ATI/PPT vital signs CH 27 Flashcards
What constitutes vital signs?
- temp
- pulse
- respirations
- BP
- pain O2 sat is supposed to be 95 or above
Why is it important to monitor vital signs?
- direct reflection of health status
- important to detect variations from normal/baseline to determine disease exacerbation
Evidence Based Finding
1-early recognition/timely tx
2-iD pts at risk for adverse events
3-use pre-planned/structural assessment of physiological parameters {protocol}
4-eliminate barriers to emergency assistance when pt’s status is deteriorating
Temperature
1-heat produced vs. heat lost
2-surface body temps are lower than core(axillary v. Rectal)
3-thermoregulation=hypothalamus
How is heat produced?
1-metabolism,2-hormones,3-exercise,4-shivering
How is heat lost?
1-skin,2-sweat evaporation,3-breathing,4-urine/feces
Heat Production
Results from increases in basal metabolic rate,muscle activity,thyroxine output,testosterone & sympathetic stimulation
Heat loss
1-radiation=transfer of heat from one object to another without contact between them;2-convection=dispersion of heat by air currents/movement;3-evaporation=dispersion of heat through water vapor;4-conduction=transfer from body directly to another surface
Visible perspiration on skin
Diaphoresis
Factors affecting temp
1-circadian rhythm,2-age,3-gender,4-stress,5-environmental temps
Core temp measurement sites
1-rectum,2-tympanic membrane,3-temporal artery,4-pulmonary artery,5-esophagus & 6-urinary bladder
Surface temp measurement sites
1-skin,2-mouth,3-axillae
Expected temp ranges
1-oral=(96.8-100.4) avg is 98.6
2-rectal=(.9 degrees higher than oral/tympanic)
3-axillary=(.9 degrees lower)
4-temporal=close to rectal,but (1 degree higher than oral,2 degree higher than axillary)
Increased body temp causes/what to look for
1-tissue injury like MI,PE,cancer,trauma or surgery/infections/inflammatory processes
2-know if its gradual or sudden onset
3-hyperthermia vs. Neurogenic fever vs. fever of unknown origin
4-ovulation/menses
5-exercise,dehydration,activity
Pt presentation with w/ increased temp(assessment)
1-decreased appetite,2-headache,3-dry skin,4-thirst,5-achy muscles,6-increased pulse/respirations
Considerations to temp-newborns & elderly
Newborns=lose heat rapidly;(97.7-99.5)
Elderly=loss of subcu fat;harder to get a reading since body struggles trying to regulate
How to reduce fever
1-provide antibiotics/Tylenol or Motrin(antipyretics)*don’t give to children/adolescents w/ fever or chicken pox because of Reyes
2-sponge baths,3-cooling blankets,4-cool packs
Assessing temp
1-thermometers,2-sites,3-age group,4-contraindicated
Nursing interventions for temp variations
1-frequent monitoring 2-monitoring I/O 3-monitor for seizures 4-med administration 5-IV fluid administration 6-use cooling/warming devices
Nursing dx
1-hypothermia as evidenced by…
2-hyperthermia related to..
3-risk for unbalanced body temp(elderly/newborn)
4-ineffective thermoregulation(elderly/preemies)
Oral temp
4 years of age & older
**Do NOT use for pts who are mouth breathers or have experienced trauma to face/mouth
Rectal temp
- *DO NOT use on pts with diarrhea,bleeding precautions such as those with low platelets, or have rectal disorders
- *3 months old and younger should NOT use this site due to rectal perforation
- more accurate than axillary
Tympanic temp
- ear up & back for adults,down & back for child under 3
- readings can be inaccurate for children under 3 mo
Pulse
1-autonomicNS=controls HR 2-parasympatheticNS=lowers HR 3-sympatheticNS=raises HR -can be palpated or auscultated -result of ventricular contraction
What is the pulse made of?
1-rate(BPM),2-quality,(strong vs. weak)3-rhythm,4-volume,5-equality
Rate
Number of times per minute you feel/hear the pulse
Rhythm
Regularity of impulses
Strength(amplitude) or stroke volume
- Volume of blood ejected against arterial wall w/ each heart contraction & condition of arterial vascular system
- strength of impulse should stay same from beat to beat
- strength is 0-4(0=absent,unable to palpate,1=diminished/weaker than expected,2=brisk,expected,3=increased,strong,4=full volume,bounding
Equality
- peripheral pulse impulses should be symmetrical in quality & quantity from right side of body to left
- assess strength/equality to evaluate adequacy of vascular system
- inequality or absence of pulse on one side can indicate a disease state such as thrombus or aortic dissection
Cardiac output
Amount of blood per minute
CO=SV x HR
Pulse deficit
Difference in apical/radial pulse
-must be done by 2 nurses
Dysrhythmia
Irregular heart rhythm, generally with an irregular radial pulse
Expected HR range
Adults=60-100/minat rest
Infants=120-160/min
Adolescent=80-90/min
Tachycardia
Rate greater than expected range, or 100/min