RMA Vital Signs and Patient Monitoring 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A reading of 88/56 mmHg in an adult is best classified as:
- Hypertension
- Prehypertension
- Hypotension (Correct answer)
- Normal
Correct answer: Hypotension
Blood pressure below 90/60 mmHg is generally considered hypotension in adults.
Question 2: Which site provides the most accurate core body temperature?
- Axillary
- Oral
- Rectal (Correct answer)
- Temporal artery
Correct answer: Rectal
Rectal temperature most closely reflects true core body temperature.
Question 3: A pulse oximeter reads 89% on room air. The medical assistant should:
- Record it as normal and continue
- Notify the provider promptly (Correct answer)
- Remove the sensor and discard the reading
- Tell the patient to hold their breath
Correct answer: Notify the provider promptly
An oxygen saturation below 90% is abnormal and warrants prompt provider notification.
Question 4: Which factor would most likely cause an inaccurate pulse oximetry reading?
- Warm fingertips
- Dark nail polish (Correct answer)
- Resting hand position
- A clean sensor
Correct answer: Dark nail polish
Dark nail polish blocks the light transmission the device relies on, distorting the reading.
Question 5: The normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult is:
- 40-60 bpm
- 60-100 bpm (Correct answer)
- 100-120 bpm
- 120-160 bpm
Correct answer: 60-100 bpm
A normal adult resting heart rate falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
Question 6: When taking blood pressure, the patient's arm should be positioned:
- Above the level of the heart
- At the level of the heart (Correct answer)
- Below the level of the heart
- Hanging at the side
Correct answer: At the level of the heart
Positioning the arm at heart level prevents gravity from skewing the reading.
Question 7: A patient's temperature is recorded as 100.8°F. This finding indicates:
- Hypothermia
- Normal range
- Low-grade fever (Correct answer)
- Heat stroke
Correct answer: Low-grade fever
A temperature slightly above normal but under 101°F is generally considered a low-grade fever.
RMA Vital Signs and Patient Monitoring 3
A reading of 88/56 mmHg in an adult is best classified as: