PCT Vital Signs 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PCT notices a patient's apical pulse is 88 bpm but the radial pulse is 72 bpm. This difference is called:
- Pulse deficit (Correct answer)
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Pulse pressure
- Pulsus paradoxus
Correct answer: Pulse deficit
A pulse deficit occurs when the apical pulse rate exceeds the peripheral pulse rate, indicating some heartbeats are not producing palpable peripheral pulses.
Question 2: Which patient position should be used when measuring orthostatic blood pressure?
- Supine only
- Sitting only
- Supine, then sitting, then standing (Correct answer)
- Standing only
Correct answer: Supine, then sitting, then standing
Orthostatic (postural) blood pressure is measured in supine, sitting, and standing positions to detect drops caused by position change.
Question 3: A temperature of 35.0°C (95°F) would indicate:
- Fever
- Normal temperature
- Hyperthermia
- Hypothermia (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Hypothermia
A core body temperature below 35°C (95°F) is classified as hypothermia.
Question 4: Which of the following patients requires the most URGENT reporting of vital signs?
- Adult with BP 122/78 mmHg and HR 76 bpm
- Adult with temperature 37.2°C and RR 16
- Adult with SpO2 88% and RR 28 (Correct answer)
- Adult with HR 92 bpm and BP 130/84 mmHg
Correct answer: Adult with SpO2 88% and RR 28
An SpO2 of 88% combined with a respiratory rate of 28 indicates significant respiratory distress and requires immediate notification of the nurse.
Question 5: The brachial artery is the preferred site for blood pressure measurement because:
- It is easiest to locate on all patients
- It is at heart level when the arm is properly positioned (Correct answer)
- It produces the loudest Korotkoff sounds
- It has the highest pressure in the body
Correct answer: It is at heart level when the arm is properly positioned
The brachial artery is used because when the arm is positioned at heart level, it provides a pressure reading that reflects true cardiac output.
Question 6: Cheyne-Stokes respiration is best described as:
- Rapid, deep breaths followed by complete apnea
- Gradual increase then decrease in depth with periods of apnea (Correct answer)
- Constant shallow and slow respirations
- Irregular gasping breaths
Correct answer: Gradual increase then decrease in depth with periods of apnea
Cheyne-Stokes respiration features a cyclical pattern of gradually increasing then decreasing respiratory depth followed by a period of apnea.
Question 7: A patient states they just smoked a cigarette. How long should the PCT wait before taking an oral temperature?
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- 20 minutes
Correct answer: 15 minutes
Smoking can elevate oral temperature readings; waiting 15 minutes ensures an accurate measurement.
PCT Vital Signs 4
A PCT notices a patient's apical pulse is 88 bpm but the radial pulse is 72 bpm.
This difference is called: