Question

A rapid pulse and shortness of breath in a patient usually indicates the patient is ________ and does not need to be reported to the nurse.

1) excited
2) calm
3) in pain
4) unconscious

Answer 1

A rapid pulse and shortness of breath can indicate serious health issues such as tachycardia or pneumonia, not just excitement. Symptoms like these warrant a detailed medical evaluation and should be reported to a nurse. Relative bradycardia might imply normal heart rates, yet the presence of symptoms suggests otherwise.

Step-by-step explanation:

A rapid pulse and shortness of breath in a patient typically raise concern and warrant further assessment to determine the underlying cause. While certain conditions such as excitement or extreme stress may lead to a temporary increase in heart rate and respiratory rate, these symptoms can also be indicative of more serious conditions like tachycardia, hypoxemia, or pneumonia. For example, during a physical examination, these symptoms along with other findings such as a crackling sound in the lungs or a shadow on a chest radiograph may suggest pneumonia, which is a significant health concern requiring medical attention.

Answer: 1) excited