the nurse use to obtain an
accurate height?
A. BMI calculation
B. demi-span measurement
C. knee height
D. stadiometer*
LO: 15.2.2.
Difficulty: Easy
Blooms: Remember
AACN: 1.3a
5. A nurse is caring for a patient who is being treated for wounds after a bear mauling. Vital
signs are ordered every four hours. The patient’s vital signs are stable at the beginning of
the shift. However, one hour into the shift, the nurse notices that the patient is restless and
sweaty and reports nausea. What immediate action should the nurse take?
A. alert the charge nurse about the change in patient status
B. call the doctor to report the change in patient status
C. check a set of vital signs based on nursing judgment*
D. treat the patient with acetaminophen for a fever
LO: 15.3.3
Difficulty: Difficult
Blooms: Analyze
AACN: 1.3a, 2.3e
6. A nurse takes the vital signs of a 50-year-old patient who needs an inhaler refill. The patient
is talkative and does not have dyspnea or wheezing. The nurse obtains a pulse oximetry
reading of 85 percent. What is the most important next step?
A. alert the healthcare provider
B. ask the patient if they have their inhaler on hand
C. begin administration of oxygen by nasal cannula
D. validate the reading using a different measurement location*
LO: 15.3.3
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
2 1/29/2026
