A nurse is assessing a healthy, older adult patient for an exercise program to be offered at the local hospital. During the evaluation, the nurse notes the following vital signs:

Question

P = 72, RR = 16, BP = 132/70 . After 3 minutes of moderate-intensity running on the treadmill, the patient becomes short of breath and states, "I have to stop. I can't do this anymore." The nurse measures his vital signs again: P = 152, RR = 40, BP = 172/98 . She instructs him to rest. Vital signs return to baseline after 15 minutes. The nurse should recognize his symptoms as associated with which of the following?
a. Anxiety
b. Orthostatic hypotension
c. Limited activity tolerance
d. Respiratory distress

Answer 1

C
To assess for activity tolerance, assess and record vital signs before and after exercise. A rapid change from baseline vital signs or a slow return to baseline indicates limited activity tolerance. Anxiety might primarily be exhibited via signs of difficulty getting enough air, elevated heart rate, and systolic blood pressure. Vital signs would resolve when anxiety is reduced and not after exercise. Orthostatic hypotension is a temporary lowering of blood pressure when suddenly standing up. It is not a finding related to exercise.