Question

The nurse obtains vital signs for a 56-year-old patient who underwent surgery yesterday. Which finding(s) require(s) further assessment? Select all that apply.

1) Blood pressure 110/64 mm Hg
2) Pulse rate 118 beats/minute
3) Respiratory rate 35 breaths/minute
4) Oral temperature 98.6F (37C)

Answer 1

The pulse rate of 118 beats/minute and respiratory rate of 35 breaths/minute require further assessment as they are higher than the normal ranges.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing the vital signs of a 56-year-old patient who underwent surgery yesterday, findings that require further assessment include:

• Pulse rate of 118 beats/minute, which is higher than the normal range of 60-100 beats per minute
• Respiratory rate of 35 breaths/minute, also higher than the normal adult range of 12-18 breaths per minute

The blood pressure of 110/64 mm Hg falls within the normal range, and an oral temperature of 98.6°F (37°C) is considered normal body temperature.