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A patient’s blood pressure is 118/82 mm Hg. He asks the nurse, “What do the numbers mean?” What is the nurse’s best reply?

“The top number is the systolic blood pressure and reflects the pressure of the blood against the arteries when the heart contracts.”

“The bottom number is the diastolic pressure and reflects the stroke volume of the heart.”

“The concept of blood pressure is difficult to understand. The primary thing to be concerned about is the top number, or the systolic blood pressure.”

“The numbers are within normal range and are nothing to worry about.”

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: The systolic pressure (top number) measures arterial pressure during heart contraction, accurately explaining 118/82 mm Hg. This clear, correct definition educates the patient, making it the best reply.

Choice B reason: Diastolic pressure (bottom number) reflects arterial pressure at rest, not stroke volume. Systolic pressure is correctly defined as contraction pressure, so this is incorrect for explaining the numbers.

Choice C reason: Dismissing blood pressure as complex is unhelpful; both numbers matter. Systolic pressure is accurately defined as heart contraction pressure, so this is incorrect for patient education.

Choice D reason: Stating the numbers are normal (118/82 is prehypertension) avoids explaining their meaning. Defining systolic pressure clarifies the reading, so this is incorrect for answering the question.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Bronchial breath sounds are loud, high-pitched, with expiration longer than inspiration, typically heard over the trachea or in consolidated lung areas. The described soft, low-pitched sounds with longer inspiration in the posterior lower lobes do not match, making this incorrect.

Choice B reason: Sounds over the trachea are bronchial, characterized by loud, high-pitched sounds with expiration equal to or longer than inspiration. The soft, low-pitched sounds with longer inspiration in the posterior lower lobes indicate peripheral lung fields, not tracheal sounds, making this incorrect.

Choice C reason: Vesicular breath sounds are soft, low-pitched, with inspiration longer than expiration, heard over peripheral lung fields like the posterior lower lobes. These are normal findings, reflecting air movement in alveoli, making this the correct interpretation of the described sounds.

Choice D reason: Bronchovesicular sounds are medium-pitched with equal inspiration and expiration, typically heard near mainstem bronchi. The described low-pitched sounds with longer inspiration in the posterior lower lobes align with vesicular sounds, not bronchovesicular, making this incorrect.

A. A mole that is symmetric B. Irregular edges of the mole C. Mole diameter less than 6 mm D. Consistent color of the mole

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

hoice A reason: Symmetry is a benign mole feature; asymmetry is concerning for melanoma. Burning and bleeding with irregular edges raise cancer risk, so symmetry is not the concerning finding here.

Choice B reason: Irregular edges, combined with burning and bleeding, are concerning for melanoma, per the ABCDE criteria (Asymmetry, Border irregularity). This suggests malignancy, making it the correct additional finding to worry about.

Choice C reason: Diameter less than 6 mm is less concerning; melanomas are often >6 mm. Irregular edges with symptoms are more indicative of cancer, so this is not the priority finding.

Choice D reason: Consistent color is benign; variegated colors suggest malignancy. Irregular edges with burning/bleeding are more alarming, so consistent color is incorrect for the concerning finding.

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A patient’s blood pressure is 118/82 mm Hg. He asks the nurse, “What do the numbers mean?” What is the nurse’s best reply?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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