HAC Vital Signs Monitoring & Recording 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient's blood pressure reads 158/96 mmHg. How should the healthcare aide document this finding?
- Record it as normal and continue routine care
- Document the exact reading, time, and arm used, then report to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Round the numbers to the nearest ten before recording
- Wait 30 minutes and retake before documenting anything
Correct answer: Document the exact reading, time, and arm used, then report to the nurse
Accurate documentation includes the exact reading, time, which arm was used, and the position of the patient, and any elevated reading must be reported promptly.
Question 2: Which pulse site is most commonly used by healthcare aides for routine pulse assessment?
- Femoral
- Carotid
- Radial (Correct answer)
- Apical
Correct answer: Radial
The radial pulse at the wrist is the standard site for routine pulse checks by healthcare aides due to its easy accessibility.
Question 3: A patient's respiratory rate is 24 breaths per minute. This is best described as:
- Bradypnea
- Eupnea
- Tachypnea (Correct answer)
- Apnea
Correct answer: Tachypnea
Tachypnea refers to an abnormally rapid breathing rate, generally defined as more than 20 breaths per minute in adults.
Question 4: When measuring an oral temperature, how long should the thermometer remain in place if using a glass thermometer?
- 30 seconds
- 1 minute
- 3–5 minutes (Correct answer)
- 8–10 minutes
Correct answer: 3–5 minutes
A glass thermometer must remain under the tongue for 3–5 minutes to allow enough time for an accurate oral temperature reading.
Question 5: A healthcare aide notices a patient's oxygen saturation drops from 98% to 89% while at rest. The FIRST action should be:
- Administer supplemental oxygen immediately
- Reposition the probe and recheck, then report the finding to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Document the reading and continue monitoring
- Ask the patient to take deep breaths and reassess in one hour
Correct answer: Reposition the probe and recheck, then report the finding to the nurse
Before reporting, the aide should verify the reading by repositioning the probe to rule out a poor signal, then immediately report any confirmed low SpO2 to the nurse.
Question 6: Which of the following factors can cause a falsely LOW pulse oximetry reading?
- High fluid intake
- Nail polish or poor circulation in the finger (Correct answer)
- Elevated body temperature
- Anxiety or emotional distress
Correct answer: Nail polish or poor circulation in the finger
Dark nail polish, cold extremities, or poor peripheral circulation can interfere with the oximeter's light sensor and produce falsely low SpO2 readings.
Question 7: A patient has a temperature of 38.9°C (102°F). Which term correctly describes this condition?
- Hypothermia
- Afebrile
- Hyperthermia / Fever (Correct answer)
- Normothermia
Correct answer: Hyperthermia / Fever
A temperature above 38°C (100.4°F) is classified as fever (pyrexia or hyperthermia), and 38.9°C clearly falls into this category.
HAC Vital Signs Monitoring & Recording 2
A patient's blood pressure reads 158/96 mmHg.
How should the healthcare aide document this finding?