CMA Vital Signs and Patient Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult?
- 40–60 beats per minute
- 60–100 beats per minute (Correct answer)
- 100–120 beats per minute
- 50–80 beats per minute
Correct answer: 60–100 beats per minute
A normal adult resting heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute; values outside this range may indicate bradycardia or tachycardia.
Question 2: Which site is most commonly used to assess the pulse in a routine adult patient assessment?
- Femoral artery
- Carotid artery
- Radial artery (Correct answer)
- Brachial artery
Correct answer: Radial artery
The radial artery at the wrist is the most common site for routine pulse assessment in adults due to its accessibility.
Question 3: A blood pressure reading of 142/92 mmHg would be classified as which stage according to current AHA guidelines?
- Normal
- Elevated
- Stage 1 Hypertension
- Stage 2 Hypertension (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Stage 2 Hypertension
Stage 2 Hypertension is defined as a systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg by AHA guidelines.
Question 4: What is the normal oral body temperature for an adult in Fahrenheit?
- 96.8°F
- 98.6°F (Correct answer)
- 100.4°F
- 97.2°F
Correct answer: 98.6°F
The standard normal oral temperature for adults is 98.6°F (37°C), though slight individual variation is normal.
Question 5: When measuring a patient's respiratory rate, the medical assistant should count for how long without informing the patient?
- 15 seconds and multiply by 4
- 30 seconds and multiply by 2
- 60 seconds (Correct answer)
- 10 seconds and multiply by 6
Correct answer: 60 seconds
A full 60-second count provides the most accurate respiratory rate and is the recommended method.
Question 6: Which instrument is used to measure blood pressure?
- Sphygmomanometer (Correct answer)
- Spirometer
- Oximeter
- Glucometer
Correct answer: Sphygmomanometer
A sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff with a manometer) is used to measure arterial blood pressure.
Question 7: A patient's oxygen saturation (SpO2) reading of 93% on room air would be considered:
- Normal — no action needed
- Slightly elevated
- Below the normal threshold and warrants further assessment (Correct answer)
- Critically low and requires immediate intubation
Correct answer: Below the normal threshold and warrants further assessment
Normal SpO2 is 95–100%; a reading of 93% is below the accepted threshold and warrants further clinical assessment.
CMA Vital Signs and Patient Assessment 1
What is the normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult?