Student Assignment

Measuring Vital Signs

Fill in the Blanks
1. Unless otherwise ordered, take vital signs with the person
________________________________________________
________________________________________________.
2. What should you do if you are unsure of any vital sign measurement?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
3. Body temperature is the balance between ________________
_________________________________________________.
4. Glass thermometers have the following problems:
A. ___________________________________________
B. ___________________________________________
C. ___________________________________________
5. You should not use hot water to clean a glass thermometer because
________________________________________________
________________________________________________.
6. Rectal temperatures are not taken if the person
A. ___________________________________________
B. ___________________________________________
C. ___________________________________________
D. ___________________________________________
E. ___________________________________________
7. The nurse asks you to take a residents temperature. He tells you to use the tympanic
membrane site. What other information do you need from the nurse and the care plan?
A. ___________________________________________
B. ___________________________________________
C. ___________________________________________
D. ___________________________________________
E. ___________________________________________
8. What special measures are needed when taking a temperature using the axillary site?
__________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
9. The ____________________________________________ pulse is used for routine vital
signs.
10. A ___________________________________________ is an instrument used to listen to
sounds produced by the heart, lungs, and other body organs.
11. Which pulse is taken with a stethoscope? ________________
_________________________________________________
12. An irregular pulse occurs when ________________________
_________________________________________________.
13. Hard-to-feel pulses are described as ____________________
_________________________________________________.
14. How long should you count an apical pulse? _____________

_________________________________________________
15. Each respiration involves ____________________________
16. When counting respirations, note the following:
A. ___________________________________________
B. ___________________________________________
C. ___________________________________________
D. ___________________________________________
E. ___________________________________________
17. The systolic pressure is ______________________________
_________________________________________________
________________________________________________.
18. You must report any systolic pressure above ______________________ and any diastolic
pressure above ___________________________________.
19. Hypotension is _______________________________.
True or False
Mark T for true or F for false.
1. ______ Unless otherwise ordered, take vital signs with the person standing.
2. ______ A glass thermometer is rinsed under warm running water before use.
3. ______ An oral temperature is taken if a person is receiving oxygen.
4. ______ Privacy is important when taking a rectal temperature.
5. ______ Axillary temperatures are more reliable than oral temperatures.
6. ______ To use a tympanic membrane thermometer, the covered probe is inserted gently into
the ear.
7. ______ The brachial artery is used most often for taking a pulse.
8. ______ Before using a stethoscope, wipe the earpieces and diaphragm with antiseptic wipes.
9. ______ A stethoscope is used to take an apical pulse.
10. ______ An apical pulse is counted for 30 seconds.
11. ______ Respirations are counted right after taking a pulse. The person should be unaware
that you are counting respirations.
12. ______ Blood pressure is normally measured in the brachial artery.
13. ______ The blood pressure cuff is applied over clothing.
14. ______ Notify the nurse at once if you cannot detect a blood pressure.
Multiple Choice
Circle the BEST answer.
15. If you are unsure of a vital sign measurement, you must
A. Ask another nursing assistant to check it for you
B. Report what you think it is
C. Wait 1 hour and then recheck it
D. Promptly ask the nurse to take it again
16. The normal body temperature range for the rectal site is
A. 98.6 to 100.6F
B. 96.6 to 98.6F
C. 97.6 to 99.6F
D. 99.6 to 101F
17. Rectal temperatures are taken when
A. A person has diarrhea
B. A person has rectal surgery
C. A person has heart disease

D. The oral site cannot be used

18. The difference between the apical and radial pulse rates is called the
A. Apical-radial pulse
B. Pulse deficit
C. Pulse rate
D. Pulse pressure
19. Which is incorrect when counting respirations?
A. Count respirations right after taking the pulse.
B. Position the person so that you can see the chest rise and fall.
C. To count respirations, watch the chest rise and fall.
D. Count each rise of the chest as one respiration and each fall of the chest as one
respiration.
20. A person with a systolic pressure that remains above 140 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure that
remains above 90 mm Hg has
A. Tachycardia
B. Hypertension
C. Hypotension
D. Anxiety
21. The period of heart muscle relaxation is called
A. Diastole
B. Systole
C. Blood pressure
D. Hypotension
22. You are measuring vital signs on a resident. What do you report to the nurse at once?
A. Vital signs within the normal range
B. The apical pulse
C. Any vital sign that is changed from the prior reading
D. When you took the measurements