CH 12: Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices - Concepts Flashcards
What are vital signs?
Outward signs of what is going on inside the body.
Pulse Respiration Skin color, temperature, condition Pupils Blood pressure
What are you concerned with when taking a patient’s pulse?
Rate and quality
What is a normal pulse rate for adults?
60-100 bpm
What does a rapid, regular and full pulse indicate?
Exertion Fright Fever High BP 1st stage of blood loss
What does a rapid, regular and thready pulse indicate?
Shock
Later stages of blood loss
What does a slow pulse indicate?
Head injury Drugs Some poisons Some heart problems Lack of O2 in children
What type of pulse is most concerning for infants or children?
Slow pulse
What factors determine pulse quality?
Rhythm and force
What are you concerned with when checking a patient’s respiration?
Rate and quality
What is normal respiration rate for adults?
12-20 breaths per minute
What are the four categories of respiratory quality?
Normal
Shallow
Labored
Noisy
What does snoring indicate?
Airway blockage
What does wheezing indicate?
Medical problem such as asthma
What does gurgling indicate?
Fluids in airway
What does crowing (harsh sound with inhale) indicate?
Medical problem that cannot be treated on scene
What does pale skin indicate?
Constricted blood vessels - possible blood loss, shock, hypotension, emotional distress
What does cyanotic skin indicate?
Lack of O2 - inadequate breathing or heart function
What does flushed skin indicate?
Exposure to heat, emotional excitement
What does jaundiced skin indicate?
Abnormalities of the liver
What does mottled skin indicate?
Occasionally in patients with shock
What does cool, clammy skin indicate?
Sign of shock, anxiety
What does cold, moist skin indicate?
Body losing heat
What does cold, dry skin indicate?
Exposure to cold
What does hot, dry skin indicate?
High fever, heat exposure
What does hot, moist skin indicate?
High fever, heat exposure
What three things do you look for when assessing pupils?
Size
Equality
Reactivity
What do dilated pupils indicate?
Fright
Blood loss
Drugs
Rx eye drops
What do constricted pupils indicate?
Drugs
Rx eye drops
What do unequal pupils indicate?
Stroke
Head/eye injury
Artificial eye
Rx eye drops
What does a lack of reactivity in pupils indicate?
Drugs
Lack of O2 to brain
What are the three techniques used to measure blood pressure?
Auscultation - stethoscope
Palpation - no stethoscope
BP monitor - machine controlled
What is healthy oxygen saturation?
96-100% SpO2 (oxygen saturation)
What is a normal blood glucose level?
60-80 mg/dL
