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PCHA EXAM NEWEST 2025 ACTUAL EXAM
COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
While caring for a patient with heart disease, the nurse notices an irregularity in the rhythm of the patient's radial pulse. The previous assessment did not reveal an irregular pulse. What would be the BEST action to take? - ANSWER-count the patient's apical pulse for one minute
Which of the following statements is true regarding use of the tympanic thermometer? - ANSWER-The practitioner needs to wait at least 10 minutes to obtain the temperature if the patient has been outdoors.
Which of the following is true regarding an oral temperature? - ANSWER-The thermometer should be placed in the posterior sublingual pocket of the mouth.
The nurse is taking a blood pressure on a patient; the patient's baseline blood pressure is unknown. The nurse does not have any previous information about the patient's blood pressure 1 / 4
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measurements, nor is the patient able to give any information about previous blood pressure readings. Which of the following techniques would be the MOST accurate way to measure this patient's blood pressure? - ANSWER-Inflate the blood pressure cuff 30 mm Hg above the point at which the palpated pulse disappeared.
A patient is being seen in the clinic for "fainting episodes". The patient has a blood pressure of 150/90 in a lying position, 120/80 in a sitting position, and 90/60 in a standing position. How should the nurse interpret these findings? - ANSWER-The change in blood pressure readings is called orthostatic hypotension.
In the article by Rakotz, 'Medical students and measuring blood
pressure: Results from the American Medical Association Blood
Pressure Check Challenge', what are the consequences of poor technique when measuring blood pressure? - ANSWER-all of the above
- A 5- to 10-mm Hg error can result in an incorrect diagnosis of
- Poor technique can cause patients with hypertension that is
hypertension.
controlled to appear uncontrolled. 2 / 4
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- Without accurate blood pressure readings, improving blood
pressure control in unlikely because physicians will not reliably know which patients need to be more aggressively treated and which do not.
Which of the following is correct about arterial blood pressure? - ANSWER-It is important to know the normal blood pressure of each individual.
The nurse has just admitted the patient for evaluation of unexplained fever. The patient's temperature is 102o F, blood pressure 76/50 (baseline 130/74), pulse 110 bpm (baseline 72), respiration 16 bpm (baseline 12). Which of the following best explains the patient's hypotension? - ANSWER-Vasodilation secondary to his illness.
Which of the following is NOT true regarding assessment of the respiratory system? - ANSWER-Orthopnea refers to a subjective feeling of not being able to get enough oxygen while standing.
The patient is a 85-years-old and has come to your clinic with complaints of fatigue, cough and decreased appetite for 3 days.When taking vital signs on this client, you note the oral 3 / 4
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temperature to be 99.3o F. You should: - ANSWER-consider this
a concerning finding which needs attention
According to the article by Kiekkas, et al., 'Physical Antipyresis in Critically Ill Adults', what is the benefit of temperature elevation? - ANSWER-inhibits bacterial growth
In the article by Cretikos, et al., 'Respiratory rate: The neglected
vital sign', a patient with a respiratory rate of over 24 breaths/minute should be monitored more closely, even if other vital signs are normal. - ANSWER-true
Which of the following is true with regard to using the temporal artery thermometer? - ANSWER-Measure only the 'up' or exposed side for the most accurate reading.
The patient is admitted to the hospital after a three day history of severe vomiting and diarrhea secondary to a bacterial infection of the colon. The patient is otherwise in good health with no chronic illnesses. The baseline blood pressure is 130/84, pulse
- During the admission assessment, what might the nurse
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expect the patient's vital signs to be based on the illness? (All blood pressures taken in the supine (lying) position). -