Vital Signs and Patient Monitoring Flashcards
6 cards from real RMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Vital Signs and Patient Monitoring flashcards as text
What is the normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult?
Answer: 60 to 100 beats per minute
The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Rates below 60 bpm are called bradycardia; rates above 100 bpm are called tachycardia.
When measuring blood pressure, what does the diastolic reading represent?
Answer: The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats
The diastolic blood pressure is the lower number in a blood pressure reading and represents the pressure in the arterial walls when the heart is at rest (filling phase) between contractions.
What is the normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest?
Answer: 12 to 20 breaths per minute
The normal resting respiratory rate for a healthy adult is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Rates below 12 are bradypnea; rates above 20 are tachypnea.
A patient's temperature is recorded as 38.5°C. What is this temperature in Fahrenheit?
Answer: 101.3°F
Using the formula °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32: (38.5 × 9/5) + 32 = (69.3) + 32 = 101.3°F, which indicates a low-grade fever.
Pulse oximetry measures which of the following?
Answer: The oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in peripheral blood
Pulse oximetry measures the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2) in peripheral blood using infrared light technology, providing a non-invasive estimate of blood oxygen levels.
Which site provides the most accurate core body temperature measurement?
Answer: Rectal
The rectal route provides the most accurate measurement of core body temperature because the rectum is a closed, well-perfused body cavity close to major blood vessels.