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Vital Signs Trivia Quiz

Nurses need to understand about patients' vital signs in order to make a competent assessment of their condition.

A multiple-choice quiz by saturnwreck. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
saturnwreck

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
282,371

Updated
Feb 11 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
7917

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: magijoh1 (8/10), Guest 216 (7/10), Guest 129 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is a sphygmomanometer? Hint

a rectal thermometer

instrument for collecting spinal fluid samples

pump for administering blood transfusions

a device for measuring blood pressure

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of the following pulse sites is located behind the knee? Hint

femoral

popliteal

radial

pedal

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Question 3 of 10

3. What would a temperature reading of 38.2 degrees Celsius be in Fahrenheit? Hint

100.8

103.2

98.6

96.4

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Question 4 of 10

4. For a BP reading of 140/92, what is the bottom number (92) known as? Hint

mean arterial pressure

systolic

diastolic

brachial

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Question 5 of 10

5. When a blood pressure reading is taken, a sequence of different sounds is heard. What are these called? Hint

Braxton-Hicks contractions

Korotkoff sounds

Bronski beats

Reynolds numbers

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the medical term for "fever"? Hint

thermophilia

hypothermia

pyrexia

hypertension

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Question 7 of 10

7. What heart action causes the lub-dub sounds that are heard over the heart with a stethoscope? Hint

the contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle

the closing of the valves

the sound of blood rushing through the aorta and vena cava

the flow of blood through the coronary vessels

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which vital sign is most susceptible to conscious control? Hint

pulse rate

blood pressure

respirations

temperature

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is the term that describes the absence of breathing? Hint

tachycardia

dyspnea

apnea

asystole

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Question 10 of 10

10. Where is the apical pulse located in an adult client? Hint

directly over the sternum

on the right side of the chest below the nipple

on the left side of the chest at the 5th intercostal space

in the left arm above the elbow

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 20 2024 : magijoh1: 8/10
Dec 19 2024 : Guest 216: 7/10
Dec 18 2024 : Guest 129: 7/10
Dec 13 2024 : JimBo95: 7/10
Dec 12 2024 : Guest 104: 6/10
Dec 12 2024 : dennisbn: 6/10
Dec 05 2024 : TurkishLizzy: 8/10
Dec 03 2024 : pommiejase: 6/10
Dec 01 2024 : Guest 172: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is a sphygmomanometer?

Answer: a device for measuring blood pressure

A sphygmomanometer is more commonly called a blood pressure gauge, probably because sphygmomanometer is so hard to say and spell. When a nurse pumps up the cuff, he/she is briefly cutting off the blood flow with the pressure exerted by the cuff. As the pressure in the cuff is released, the sound of the blood starting to flow again measures the maximum output pressure of the heart.

As the cuff deflates, the sound disappears, indicating the pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed.

2. Which of the following pulse sites is located behind the knee?

Answer: popliteal

The popliteal pulse is located at the back of the knee and can be difficult to palpate. The femoral pulse is located in the groin, the radial pulse is located at the wrist and the pedal pulse is located on the top of the foot.

3. What would a temperature reading of 38.2 degrees Celsius be in Fahrenheit?

Answer: 100.8

The formula for conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit is C X 9/5 + 32. Normal body temperature is considered to be 37.0 degrees Celsius or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. For a BP reading of 140/92, what is the bottom number (92) known as?

Answer: diastolic

The bottom number is the diastolic which indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is in a period of relaxation. The top number is the systolic, which measures the maximum blood pressure reached as blood is pumped out of the heart.

5. When a blood pressure reading is taken, a sequence of different sounds is heard. What are these called?

Answer: Korotkoff sounds

Korotkoff sounds are named after Dr. Nikolai Korotkoff, a Russian physician who described them in 1905. As the pressure of the blood pressure cuff is released, a series of different sounds can be heard - five distinct sounds have been identified. Numbers 1 and 4 are the two numbers commonly cited as a person's BP.

6. What is the medical term for "fever"?

Answer: pyrexia

Pyrexia is a rise in body temperature, often indicating an infection. Generally speaking, a temperature about 38.0 degrees Celsius or 100.4 Fahrenheit is considered a fever.

7. What heart action causes the lub-dub sounds that are heard over the heart with a stethoscope?

Answer: the closing of the valves

The first heart sound (lub) is produced by the closing of the atrio-ventricular valves. The second heart sound (dup) is caused by the closing of the semi-lunar valves.

8. Which vital sign is most susceptible to conscious control?

Answer: respirations

Because people can consciously alter their rate and depth of breathing, a nurse tries to assess respiratory rate while the client is not aware of it happening. Often the nurse will appear to be checking the pulse rate, when actually he/she is counting the respiratory rate.

9. What is the term that describes the absence of breathing?

Answer: apnea

Apnea refers to the cessation of breathing. Dyspnea is difficulty breathing; asystole is heart stoppage and tachycardia is an increased heart rate.

10. Where is the apical pulse located in an adult client?

Answer: on the left side of the chest at the 5th intercostal space

The apical pulse is auscultated with a stethoscope directly over the apex of the heart. The usual location is in the fifth intercostal space on the mid-clavicular line.

Source: Author saturnwreck

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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