Vital Signs Exam 1 Review (Respiration, Blood Pressure,
and Oxygen Saturation) UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Where are respiratory centers located in the body, and 1.) The medulla and pons (back of the brain at the bottom)
what are they stimulated by? 2.) Chemoreceptors
What are factors that can affect a patient's respiration Age, exercise, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, alterations in fluid and
electrolyte balance, acid-base disturbances, medications,
pain, and emotions
HINT: (To remember all the effects that can affect vital signs, all the main factors
for vitals will focus on age, exercise, disease, and medication. Each category will
also have its own factors, such as for respiration (electrolyte balance, acid-base
disturbances, etc.)
What can a nurse assess for while taking a patient's 1.) Observe the chest and abdominal movements
respiratory status? for effort and symmetry.
2.) Assess the rate by counting the number of
breaths per minute
What are the three respiration rates that a patient can 1.) Eupnea (Normal resting respiration, sometimes referred to as quiet breathing.)
undergo while the nurse is assessing their respiration 2.) Tachypnea (Fast)
rate? 3.) Bradypnea (Slow)
While assessing a patient's respiration rate, what four 1.) Rate ( 12-20 BPM, tachy, brady, or normal?)
categories can a nurse assess for? 2.) Rhythm (Regular or irregular)
3.) Depth (Normal, deep, shallow)
4.) Quality ( Effort, Sounds)
Acronym: Ready to Ride to Dairy Queen RRDQ
When a patient is inhaling air, what do the lungs/chest Chest rises and the diaphragm contracts (goes down) (think like the diaphragm is a
and diaphragm do? button, your body is pressing it like a button to cause the pressure of air into your
lungs.
When a patient is exhaling air, what do the lungs/chest Chest falls, and the diaphragm relaxes (goes up; your diaphragm muscle is
and diaphragm do? unpressed like when you are letting off of a button)
What are some signs and symptoms of impaired 1.) Increased intracranial
breathing? (Also know as supporting data) pressure from a traumatic head injury (Damage could be from the medulla or the
pons area of the brain)
2.) hypoventilation ( too much CO2, breathing is shallow)
What are some signs and symptoms of impaired gas 1.) Alveolar changes (HINT: Alveoli kinda rhymes with ravioli and ravioli gives me
exchange (Also known as supporting data)? gas (gas exchange lol). Alveoli are where gas exchange happens)
2.) Oxygen saturation at 89% in room air.
and Oxygen Saturation) UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Where are respiratory centers located in the body, and 1.) The medulla and pons (back of the brain at the bottom)
what are they stimulated by? 2.) Chemoreceptors
What are factors that can affect a patient's respiration Age, exercise, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, alterations in fluid and
electrolyte balance, acid-base disturbances, medications,
pain, and emotions
HINT: (To remember all the effects that can affect vital signs, all the main factors
for vitals will focus on age, exercise, disease, and medication. Each category will
also have its own factors, such as for respiration (electrolyte balance, acid-base
disturbances, etc.)
What can a nurse assess for while taking a patient's 1.) Observe the chest and abdominal movements
respiratory status? for effort and symmetry.
2.) Assess the rate by counting the number of
breaths per minute
What are the three respiration rates that a patient can 1.) Eupnea (Normal resting respiration, sometimes referred to as quiet breathing.)
undergo while the nurse is assessing their respiration 2.) Tachypnea (Fast)
rate? 3.) Bradypnea (Slow)
While assessing a patient's respiration rate, what four 1.) Rate ( 12-20 BPM, tachy, brady, or normal?)
categories can a nurse assess for? 2.) Rhythm (Regular or irregular)
3.) Depth (Normal, deep, shallow)
4.) Quality ( Effort, Sounds)
Acronym: Ready to Ride to Dairy Queen RRDQ
When a patient is inhaling air, what do the lungs/chest Chest rises and the diaphragm contracts (goes down) (think like the diaphragm is a
and diaphragm do? button, your body is pressing it like a button to cause the pressure of air into your
lungs.
When a patient is exhaling air, what do the lungs/chest Chest falls, and the diaphragm relaxes (goes up; your diaphragm muscle is
and diaphragm do? unpressed like when you are letting off of a button)
What are some signs and symptoms of impaired 1.) Increased intracranial
breathing? (Also know as supporting data) pressure from a traumatic head injury (Damage could be from the medulla or the
pons area of the brain)
2.) hypoventilation ( too much CO2, breathing is shallow)
What are some signs and symptoms of impaired gas 1.) Alveolar changes (HINT: Alveoli kinda rhymes with ravioli and ravioli gives me
exchange (Also known as supporting data)? gas (gas exchange lol). Alveoli are where gas exchange happens)
2.) Oxygen saturation at 89% in room air.
