Ch. 10 (Vital Signs) Flashcards
What are objective measurements of the body’s essential functions called?
vital signs
What are the five objective measurements we gather when assessing a patient’s vital signs?
- temperature
- pulse
- respiratory rate
- blood pressure
- oxygen saturation
During a vital sign assessment, the nurse is assessing which cognitive function when they ask the patient about the date and time?
orientation
What kind of disorders are disorders of decreased mental function resulting from a medical or physical disease, rather than a psychiatric illness?
organic disorder
When assessing a patient’s vital signs, we use multiple different tests.
What kind of test is used to screen whether a patient has cognitive impairment, usually using a three-word recall method?
Mini-Cog test
How many words would the nurse ask the patient to recall when using the Mini-Cog instrument to test the cognitive ability of a patient?
three
Which cognitive function is the nurse assessing during a mental status assessment, when the nurse asks about the patient’s first job?
remote memory
During a vital sign’s assessment..
What shows the strength of the heart’s stroke volume?
the force of the pulse
During a vital sign’s assessment..
What kind of pulse denotes an increased stroke volume?
full, bounding pulse
During a vital sign’s assessment..
What kind of scale is used when recording the pulse force of a patient?
three-point scale
(some agencies use a four-point scale)
During a vital sign’s assessment..
What force on the three-point pulse force scale would most healthy adults fall under?
2+
During a vital sign’s assessment..
What kind of pulse reflects a decreased stroke volume?
weak, thready pulse
On a three-point pulse force scale…
What would a pulse force of 3+ mean?
full, bounding (increased stroke volume: anxiety, exercise, some abnormal conditions)
On a three-point pulse force scale…
What would a pulse force of 2+ mean?
normal
On a three-point pulse force scale…
What would a pulse force of 1+ mean?
weak, thready (decreased stroke volume: hemorrhagic stock)
On a three-point pulse force scale…
What would a pulse force of 0 mean?
absent
What is the normal resting beats per minute range in 95% of healthy individuals?
50-95 beats/min
rate varies with age (more rapid the younger you are)
What is an indication of orthostatic hypotension?
dizziness with position changes
What can prevent accurate readings for pulse oximetry during a vital signs assessment?
dark nail polish
What consistent blood pressure readings average would indicate hypertension?
160/90 mm Hg
During a vital signs assessment, what would define a drop in blood pressure that occurs with change in position?
orthostatic hypotension
What vital sign would the nurse assess first in a patient who reports occasional dizziness and light-headedness upon standing?
blood pressure
What vital sign would the nurse assess first in a patient who reports signs of a fever, such as chills?
temperature
What vital sign would the nurse assess first in a patient who reports difficulty breathing?
respiratory rate and oxygen saturation levels
What refers to a drop in systolic pressure of >20 mm Hg or diastolic pressure >10 mm Hg after changing to a standing position?
orthostatic hypotension
What vital sign would the nurse assess first when suspecting the patient to have a volume depletion?
blood pressure and pulse
What vital sign would the nurse assess first in a patient who reports da history of hypertension?
blood pressure and pulse
What is the average healthy adult respiratory rate and range?
20 breaths/minute with a range of 16-25 breaths/minute
During a vital sign’s assessment..
If the nurses notices a patient’s heart rate is irregular, how long should the pulse be counted for?
a full minute (60 seconds)
During a vital sign’s assessment..
If the nurse notices a patient’s heart rate is regular, how long should the pulse be counted for?
30 seconds and multiply by 2
During a vital sign’s assessment..
What is the most acurrate way to measure temperature route in a patient?
rectal temperature
During a vital sign’s assessment..
What is the most accurate way to measure temperature route in a patient who is unresponsive?
rectal temperature
What is the normal average oral temperature of an adult?
98.6 F
What is the normal arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) for a healthy person with no lung disease?
97-99%
value >95 is clinically acceptable in presence of normal hemoglobin