Certified Transport Registered Nurse Certification Practice Exam

Which physiological effects can noise during transport cause?

1. Increased sedation and drowsiness

2. Improved cognitive function

3. Increased irritation and changes in intestinal motility

4. Decreased heart rate variability

The correct answer is: Increased irritation and changes in intestinal motility

The physiological effects of noise during transport can lead to increased irritation and changes in intestinal motility. Exposure to loud or persistent noise can cause stress responses in the body, resulting in irritability and discomfort. This stress can trigger changes in the autonomic nervous system, which regulates intestinal functions. The disturbance in the normal motility of the gastrointestinal tract can result from the body’s heightened state of alertness owing to the surrounding noise, leading to symptoms such as nausea, cramping, or altered bowel habits. Additionally, noise does not typically contribute positively to cognitive function or relaxation. In fact, increased sedation and drowsiness is more commonly associated with an absence of stressors rather than the presence of noise. Similarly, while heart rate variability can be influenced by many factors, the presence of noise tends to be associated with increased stress rather than decreased variability. Hence, option C reflects the most accurate physiological effects observed in relation to noise during transport.