Nursing Fundamentals Exam #2- Vital Signs
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is the 6th subjective vital sign? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pain
When should the nurse take the vitals? - CORRECT ANSWER - after administering IV meds; out
of range of their norm; change of consciousness; uncontrolled bleeding; pale, cold,clammy skin;
suspicion of serious cond; anytime you question the vitals; "your gut"; unstable
Normal adult temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - 97.8-99.1 F (36.5-37.3) - average 98.6 F (37C)
Normal adult blood pressure - CORRECT ANSWER - 90/60 to 120/80
Normal adult pulse - CORRECT ANSWER - 60-100 bpm
Normal adult respiration - CORRECT ANSWER - 12-20 bpm
normal adult pulse ox - CORRECT ANSWER - 95%-100%
What controls body temperature? - CORRECT ANSWER - hypothalamus
oral temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - 98.6; no eating or drinking 15-30mins prior; not for
infants or small children/ confused unconscious patients
axillary temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - 97.6; used when one cannot hold thermometer under
tongue or when oral is unsafe (seizures); can be used on unconscious patients
tympanic thermometer - CORRECT ANSWER - ear temp- 98.6; good for newborns, patients with
difficulty of breathing
, rectal thermometer - CORRECT ANSWER - rectum temp- 99.6; most accurate; risk for rectum
perforation especially in newborns
Temporal thermometer - CORRECT ANSWER - forehead; good with small children- affected by
sweat
febrile - CORRECT ANSWER - fever
afebrile - CORRECT ANSWER - without fever
hyperthermia - CORRECT ANSWER - serious elevations above 105F (40.5C)- can result in
damage to body cells
What is the body's natural defense against infection? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fever; raises body
temp high enough to inhibit microorganism reproduction
hypothermia - CORRECT ANSWER - core temp below 95F (35C)- slows body metabolism,
severe/prolonged periods can result in death
antipyretic - CORRECT ANSWER - Medication used to reduce a fever
S1 - CORRECT ANSWER - first heart sound (Lub); contraction- AV valves shut
S2 - CORRECT ANSWER - second heart sound (dub); relaxation- semilunar valves close
Temporal pulse site - CORRECT ANSWER - Temples- can be used when radial pulse is not
accessible
carotid pulse site - CORRECT ANSWER - Neck- used in cardiac arrest and CPR
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is the 6th subjective vital sign? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pain
When should the nurse take the vitals? - CORRECT ANSWER - after administering IV meds; out
of range of their norm; change of consciousness; uncontrolled bleeding; pale, cold,clammy skin;
suspicion of serious cond; anytime you question the vitals; "your gut"; unstable
Normal adult temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - 97.8-99.1 F (36.5-37.3) - average 98.6 F (37C)
Normal adult blood pressure - CORRECT ANSWER - 90/60 to 120/80
Normal adult pulse - CORRECT ANSWER - 60-100 bpm
Normal adult respiration - CORRECT ANSWER - 12-20 bpm
normal adult pulse ox - CORRECT ANSWER - 95%-100%
What controls body temperature? - CORRECT ANSWER - hypothalamus
oral temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - 98.6; no eating or drinking 15-30mins prior; not for
infants or small children/ confused unconscious patients
axillary temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - 97.6; used when one cannot hold thermometer under
tongue or when oral is unsafe (seizures); can be used on unconscious patients
tympanic thermometer - CORRECT ANSWER - ear temp- 98.6; good for newborns, patients with
difficulty of breathing
, rectal thermometer - CORRECT ANSWER - rectum temp- 99.6; most accurate; risk for rectum
perforation especially in newborns
Temporal thermometer - CORRECT ANSWER - forehead; good with small children- affected by
sweat
febrile - CORRECT ANSWER - fever
afebrile - CORRECT ANSWER - without fever
hyperthermia - CORRECT ANSWER - serious elevations above 105F (40.5C)- can result in
damage to body cells
What is the body's natural defense against infection? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fever; raises body
temp high enough to inhibit microorganism reproduction
hypothermia - CORRECT ANSWER - core temp below 95F (35C)- slows body metabolism,
severe/prolonged periods can result in death
antipyretic - CORRECT ANSWER - Medication used to reduce a fever
S1 - CORRECT ANSWER - first heart sound (Lub); contraction- AV valves shut
S2 - CORRECT ANSWER - second heart sound (dub); relaxation- semilunar valves close
Temporal pulse site - CORRECT ANSWER - Temples- can be used when radial pulse is not
accessible
carotid pulse site - CORRECT ANSWER - Neck- used in cardiac arrest and CPR
