Question

A medical assistant is collecting vital signs from a 6-year-old child. The assistant should recognize that which of the following vital signs is outside of the expected reference range for this patient and should be reported to the provider?

A) Heart rate of 100 beats per minute
B) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
C) Blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg
D) Temperature of 39.5°C (103.1°F)

Answer 1

The temperature of 39.5°C (103.1°F) in a 6-year-old child is outside of the expected reference range and indicates a fever, which should be reported to a medical provider.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medical assistant should recognize that a temperature of 39.5°C (103.1°F) is outside of the expected reference range for a 6-year-old child and should be reported to the provider. A heart rate of 100 beats per minute is normal for this age group, as the normal range is from 60 to 100 beats per minute. A respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute is also within the normal range for a child of this age, which is closer to 18 to 30 breaths per minute. A blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg can be typical for a child, as the normal blood pressure range for children varies but is generally lower than adults. Therefore, the vital sign that is suggestive of a potential problem and should be reported is the elevated temperature, which indicates a fever and could be a sign of disease.