Ch. 12: Vital Signs Flashcards
Includes
temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure
Ability to obtain accurate
measurements is critical
Often provide basis for
problem-solving
Fifth vital sign
pain level or comfort level
The nurse must be able to do the following
measure vital signs correctly, understand data and interpret values, communicate the findings appropriately
Two types of body temperature
core and surface temperature
Temperature measurements are obtained by several methods
heat-sensitive patches, electronic thermometers, tympanic thermometer, temporal artery method
Sites for pulse measurement
temporal, facial, carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis
Auscultating the apical rate
is essential on all cardiac patients
Apical pulse
the actual beating of the heart
Radial pulse
measured in groove along radial side of forearm
Pulse deficit
difference between the radial and apical rates
Assessment of respiration
note the rate, depth, quality and rhythm
Assessment of respirations is done by observing the movement of the
diaphragm and intercostal muscles
Dyspnea
breathing with difficulty
Hypertension
blood pressure elevated
Hypotension
blood pressure below normal
Systolic
the ventricles contracting, forcing blood into the aorta and pulmonary arteries
Diastolic
pressure within the arteries beats when the blood enters the relaxed chambers
Pulse pressure
difference between systolic and diastolic. Indication of cardiac function
Cardiac output
the amount of blood discharged from heart per minute
Hypertension
140/90
Korotkoff sounds
listening to BP at brachial artery
Normal limits
97 to 98.8
60 to 100 beats per minute
12 to 20 respirations
120/80 mm Hg