Free Vital Signs and Monitoring MCQs with Answers
50 Vital Signs and Monitoring MCQs from Fundamentals of Nursing, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and pain assessment. Coverage includes correct measurement sites and techniques, normal adult ranges, factors that alter readings, trends in patient observations, and the difference between an abnormal finding that needs reassessment and one requiring immediate reporting.
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50 questions · page 3 of 3
- A. Accept the facial expression as proof of mild pain
- B. Use the patient’s self-report as the primary pain measure
- C. Delay assessment until the patient shows guarding
- D. Record the pain as zero because vital signs are normal
Explanation: Pain is subjective, and the patient’s self-report is the most reliable indicator when the patient can communicate.
Correct answer: Use the patient’s self-report as the primary pain measure- A. Carotid artery in the neck
- B. Dorsalis pedis artery on the foot
- C. Temporal artery at the forehead
- D. Ulnar artery at the wrist
Explanation: The carotid artery is a central pulse and is usually easier to palpate when peripheral circulation is reduced.
Correct answer: Carotid artery in the neck- A. Assist the patient to sit or lie down safely
- B. Ask the patient to walk to improve circulation
- C. Repeat the temperature before intervening
- D. Leave the patient alone while obtaining supplies
Explanation: Safety is the immediate priority because the patient may fall from poor perfusion or presyncope.
Correct answer: Assist the patient to sit or lie down safely- A. Temperature of 37.4°C after a warm blanket
- B. Pulse of 88 beats per minute after quiet rest
- C. Respiratory rate of 6 breaths per minute after an opioid
- D. Blood pressure of 132/78 mmHg before breakfast
Explanation: A respiratory rate of 6 after an opioid suggests potentially life-threatening respiratory depression, so airway and breathing take…
Correct answer: Respiratory rate of 6 breaths per minute after an opioid- A. Between the teeth and inner cheek
- B. Under the tongue in a posterior pocket
- C. On top of the tongue near the frenulum
- D. Against the hard palate behind the incisors
Explanation: The probe is placed in a posterior sublingual pocket, where blood flow gives a reliable oral temperature.
Correct answer: Under the tongue in a posterior pocket- A. On the left arm below the fistula
- B. On the left arm over the fistula
- C. On the right arm if it is clinically suitable
- D. On either arm after applying extra cuff pressure
Explanation: Blood pressure is measured on the opposite arm when an arteriovenous fistula is present.
Correct answer: On the right arm if it is clinically suitable- A. Silence the alarm and document the displayed rate
- B. Assess the patient and confirm the pulse manually
- C. Give the prescribed emergency cardiac medication
- D. Call the family to remain with the patient
Explanation: The nurse first assesses the patient and verifies the monitor reading with a manual pulse because alarms may result from artefact or poor…
Correct answer: Assess the patient and confirm the pulse manually- A. It directly measures the oxygen content of arterial blood
- B. It remains accurate when peripheral circulation is severely poor
- C. It estimates haemoglobin oxygen saturation noninvasively
- D. It replaces assessment of respiratory effort and mental status
Explanation: Pulse oximetry estimates the percentage of haemoglobin carrying oxygen and does not directly measure total oxygen content.
Correct answer: It estimates haemoglobin oxygen saturation noninvasively- A. A visual analogue line without explanation
- B. A faces pain scale with clear instructions
- C. A blood pressure reading as an indirect measure
- D. The nurse's estimate based on facial expression
Explanation: A faces scale can help a patient who cannot use a numeric scale, provided the nurse explains that the faces represent increasing pain…
Correct answer: A faces pain scale with clear instructions- A. Oral site
- B. Axillary site
- C. Tympanic site
- D. Rectal site
Explanation: The rectal route can injure the rectal mucosa and introduce microorganisms, increasing infection risk in severe neutropenia.
Correct answer: Rectal site