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Master PA Deck > Basic Vital Signs > Flashcards

Basic Vital Signs Flashcards

1
Q

Fatigue (define)

A

A sense of extreme tiredness from mental or physical exertion or illness; subjective (symptom)

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2
Q

Weakness (define)

A

A state of losing muscle power from medical or psychosocial cause; objective (sign)

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3
Q

Alert/conscious (description)

A

Patient responds fully and appropriately to stimuli

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4
Q

Confused (description)

A

Disoriented/impaired thinking and responses but still responds to stimuli

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5
Q

Delirious (description)

A

Disoriented, restless, hallucinations, delusions; marked deficit in attention

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6
Q

Somnolent/lethargic (description)

A

Sleepy; excessive drowsiness; responds to stimuli with incoherent mumbles or disorganized movements

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7
Q

Obtunded (description)

A

Decreased alertness; slowed psychomotor responses; quickly falls asleep

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8
Q

Stupor (description)

A

Sleep-like state; responds by grimacing or drawing away from painful stimuli; the patient will immediately lapse back to the unresponsive state

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9
Q

Comatose (description)

A

Cannot be aroused; eyes closed; no response to stimuli

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10
Q

Halitosis (Define)

A

Bad breath

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11
Q

BP (Width size)

A

Cuff bladder width should be 40% of upper arm circumference

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12
Q

BP (Length size)

A

Cuff bladder length should be 80% of upper arm circumference

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13
Q

BP (Cuff positioning)

A

Artery mark positioned directly over the brachial artery with the bottom edge approximately one inch (2-3 cm) above the AC fold

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14
Q

Korotkoff Sounds

A

K-sounds; beats heard as cuff is deflated; 5 phases

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15
Q

K1 (first phase)

A

Systolic pressure, first clear “tapping” sound; a sharp “thud”

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16
Q

K5 (fifth phase)

A

Diastolic pressure; sounds disappear completely, last sound is the diastolic pressure

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17
Q

K2 (second phase)

A

Softer, longer sounds characterized by a blowing or swishing sound

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18
Q

K3 (third phase)

A

Sounds become crisper and louder, similar to sounds heard in K1

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19
Q

K4 (fourth phase)

A

Softer, muffled sounds due to less turbulent flow; soft blowing sound that disappears; diastolic often mistakenly recorded

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20
Q

Rate of BP cuff release

A

No greater than 5 mmHg per second; recommended 2-3 mmHg per second

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21
Q

Pulse pressure (define)

A

The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure

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22
Q

Widened pulse pressure (define)

A

Difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is greater than 40mmHg

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23
Q

Pulse pressure (Indication)

A

Above 30-40mmHg is often indicative of cardiac issues

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24
Q

Normal temperature

A

37 C / 98.6 F

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25
Q

Fever temperature

A

38 C / 100.4 F

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26
Q

Celsius to Fahrenheit formula

A

T (F) = ( T (C) * 1.8) + 32

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27
Q

Hypothermia temperature

A

35 C / 95

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28
Q

Bradypnea

A

Rate below 12

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29
Q

Tachypnea

A

Rate above 20, rates above 30 indicate impending critical illness

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30
Q

Cheyne-Stokes breathing (characteristics)

A

Characterized by progressively deeper and sometimes faster breathing, followed by a gradual decrease that results in temporary apnea

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31
Q

Cheyne-Stokes breathing (conditions)

A

Seen in elderly, after stokes, trauma, and sometimes CHF

32
Q

Ataxic breathing (characteristics)

A

Characterized by unpredictable irregularity with irregular pauses and increasing periods of apnea

33
Q

Obstructive breathing (characteristics)

A

Characterized by narrowing of the smaller bronchi and larger bronchioles; problems exhaling

34
Q

Obstructive breathing (conditions)

A

Seen in asthma, emphysema, bronchitis

35
Q

Paradoxical breathing (characteristics)

A

Characterized by diaphragm moving opposite to the normal directions

36
Q

Asymmetrical rise and fall (Characteristics)

A

Characterized by decreased movement of chest wall

37
Q

Asymmetrical rise and fall (conditions)

A

Seen in fail chest, myasthenia gravis, etc.

38
Q

Kussmal breathing (characteristics)

A

Characterized by deep and labored breathing patterns; a form of hyperventilation

39
Q

Kussmal breathing (conditions)

A

Seen in diabetic ketoacidosis and kidney failure

40
Q

Biot’s (characteristics)

A

Characterized by rapid, short breathing with pauses of several seconds

41
Q

Biot’s (conditions)

A

Seen with increased intracranial pressure

42
Q

Agonal breathing (characteristics)

A

Characterized by gasping, labored breathing accompanied by strange vocalizations

43
Q

Apneustic (characteristics)

A

Characterized by prolonged inspiratory phases with each breath, followed by a prolonged expiratory phase that is often mistaken for a apneic period

44
Q

Orthostatics (time to take supine BP)

A

Have patient rest up to 10 min

45
Q

Orthostatics (time to take standing BP)

A

Measure within 2-5 minutes of standing

46
Q

Orthostatics (indication of positive)

A

Systolic drop of 20mmHg or more; diastolic drop of 10mmHg or more; heart rate increase of >20 bpm from supine to standing

47
Q

Postprandial (define)

A

After eating

48
Q

Hypotension (define)

49
Q

Hypertension (diagnosis)

A

mean of two or more BPs taken after two or more office visits in the seated position

50
Q

Normotensive

A

systolic: 90-120
diastolic: 60-80

51
Q

Pre-HTN

A

Systolic: 120-139
Diastolic: 80-89

52
Q

Stage 1 HTN

A

Systolic: 140-159
Diastolic: 90-99

53
Q

Stage 2 HTN

A

Systolic: >/= 160
Diastolic: >/= 100

54
Q

Pulsus paradoxus (define)

A

A fall of systolic blood pressure of >10mmHg (UTD states 20mmHg) during inspiratory phase

55
Q

Pulsus paradoxus (causes)

A 
Severe acute asthma
Exacerbations of COPD
Cardiac tamponade
Tension pneumothorax
Hypovolemic shock
Pulmonary embolism
56
Q

HR variability (description)

A

Changes in HR in response to stress, time of day, activity levels, emotions; higher HRV is healthier

57
Q

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 0

A

Pulse is absent

58
Q

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 1+

A

Pulse is diminished/faint (decreased stroke volume)

59
Q

Causes of 1+ Pulse Rating

A

Heart failure, hypovolemia, aortic stenosis

60
Q

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 2+

A

Pulse is normal

61
Q

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 3+

A

Pulse is full

62
Q

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 4+

A

Pulse is bounding (increased stroke volume)

63
Q

Causes of 4+ Pulse Rating

A

Anemia, hyperthyroidism; calcified blood vessels

64
Q

BMI formula

A 
BMI = Weight (kg)/height (m2)
BMI = [Weight (lbs)/height (inches2)] x 703
65
Q

Most accurate temp method

66
Q

Least accurate temp method

67
Q

Ventilation (define)

A

The mechanical movement of gas in and out of the lungs

68
Q

Respiration (define)

A

Gas exchange - the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

69
Q

CAGE

A

Type of alcohol screening

70
Q

Turgor (description)

A

Referes to the skin’s elasticity. It is the ability of skin to change shape and return to normal.

71
Q

At what level should the arm be that the BP is taken in?

72
Q

Three attributes of HR

A

Rate, rhythm and amplitude

73
Q

Seven attributes of symptoms

A

Location, quality, quantity or severity, timing, setting, provocation factors, and associated manifestations

74
Q

Three attributes of HR

A

Rate, rhythm and amplitude

75
Q

General survey of PE components

A

Appearance, state of health, demeanor, facial expression, grooming, hygiene, obvious skin lesions, distress, pain, height and weight, behavior, posture and gait

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