Ch.12 Vital Signs

Question 1

____________ is a term used to describe a warmer-than-normal set point.

Answer 1

Pyrexia

Question 2

A(n) ____________ scale is commonly used in the United States to measure and report body temperature.

Answer 2

Fahrenheit

Question 3

____________ is a structure within the brain that helps control various metabolic activities and acts as the center for temperature regulation.

Answer 3

Hypothalamus

Question 4

____________ stiffens body hairs and gives the appearance of what commonly is described as “goose flesh.”

Answer 4

Piloerection

Question 5

____________ rhythms are physiologic changes, such as fluctuations in body temperature, and other vital signs that happen during 24-hour cycles.

Answer 5

Circadian

Question 6

____________ affect metabolic rate by triggering hormonal changes through the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways of the autonomic nervous system.

Answer 6

Emotions

Question 7

The ____________, or the underarm, is an alternative site for assessing body temperature.

Answer 7

Axilla

Question 8

A(n) ____________ thermometer uses a temperature-sensitive probe covered with a disposable sheath and attached by a coiled wire to a display unit.

Answer 8

Electronic

Question 9

A(n) ____________ ultrasound device is an electronic instrument that detects the movement of blood through peripheral blood vessels and converts the movement to a sound.

Answer 9

Doppler

Question 10

____________ sounds result from the vibrations of blood within the arterial wall or changes in blood flow.

Answer 10

Korotkoff

Question 11

Identify the procedure

Answer 11

The equipment in the figure is a Doppler stethoscope.

Question 12

Explain the use of the equipment.

Answer 12

A Doppler stethoscope helps to detect sounds created by the velocity of blood moving through a blood vessel.

Question 13

Identify the equipment

Answer 13

The equipment in the figure is a digital thermometer.

Question 14

Describe the use of this equipment.

Answer 14

A digital thermometer looks similar to a glass thermometer and can be used at oral, axillary, and rectal sites. It has a sensing tip at the end of the stem, an on/off button, and a display area that lights up during use.

Question 15

Rapid respiratory rate

Answer 15

Tachypnea

Question 16

Pulse rate is less than 60 bpm

Answer 16

Bradycardia

Question 17

Cooling of the ear when it comes in contact with the probe of the thermometer

Answer 17

Drawdown Effect

Question 18

Use of calories for sustaining body functions

Answer 18

Metabolic rate

Question 19

Blood pressure measurements are below the normal

Answer 19

Hypotension

Question 20

Presented here, in random order, are four distinct phases through which fever progresses. Write the correct sequence of these events in the boxes provided.

1. Invasion phase
2. Defervescence phase
3. Prodromal phase
4. Stationary phase

Answer 20

3. Prodromal phase
4. Invasion phase
5. Stationary phase
6. Defervescence phase

Question 21

What is systolic pressure?

Answer 21

Systolic pressure is the pressure within the arterial system when the heart contracts. It is higher than diastolic pressure.

Question 22

What should the nurse do if the client’s temperature is not normal?

Answer 22

If the client’s temperature is above or below normal, the nurse should: Record and report the temperature. Implement appropriate nursing and medical interventions for restoring normal body temperature when appropriate. Reassess the client frequently.

Question 23

What are objective assessment data?

Answer 23

Objective assessment data include vital signs (body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure) that indicate how well or how poorly the client’s body is functioning.

Question 24

What causes an increase in body temperature during ovulation?

Answer 24

Body temperature increases slightly in women of childbearing age during ovulation as a result of hormonal changes that affect metabolism or tissue injury and repair after release of an ovum (egg).

Question 25

How does emotion affect body temperature?

Answer 25

Emotions affect the metabolic rate by triggering hormonal changes through the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways pathways of the autonomic nervous system. People who tend to be constantly anxious and nervous are likely to have slightly increased body temperatures. Conversely, people who are apathetic or depressed are prone to have slightly lower body temperatures.

Question 26

When is a paper chemical thermometer used?

Answer 26

A paper chemical thermometer or plastic strip with chemically treated dots is used to assess the temperature of clients who require isolation precautions for infectious diseases. Some physician’s offices use them also because they are disposable.

Question 27

A nurse is caring for a client with a high fever. The nurse notices that the client is shivering and their body is hot. The nurse has been instructed by the physician to record the client’s body temperature regularly. How should the nurse ensure that the temperature measured reflects the core body temperature?

Answer 27

The nurse should insert the thermometer in the ear (tympanic membrane) to get the core body temperature. The ear is the peripheral site that most closely reflects core body temperature.

Question 28

How should the nurse document the different assessment sites in the client’s medical record?

Answer 28

To evaluate trends in body temperature, the nurse should document the assessment site as O for oral, R for rectal, AX for axillary, TA for temporal artery, and T for tympanic membrane. The nurse should also take the temperature by the same route each time.