The nurse is assessing children in a pediatric clinic. Which statement is true regarding the
measurement of blood pressure in children?
- A. Blood pressure guidelines for children are based on age.
- B. Phase II Korotkoff sounds are the best indicator of systolic blood pressure in
children. - C. Using a Doppler device is recommended for accurate blood pressure measurements
until adolescence.
- D. The disappearance of phase V Korotkoff sounds can be used for the diastolic
reading in children.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The disappearance of phase V Korotkoff sounds can be used for the diastolic reading in children, as
well as in adults. Blood pressure guidelines for children are based on more than just age, but also sex
and height. Phase I Korotkoff, not Phase II, is the best indicator of systolic blood pressure. The true
statement regarding the measurement of blood pressure in children is that the disappearance of phase
V Korotkoff sounds can be used for the diastolic reading in children, as well as in adults.
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What technique would the nurse use to accurately assess a rectal temperature in an adult?
- A. Use a lubricated blunt tip thermometer.
- B. Insert the thermometer 2 to 3 inches into the rectum.
- C. Leave the thermometer in place for up to 8 minutes if the patient is febrile.
- D. Wait 2 to 3 minutes if the patient has recently smoked a cigarette.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: To accurately assess a rectal temperature in an adult, a nurse should use a lubricated rectal thermometer with a short, blunt tip. The thermometer is inserted only 2 to 3 cm (1 inch) into the rectum and left in place for 2 minutes. Choice B is incorrect as inserting the thermometer 2 to 3 inches would be too deep and inaccurate. Choice C is incorrect as leaving the thermometer in place for up to 8 minutes is unnecessary and can cause discomfort. Choice D is incorrect as smoking a cigarette does not impact rectal temperatures.
Which of these actions illustrates the correct technique for a nurse when assessing oral temperature with a glass thermometer?
- A. Wait 30 minutes if the patient has ingested hot or iced liquids.
- B. Leave the thermometer in place for 3 to 4 minutes if the patient is afebrile.
- C. Shake the glass thermometer down to 35.5°C before taking the patient's temperature.
- D. Place the thermometer at the base of the tongue and ask the patient to close his or her lips.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct technique for assessing oral temperature with a glass thermometer involves leaving the thermometer in place for 3 to 4 minutes if the patient is afebrile and up to 8 minutes if the patient is febrile. Waiting 30 minutes if the patient has ingested hot or iced liquids is incorrect; instead, the nurse should wait 15 minutes in such cases. Shaking the glass thermometer down to 35.5°C, not 37.5°C, is the correct procedure before taking the patient's temperature. Placing the thermometer at the base of the tongue, not the front, and asking the patient to close their lips is the proper way to position the thermometer. Therefore, the correct answer is to leave the thermometer in place for 3 to 4 minutes if the patient is afebrile and up to 8 minutes if the patient is febrile.
The patient with migraine headaches has a seizure. After the seizure, which action can you delegate to the nursing assistant?
- A. Document the seizure
- B. Perform neurologic checks
- C. Take the patient's vital signs
- D. Restrain the patient for protection
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: After a patient with migraine headaches has a seizure, it is important to assess their vital signs to monitor their condition. This task can be safely delegated to a nursing assistant as it falls within their scope of practice. Documenting the seizure and performing neurologic checks require a higher level of training and should be done by a nurse or healthcare provider. Restraint should never be used as a first-line intervention after a seizure unless there is an immediate threat to the patient's safety, and it should be done following proper protocols and with appropriate training.
When evaluating the temperature of older adults, what aspect should the healthcare provider remember about an older adult's body temperature?
- A. The body temperature of the older adult is lower than that of a younger adult.
- B. An older adult's body temperature is approximately the same as that of a young child.
- C. Body temperature varies based on the type of thermometer used.
- D. In older adults, body temperature can fluctuate widely due to less effective heat control mechanisms.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When evaluating the temperature of older adults, it is important to note that their body temperature is usually lower than that of younger adults, with a mean temperature of 36.2°C. Choice B is incorrect because an older adult's body temperature is not approximately the same as that of a young child. Choice C is incorrect because body temperature is a physiological parameter and does not vary based on the type of thermometer used. Choice D is incorrect because while older adults may have less effective heat control mechanisms, their body temperature is typically lower, not widely fluctuating.
When auscultating the blood pressure of a 25-year-old patient, the nurse notices that the phase I Korotkoff sounds begin at 200 mm Hg. At 100 mm Hg, the Korotkoff sounds muffle. At 92 mm Hg, the Korotkoff sounds disappear. How should the nurse record this patient's blood pressure?
- A. 200/92
- B. 200/100
- C. 100/200/92
- D. 200/100/92
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When auscultating blood pressure, it is crucial to note the points at which Korotkoff sounds change. In adults, the last audible sound indicates the diastolic pressure. In this case, the Korotkoff sounds muffle at 100 mm Hg and disappear at 92 mm Hg. Therefore, the blood pressure should be recorded as systolic/diastolic, which is 200/92. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not reflect the correct points where the Korotkoff sounds change during blood pressure measurement.