CNA Vital Signs Measurement 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CNA notices a patient's nail beds are bluish when applying a pulse oximeter. This finding is called:
- Pallor
- Cyanosis (Correct answer)
- Jaundice
- Erythema
Correct answer: Cyanosis
Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to low oxygen levels.
Question 2: When should the CNA NOT take a rectal temperature?
- When the patient is confused
- When the patient has had recent rectal surgery (Correct answer)
- When the patient is elderly
- When an oral thermometer is unavailable
Correct answer: When the patient has had recent rectal surgery
Rectal temperature is contraindicated after rectal surgery, in patients with rectal disorders, or those on blood thinners.
Question 3: A patient's pulse is described as 'thready.' This means the pulse is:
- Strong and bounding
- Rapid and regular
- Weak and difficult to feel (Correct answer)
- Slow and irregular
Correct answer: Weak and difficult to feel
A thready pulse is weak, thin, and difficult to palpate, often indicating low cardiac output.
Question 4: Which of the following is the correct technique when counting respirations?
- Tell the patient you are counting their breaths
- Count after finishing pulse measurement without informing the patient (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient to breathe normally while watching the clock
- Count only inhalations for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
Correct answer: Count after finishing pulse measurement without informing the patient
Respirations are counted without the patient's knowledge because awareness causes patients to alter their breathing pattern.
Question 5: A blood pressure cuff that is too LARGE for the patient's arm will most likely result in:
- A falsely high reading
- A falsely low reading (Correct answer)
- An accurate reading
- Equipment damage
Correct answer: A falsely low reading
A cuff that is too large produces a falsely low blood pressure reading because more pressure is needed to compress a larger area.
Question 6: The diastolic blood pressure represents:
- Pressure when the heart contracts
- Pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (Correct answer)
- Total cardiac output per minute
- Venous blood return pressure
Correct answer: Pressure in the arteries between heartbeats
Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between contractions.
Question 7: A tympanic thermometer measures temperature in which location?
- Under the tongue
- In the ear canal (Correct answer)
- Under the armpit
- On the forehead skin
Correct answer: In the ear canal
A tympanic thermometer uses infrared technology to measure heat from the tympanic membrane inside the ear canal.
CNA Vital Signs Measurement 5
A CNA notices a patient's nail beds are bluish when applying a pulse oximeter.
This finding is called: