Final answer:
The nurse needs to assess the 65-year-old man with a respiratory rate of 10rpm further, as this is below the normal adult range of 12-20 breaths per minute and could indicate an underlying issue that requires attention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assessment that requires the nurse to assess the patient further is the 65-year-old man with a respiratory rate of 10rpm. For adults, a normal resting heart rate (HR) is between 60-100 bpm, and a respiratory rate is generally 12-20 breaths per minute. While the 18-year-old woman's HR of 140 bpm after exercise could be normal due to a physiological response to physical activity, and the 50-year-old man's BP of 112/60mmHg on awakening could also be normal, as blood pressure often dips during sleep, the 65-year-old man's respiratory rate of 10rpm is lower than the normal range and could signify an underlying problem such as respiratory depression or failure. The 40-year-old woman's pulse of 88bpm is considered within normal limits.
Abnormal heart rates like bradycardia and tachycardia are classified based on being below 60 bpm or above 100 bpm at rest, respectively. Factors like fitness levels, age, and presence of symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, chest discomfort, or respiratory distress, play a role in determining the clinical significance of an abnormal HR. The maximum HR typically decreases with age, which can be estimated by subtracting the person's age from 220.