Vital Signs (NCLEX) Quiz: Normal or Abnormal?

1. A respiratory rate below 12 breaths per minute is called:

Tachypnea

Bradypnea

Dyspnea

Orthopnea

2. A patient has a fever of 101.2°F. The term for this finding is:

Hypothermia

Pyrexia

Hyperthermia

Afebrile

3. Which vital sign is most sensitive to pain and anxiety?

Blood pressure

Respiratory rate

Heart rate

Temperature

4. The normal range for an adult's diastolic blood pressure is:

Less than 60 mmHg

60–80 mmHg

80–100 mmHg

Greater than 100 mmHg

5. A patient's blood pressure drops 20 mmHg systolic when standing from sitting. What is this called?

Hypertensive crisis

Orthostatic hypotension

Widened pulse pressure

Pulsus paradoxus

6. When measuring an apical pulse, the correct location is the:

Carotid artery

Fifth intercostal space at midclavicular line

Radial artery at the wrist

Femoral artery at the groin

7. A patient's oxygen saturation is 94% on room air. Is this normal?

Yes, this is normal

No, supplemental oxygen is required

No, this indicates severe hypoxemia

Cannot determine without arterial blood gas

8. Which condition commonly causes orthostatic hypotension?

Prolonged bed rest or dehydration

Excessive caffeine intake

Recent heavy exercise

High altitude exposure

9. A patient has a fever of 103.5°F (39.7°C). What priority nursing action is appropriate?

Encourage fluid intake and apply cooling measures

Immediately administer antipyretics without assessment

Observe and recheck temperature in 4 hours

Assume infection and start antibiotics

10. Normal pulse pressure (difference between systolic and diastolic) is approximately:

10–20 mmHg

20–40 mmHg

40–60 mmHg

60–80 mmHg

11. What is the normal oral body temperature range for an adult?

96.8°F to 100.4°F (36°C to 38°C)

97.6°F to 99.3°F (36.4°C to 37.4°C)

98.6°F to 101.2°F (37°C to 38.4°C)

95.0°F to 97.0°F (35°C to 36.1°C)

12. Which vital sign measurement requires the patient to rest for at least 5 minutes for accuracy?

Temperature

Blood pressure

Respiratory rate

Oxygen saturation

13. A patient's axillary temperature is 98.2°F. Is this normal?

Yes, this is within normal range

No, it indicates hypothermia

No, it indicates fever

Cannot determine without context

14. What is considered tachycardia in an adult?

Heart rate above 60 bpm

Heart rate above 80 bpm

Heart rate above 100 bpm

Heart rate above 120 bpm

15. Which factor can cause a temporary elevation in body temperature without infection?

Decreased metabolic rate

Excessive physical activity or stress

Hypothyroidism

Prolonged bed rest

16. A patient's blood pressure is 158/96 mmHg. What stage of hypertension does this represent?

Elevated

Stage 1 Hypertension

Stage 2 Hypertension

Normal

17. Normal systolic and diastolic blood pressure for an adult is:

Less than 120/80 mmHg

120–139/80–89 mmHg

140/90 mmHg or higher

100/60 mmHg or lower

18. A patient presents with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute. This is classified as:

Normal

Tachypnea

Bradypnea

Apnea

19. What is the normal respiratory rate range for a resting adult?

8 to 12 breaths per minute

12 to 20 breaths per minute

20 to 30 breaths per minute

30 to 40 breaths per minute

20. A patient's heart rate is 58 beats per minute. How would you classify this finding?

Normal

Tachycardia

Bradycardia

Arrhythmia

Vital Signs Quiz: Normal or Abnormal?

1. A respiratory rate below 12 breaths per minute is called:

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

2. A patient has a fever of 101.2°F. The term for this finding is:

3. Which vital sign is most sensitive to pain and anxiety?

4. The normal range for an adult's diastolic blood pressure is:

5. A patient's blood pressure drops 20 mmHg systolic when standing from sitting. What is this called?

6. When measuring an apical pulse, the correct location is the:

7. A patient's oxygen saturation is 94% on room air. Is this normal?

8. Which condition commonly causes orthostatic hypotension?

9. A patient has a fever of 103.5°F (39.7°C). What priority nursing action is appropriate?

10. Normal pulse pressure (difference between systolic and diastolic) is approximately:

11. What is the normal oral body temperature range for an adult?

12. Which vital sign measurement requires the patient to rest for at least 5 minutes for accuracy?

13. A patient's axillary temperature is 98.2°F. Is this normal?

14. What is considered tachycardia in an adult?

15. Which factor can cause a temporary elevation in body temperature without infection?

16. A patient's blood pressure is 158/96 mmHg. What stage of hypertension does this represent?

17. Normal systolic and diastolic blood pressure for an adult is:

18. A patient presents with a respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute. This is classified as:

19. What is the normal respiratory rate range for a resting adult?

20. A patient's heart rate is 58 beats per minute. How would you classify this finding?