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Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Exam Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting Summary

Checked 10/31/26

Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting: key points

  • Normal adult resting pulse is about 60 to 100 beats per minute.
  • Report any sudden change in the resident to the nurse.
Importance
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About 4 of 38 Physical Care Skills questions (10%)

Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, pain, height and weight, intake and output, and observing and reporting changes to the nurse.

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Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting: 10 sample questions

Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 1. What is the normal resting pulse rate for an adult?

  1. ① 60 to 100 beats per minute
  2. ② 100 to 140 beats per minute
  3. ③ 12 to 20 beats per minute
  4. ④ 40 to 60 beats per minute
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Answer: ① 60 to 100 beats per minute

Key point: Adult pulse 60–100; report outside this range

A normal adult resting pulse is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Report a pulse below 60 or above 100, or one that is irregular, unless the nurse has told you that it is normal for that resident.

Wrong choices

  • 100 to 140 beats per minute: Above 100 at rest is fast (tachycardia).
  • 12 to 20 beats per minute: 12 to 20 is the normal adult breathing rate, not the pulse.
  • 40 to 60 beats per minute: Below 60 is slow (bradycardia) for most adults.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 2. What is the normal breathing (respiration) rate for an adult at rest?

  1. ① 12 to 20 breaths per minute
  2. ② 60 to 100 breaths per minute
  3. ③ 4 to 8 breaths per minute
  4. ④ 30 to 40 breaths per minute
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Answer: ① 12 to 20 breaths per minute

Key point: Adult respirations 12–20 per minute

A normal adult breathes about 12 to 20 times per minute at rest. Count one rise and one fall of the chest as one breath. Report breathing that is very fast, very slow, noisy, or labored.

Wrong choices

  • 60 to 100 breaths per minute: 60 to 100 is the normal adult pulse range.
  • 4 to 8 breaths per minute: This is far too slow for a healthy adult.
  • 30 to 40 breaths per minute: This is far too fast for an adult at rest.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 3. A resident who is usually talkative is suddenly confused and sleepy. What should the aide do?

  1. ① Wait until tomorrow to see if it gets better
  2. ② Report it to the nurse right away
  3. ③ Tell the resident's roommate to keep an eye on her
  4. ④ Write it in the notes at the end of the shift
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Answer: ② Report it to the nurse right away

Key point: Sudden change in a resident: report right away

A sudden change in alertness, behavior, or ability can be a sign of a serious problem such as infection or stroke. Report changes to the nurse right away.

Wrong choices

  • Wait until tomorrow to see if it gets better: Waiting can delay treatment for a serious problem.
  • Tell the resident's roommate to keep an eye on her: The roommate is not responsible for her care, and this breaks privacy.
  • Write it in the notes at the end of the shift: A sudden change needs to be reported now, not hours later.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 4. Where is the radial pulse taken?

  1. ① On the side of the neck
  2. ② On the top of the foot
  3. ③ On the inside of the elbow
  4. ④ On the inside of the wrist, on the thumb side
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Answer: ④ On the inside of the wrist, on the thumb side

Key point: Radial pulse: thumb side of the inner wrist

The radial pulse is felt on the thumb side of the inner wrist. Use two or three fingertips, not your thumb, because your thumb has its own pulse.

Wrong choices

  • On the side of the neck: That is the carotid pulse.
  • On the top of the foot: That is the pedal pulse.
  • On the inside of the elbow: That is the brachial pulse, used for blood pressure.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 5. Which oral temperature is closest to the average normal adult value?

  1. ① 102.2°F (39°C)
  2. ② 96.0°F (35.6°C)
  3. ③ 100.8°F (38.2°C)
  4. ④ 98.6°F (37°C)
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Answer: ④ 98.6°F (37°C)

Key point: Average normal oral temperature: 98.6°F (37°C)

The average normal oral temperature for adults is about 98.6°F (37°C), and normal readings vary a little from person to person. Older adults may have a slightly lower normal temperature, so a small rise can matter. Report readings above the normal range for that resident.

Wrong choices

  • 102.2°F (39°C): This is a fever and should be reported.
  • 96.0°F (35.6°C): This is below the usual normal oral range.
  • 100.8°F (38.2°C): This is above the normal range and may be a fever.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 6. Which blood pressure reading is in the normal range for an adult?

  1. ① 150/96 mm Hg
  2. ② 136/88 mm Hg
  3. ③ 182/112 mm Hg
  4. ④ 116/76 mm Hg
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Answer: ④ 116/76 mm Hg

Key point: Normal BP: below 120/80 mm Hg

Normal adult blood pressure is below 120 systolic and below 80 diastolic. Readings above that are elevated or high. Report readings that are higher or lower than usual for the resident, or that the nurse has asked you to report.

Wrong choices

  • 150/96 mm Hg: This is high blood pressure.
  • 136/88 mm Hg: This reading is above normal (high blood pressure range).
  • 182/112 mm Hg: This is very high and needs to be reported right away.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 7. A resident's pulse feels irregular. How long should the aide count it?

  1. ① 30 seconds, then multiply by 2
  2. ② A full 60 seconds
  3. ③ 10 seconds, then multiply by 6
  4. ④ 15 seconds, then multiply by 4
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Answer: ② A full 60 seconds

Key point: Irregular pulse: count a full minute and report

When a pulse is irregular, beats come at uneven times, so a short count multiplied up can be wrong. Count for one full minute and report the irregular rhythm to the nurse.

Wrong choices

  • 30 seconds, then multiply by 2: A 30-second count is not reliable for an irregular pulse.
  • 10 seconds, then multiply by 6: A 10-second count is the least accurate for an irregular pulse.
  • 15 seconds, then multiply by 4: With an irregular rhythm, a short count can be far off.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 8. A resident drinks 8 ounces of milk and 4 ounces of juice. Using 1 ounce = 30 mL, how many mL should be recorded?

  1. ① 120 mL
  2. ② 240 mL
  3. ③ 360 mL
  4. ④ 480 mL
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Answer: ③ 360 mL

Key point: Intake: total ounces × 30 = mL

Add the ounces, then change to mL:

  1. 8 oz + 4 oz = 12 oz
  2. 12 oz × 30 mL = 360 mL
  3. Check: 240 mL (milk) + 120 mL (juice) = 360 mL

Wrong choices

  • 120 mL: 120 mL is only the juice (4 × 30).
  • 240 mL: 240 mL is only the milk (8 × 30).
  • 480 mL: This uses 40 mL per ounce instead of 30.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 9. A resident rates his pain as 8 on a scale of 0 to 10 but is smiling and talking. What should the aide do?

  1. ① Give him a pain pill from the medicine cart
  2. ② Report the resident's rating of 8 to the nurse
  3. ③ Record a lower number because he looks comfortable
  4. ④ Tell him to wait until the next meal
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Answer: ② Report the resident's rating of 8 to the nurse

Key point: Report the resident's own pain rating

Pain is whatever the resident says it is. People show pain differently, and some smile through it. Record and report the resident's own rating to the nurse.

Wrong choices

  • Give him a pain pill from the medicine cart: Giving medicine is not the nurse aide's role.
  • Record a lower number because he looks comfortable: Pain is what the resident says it is; the aide does not change the rating.
  • Tell him to wait until the next meal: Delaying the report leaves his pain untreated.
Practice questionReviewedPhysical Care Skills › Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting★★★★☆

Question 10. Which temperature site usually gives the lowest reading?

  1. ① Oral
  2. ② Axillary (armpit)
  3. ③ All sites give the same reading
  4. ④ Rectal
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Answer: ② Axillary (armpit)

Key point: Rectal highest, oral middle, axillary lowest

Temperature differs by site. Rectal readings are usually the highest, oral is in the middle, and axillary (armpit) readings are usually the lowest. Always record which site you used.

Wrong choices

  • Oral: Oral readings are usually between rectal and axillary readings.
  • All sites give the same reading: Readings differ by site.
  • Rectal: Rectal temperatures are usually the highest.

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Vital Signs, Measurements, and Reporting: 5 questions →Physical Care Skills: 5 questions →

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