3: General Assessment And Instruments

Question 1

Four vital signs

Answer 1

BP, pulse, respiratory rate, temperature

Question 2

Tool to measure BP

Answer 2

Sphygmomanometer

Question 3

Seven pulse locations

Answer 3

1. Radial artery
2. Brachial artery
3. Carotid artery
4. Abdominal aorta
5. Femoral artery
6. Popliteal artery
7. Dorsalis pedis artery

Question 4

Nl range for respiratory rate

Answer 4

15-20 bpm

Question 5

Normal range for temperature

Answer 5

97.8-99 degrees F

Question 6

Bell vs diaphragm on stethoscope

Answer 6

Bell: for low pitched sounds
Diaphragm: for high pitched sounds

Question 7

Two causes for falsely high and two for falsely low BP

Answer 7

Falsely high BP: brachial artery below heart; cuff too small
Falsely low BP: brachial artery above heart; cuff too large

Question 8

Auscultatory gap

Answer 8

Period of diminished/absent Korotkoff sounds during manual BP measurement -> can lead to BP errors

Question 9

What causes auscultatory gap?

Answer 9

Arterial stiffness, atherosclerosis

Question 10

How to pull ear when using otoscope on kids vs adults

Answer 10

Adults: pull ear up and back
Kinds: pull ear down and back

Question 11

Two evaluations you can make with a tuning fork

Answer 11

1. Hearing evaluation: air vs bone conduction

2. Vibratory sense

Question 12

14 things one can note on a general assessment of appearance

Answer 12

1. Level of consciousness
2. Signs of distress
3. Nutritional status
4. State of hydration
5. Posture
6. Gait
7. Dress
8. Hygiene
9. Cooperation
10. Height and weight
11. Odor
12. Affect
13. Verbal tones
14. Skin colorations/lesions/scalp

Question 13

Macule vs papule

Answer 13

Macule: flat lesion less than 1cm
Papule: raised lesion less than 1cm

Question 14

Plaques and vesicles on the skin

Answer 14

Plaques: raised lesion greater than 1cm
Vesicle: raised lesion less than 1cm, fluid filled