Vital Signs and Patient Monitoring Flashcards
7 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 7 Vital Signs and Patient Monitoring flashcards as text
A patient's pulse feels irregular with skipped beats. What is the most accurate method to count the rate?
Answer: Count apical pulse for a full 60 seconds
An irregular pulse should be counted apically for a full minute to capture every beat accurately.
Which artery is most commonly used to assess pulse in an unconscious adult during emergency evaluation?
Answer: Carotid artery
The carotid artery is large, central, and palpable even when peripheral perfusion is poor.
A patient is breathing 28 times per minute at rest. This finding is best documented as:
Answer: Tachypnea
Tachypnea is an abnormally rapid respiratory rate above the normal adult range of 12-20.
When measuring respirations, why should the medical assistant avoid telling the patient?
Answer: Patients may consciously alter their breathing pattern
Awareness of being observed often causes patients to unconsciously change their breathing rate.
Which of the following would falsely elevate an oral temperature reading?
Answer: The patient just finished a hot beverage
A recent hot drink warms the oral cavity and produces an artificially high reading.
A blood pressure cuff that is too small for a patient's arm will most likely cause the reading to be:
Answer: Falsely high
An undersized cuff requires more pressure to occlude the artery, producing a falsely high result.
Which vital sign is often referred to as the 'fifth vital sign' in patient assessment?
Answer: Pain level
Pain is widely assessed as the fifth vital sign alongside temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.