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NURS 3209 VITAL SIGNS EXAM PRACTICE 2026/2027
COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 3209 Vital Signs Exam Practice with a focused study resource
designed to reinforce essential nursing assessment skills. It supports review of
temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pain assessment,
measurement techniques, documentation, and recognition of abnormal findings. Use
the practice material to strengthen clinical judgment, improve accuracy with vital-sign
assessment, and identify areas that may require additional review before the exam.
This resource is best suited for NURS 3209 nursing students and healthcare learners
preparing for vital signs assessments and exams.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: GENERAL CONCEPTS & NORMAL RANGES
1. The nurse is preparing to measure a patient's vital signs. Which of the
following is the correct order of assessment?
• A) Temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, pain
• B) Pain, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure
• C) Pulse, respiration, blood pressure, temperature, pain
• D) Blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, pain
Answer: A
Rationale: The correct order for vital sign assessment is temperature,
pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and pain. This order is recommended
because it minimizes the effect of anxiety on vital signs. Pain should
always be assessed as the "sixth vital sign."
2. Which of the following is considered a normal adult respiratory rate?
• A) 8–12 breaths per minute
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• B) 12–20 breaths per minute
• C) 20–28 breaths per minute
• D) 28–32 breaths per minute
Answer: B
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult is 12–20 breaths
per minute. Rates below 12 indicate bradypnea; rates above 20 indicate
tachypnea. The rate should be counted for a full 60 seconds or for 30
seconds and multiplied by 2.
3. A patient's blood pressure is 148/92 mmHg. This reading would be
classified as:
• A) Normal
• B) Elevated
• C) Stage 1 hypertension
• D) Stage 2 hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: According to ACC/AHA guidelines, Stage 1 hypertension is
defined as systolic BP 130–139 mmHg OR diastolic 80–89 mmHg. This
patient's BP of 148/92 mmHg falls into Stage 1 hypertension (actually,
148/92 would be Stage 2 hypertension since systolic ≥ 140 OR diastolic ≥
90). Wait—let me correct: According to ACC/AHA guidelines, Stage 2
hypertension is systolic ≥ 140 OR diastolic ≥ 90. So 148/92 mmHg is Stage
2 hypertension. The correct answer should be Stage 2 hypertension. Let me
adjust: This reading is Stage 2 hypertension.
4. A patient's temperature is 38.5°C (101.3°F). This is classified as:
• A) Normal
• B) Low-grade fever
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• C) Moderate fever
• D) Hyperpyrexia
Answer: C
Rationale: A temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) is considered a moderate
fever. Normal temperature ranges from 36°C to 37.5°C (96.8°F to 99.5°F).
Low-grade fever is 37.5°C–38.0°C; moderate fever is 38.1°C–39.0°C; high
fever is 39.1°C–40.0°C; hyperpyrexia is > 40°C.
5. A patient has an oxygen saturation of 91% on room air. The nurse
should:
• A) Document this as a normal finding
• B) Apply supplemental oxygen and notify the provider
• C) Encourage the patient to take deep breaths
• D) Recheck the reading in 1 hour
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal SpO₂ is 95–100%. An SpO₂ of 91% indicates hypoxemia
requiring intervention. The nurse should apply supplemental oxygen and
notify the provider. Encouraging deep breathing alone is insufficient, and
rechecking without intervention delays care.
6. The nurse is assessing a patient's pain. Which of the following is the
most reliable indicator of pain?
• A) The patient's vital signs
• B) The patient's self-report of pain
• C) The nurse's observation of the patient
• D) The patient's family report
Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's self-report of pain is the most reliable indicator of
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pain. Pain is subjective, and the patient is the expert on their own pain
experience. Vital signs may not always correlate with pain severity,
especially in chronic pain or in patients on certain medications.
7. The nurse is preparing to measure a patient's temperature using a
tympanic thermometer. Which of the following is a correct step?
• A) Pull the pinna down and back for an adult
• B) Pull the pinna up and back for an adult
• C) Pull the pinna down and back for a child under 3 years
• D) Both B and C
Answer: D
Rationale: For tympanic temperature measurement, the pinna is pulled
up and back for adults and children over 3 years of age. For children under
3 years, the pinna is pulled down and back to straighten the ear canal.
Both B and C are correct statements.
8. The normal range for pulse oximetry (SpO₂) in a healthy adult is:
• A) 85–90%
• B) 90–94%
• C) 95–100%
• D) 100–102%
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal SpO₂ is 95–100%. Values below 95% indicate
hypoxemia, and values below 90% are generally considered a medical
emergency requiring immediate intervention, especially in patients with
respiratory conditions.
NURS 3209 VITAL SIGNS EXAM PRACTICE 2026/2027
COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 3209 Vital Signs Exam Practice with a focused study resource
designed to reinforce essential nursing assessment skills. It supports review of
temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pain assessment,
measurement techniques, documentation, and recognition of abnormal findings. Use
the practice material to strengthen clinical judgment, improve accuracy with vital-sign
assessment, and identify areas that may require additional review before the exam.
This resource is best suited for NURS 3209 nursing students and healthcare learners
preparing for vital signs assessments and exams.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: GENERAL CONCEPTS & NORMAL RANGES
1. The nurse is preparing to measure a patient's vital signs. Which of the
following is the correct order of assessment?
• A) Temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, pain
• B) Pain, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure
• C) Pulse, respiration, blood pressure, temperature, pain
• D) Blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, pain
Answer: A
Rationale: The correct order for vital sign assessment is temperature,
pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and pain. This order is recommended
because it minimizes the effect of anxiety on vital signs. Pain should
always be assessed as the "sixth vital sign."
2. Which of the following is considered a normal adult respiratory rate?
• A) 8–12 breaths per minute
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• B) 12–20 breaths per minute
• C) 20–28 breaths per minute
• D) 28–32 breaths per minute
Answer: B
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult is 12–20 breaths
per minute. Rates below 12 indicate bradypnea; rates above 20 indicate
tachypnea. The rate should be counted for a full 60 seconds or for 30
seconds and multiplied by 2.
3. A patient's blood pressure is 148/92 mmHg. This reading would be
classified as:
• A) Normal
• B) Elevated
• C) Stage 1 hypertension
• D) Stage 2 hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: According to ACC/AHA guidelines, Stage 1 hypertension is
defined as systolic BP 130–139 mmHg OR diastolic 80–89 mmHg. This
patient's BP of 148/92 mmHg falls into Stage 1 hypertension (actually,
148/92 would be Stage 2 hypertension since systolic ≥ 140 OR diastolic ≥
90). Wait—let me correct: According to ACC/AHA guidelines, Stage 2
hypertension is systolic ≥ 140 OR diastolic ≥ 90. So 148/92 mmHg is Stage
2 hypertension. The correct answer should be Stage 2 hypertension. Let me
adjust: This reading is Stage 2 hypertension.
4. A patient's temperature is 38.5°C (101.3°F). This is classified as:
• A) Normal
• B) Low-grade fever
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• C) Moderate fever
• D) Hyperpyrexia
Answer: C
Rationale: A temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) is considered a moderate
fever. Normal temperature ranges from 36°C to 37.5°C (96.8°F to 99.5°F).
Low-grade fever is 37.5°C–38.0°C; moderate fever is 38.1°C–39.0°C; high
fever is 39.1°C–40.0°C; hyperpyrexia is > 40°C.
5. A patient has an oxygen saturation of 91% on room air. The nurse
should:
• A) Document this as a normal finding
• B) Apply supplemental oxygen and notify the provider
• C) Encourage the patient to take deep breaths
• D) Recheck the reading in 1 hour
Answer: B
Rationale: Normal SpO₂ is 95–100%. An SpO₂ of 91% indicates hypoxemia
requiring intervention. The nurse should apply supplemental oxygen and
notify the provider. Encouraging deep breathing alone is insufficient, and
rechecking without intervention delays care.
6. The nurse is assessing a patient's pain. Which of the following is the
most reliable indicator of pain?
• A) The patient's vital signs
• B) The patient's self-report of pain
• C) The nurse's observation of the patient
• D) The patient's family report
Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's self-report of pain is the most reliable indicator of
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pain. Pain is subjective, and the patient is the expert on their own pain
experience. Vital signs may not always correlate with pain severity,
especially in chronic pain or in patients on certain medications.
7. The nurse is preparing to measure a patient's temperature using a
tympanic thermometer. Which of the following is a correct step?
• A) Pull the pinna down and back for an adult
• B) Pull the pinna up and back for an adult
• C) Pull the pinna down and back for a child under 3 years
• D) Both B and C
Answer: D
Rationale: For tympanic temperature measurement, the pinna is pulled
up and back for adults and children over 3 years of age. For children under
3 years, the pinna is pulled down and back to straighten the ear canal.
Both B and C are correct statements.
8. The normal range for pulse oximetry (SpO₂) in a healthy adult is:
• A) 85–90%
• B) 90–94%
• C) 95–100%
• D) 100–102%
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal SpO₂ is 95–100%. Values below 95% indicate
hypoxemia, and values below 90% are generally considered a medical
emergency requiring immediate intervention, especially in patients with
respiratory conditions.
