BSN 206 Vital Signs Test Bank
(Lessons 1-6) - 2025/2026 Edition |
Verified Questions & Correct Answers
Which of the following patients would require follow-up?
a. An adolescent with a respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute.
b. An adult with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute.
c. A child with a respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute.
d. A newborn with a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute.
b. An adult with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute.
The normal respiratory rate for a newborn is 30 to 60 breaths per minute. The normal
respiratory rate of a child is 20 breaths per minute. The normal respiratory rate for a
teenager is 16 to 20 breaths per minute. The normal respiratory rate for an adult is 12 to
20 breaths per minute. A rate of 10 would require follow-up.
Page 1 of 38
,Which of the following patients would be at risk for having an alteration in
peripheral pulse? (Select all that apply.)
a. The patient who was just informed of a diagnosis of cancer.
b. An elderly patient with Type 1 diabetes who is otherwise healthy.
c. A patient with peripheral vascular disease.
d. A patient with Alzheimer's disease.
e. A patient who is receiving bolus IV fluids.
a. The patient who was just informed of a diagnosis of cancer.
c. A patient with peripheral vascular disease.
e. A patient who is receiving bolus IV fluids.
Certain conditions place patients at risk for pulse alterations. This may include a person
with cardiovascular disease, a patient who is experiencing anxiety, and a patient who
received a sudden infusion of IV fluids. Uncomplicated diabetes and Alzheimer's
disease fail to directly relate to pulse alteration.
Whenever there is an alteration in the radial pulse rate, rhythm, or amplitude, the
nurse should initially do which of the following?
a. Check the carotid pulses one side at a time.
b. Auscultate the apical pulse for quality and rate.
c. Check the radial pulse on the opposite side.
d. Reassess the radial pulse for 30 seconds.
Page 2 of 38
,b. Auscultate the apical pulse for quality and rate.
The nurse should assess the quality and rate of the apical pulse. The rate should be
counted over a full minute to ensure greater accuracy. The pulse on the opposite side
should also be assessed to see if the alteration is happening bilaterally, in addition to
assessing the apical pulse.
What is the normal pulse range for an adult?
a. 90 to 140 beats per minute.
b. 60 to 100 beats per minute.
c. 50 to 80 beats per minute.
d. 120 to 160 beats per minute.
b. 60 to 100 beats per minute.
The normal pulse range for an adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate of a
newborn is 120 to 160 beats per minute. The pulse rate of a 2-year-old is 90 to 140
beats per minute.
The nurse should routinely auscultate the apical pulse with the bell side of the
stethoscope, and use the diaphragm side to identify heart murmurs.
False.
True.
Page 3 of 38
, False.
For routine auscultation of the apical pulse, you should rely on the diaphragm side of
the chest piece because it is designed to pick up higher-pitched heart sounds like that of
the apical pulse.The bell side of the stethoscope should be used to assess heart sounds
to identify murmurs.
In which of the following patients would the nurse expect to find a decrease in
pulse rate? (Select all that apply.)
a. A newborn following a heelstick.
b. A patient who received morphine for pain.
c. A patient who experienced a bleeding episode.
d. A patient returning from the operating room.
e. A student who is getting ready to take an exam.
b. A patient who received morphine for pain.
d. A patient returning from the operating room.
Having general anesthesia or receiving an opioid analgesic may decrease the pulse
rate. A newborn has a higher pulse rate than an adult. Sympathetic stimulation such as
anxiety will increase the pulse rate. Having a decreased fluid volume will increase the
pulse rate as the heart attempts to compensate to maintain cardiac output.
The new NAP is unable to palpate a patient's radial pulse. What could be a
possible explanation for this difficulty? (Select all that apply.)
Page 4 of 38
(Lessons 1-6) - 2025/2026 Edition |
Verified Questions & Correct Answers
Which of the following patients would require follow-up?
a. An adolescent with a respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute.
b. An adult with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute.
c. A child with a respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute.
d. A newborn with a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute.
b. An adult with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute.
The normal respiratory rate for a newborn is 30 to 60 breaths per minute. The normal
respiratory rate of a child is 20 breaths per minute. The normal respiratory rate for a
teenager is 16 to 20 breaths per minute. The normal respiratory rate for an adult is 12 to
20 breaths per minute. A rate of 10 would require follow-up.
Page 1 of 38
,Which of the following patients would be at risk for having an alteration in
peripheral pulse? (Select all that apply.)
a. The patient who was just informed of a diagnosis of cancer.
b. An elderly patient with Type 1 diabetes who is otherwise healthy.
c. A patient with peripheral vascular disease.
d. A patient with Alzheimer's disease.
e. A patient who is receiving bolus IV fluids.
a. The patient who was just informed of a diagnosis of cancer.
c. A patient with peripheral vascular disease.
e. A patient who is receiving bolus IV fluids.
Certain conditions place patients at risk for pulse alterations. This may include a person
with cardiovascular disease, a patient who is experiencing anxiety, and a patient who
received a sudden infusion of IV fluids. Uncomplicated diabetes and Alzheimer's
disease fail to directly relate to pulse alteration.
Whenever there is an alteration in the radial pulse rate, rhythm, or amplitude, the
nurse should initially do which of the following?
a. Check the carotid pulses one side at a time.
b. Auscultate the apical pulse for quality and rate.
c. Check the radial pulse on the opposite side.
d. Reassess the radial pulse for 30 seconds.
Page 2 of 38
,b. Auscultate the apical pulse for quality and rate.
The nurse should assess the quality and rate of the apical pulse. The rate should be
counted over a full minute to ensure greater accuracy. The pulse on the opposite side
should also be assessed to see if the alteration is happening bilaterally, in addition to
assessing the apical pulse.
What is the normal pulse range for an adult?
a. 90 to 140 beats per minute.
b. 60 to 100 beats per minute.
c. 50 to 80 beats per minute.
d. 120 to 160 beats per minute.
b. 60 to 100 beats per minute.
The normal pulse range for an adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate of a
newborn is 120 to 160 beats per minute. The pulse rate of a 2-year-old is 90 to 140
beats per minute.
The nurse should routinely auscultate the apical pulse with the bell side of the
stethoscope, and use the diaphragm side to identify heart murmurs.
False.
True.
Page 3 of 38
, False.
For routine auscultation of the apical pulse, you should rely on the diaphragm side of
the chest piece because it is designed to pick up higher-pitched heart sounds like that of
the apical pulse.The bell side of the stethoscope should be used to assess heart sounds
to identify murmurs.
In which of the following patients would the nurse expect to find a decrease in
pulse rate? (Select all that apply.)
a. A newborn following a heelstick.
b. A patient who received morphine for pain.
c. A patient who experienced a bleeding episode.
d. A patient returning from the operating room.
e. A student who is getting ready to take an exam.
b. A patient who received morphine for pain.
d. A patient returning from the operating room.
Having general anesthesia or receiving an opioid analgesic may decrease the pulse
rate. A newborn has a higher pulse rate than an adult. Sympathetic stimulation such as
anxiety will increase the pulse rate. Having a decreased fluid volume will increase the
pulse rate as the heart attempts to compensate to maintain cardiac output.
The new NAP is unable to palpate a patient's radial pulse. What could be a
possible explanation for this difficulty? (Select all that apply.)
Page 4 of 38
