CH2 Vital signs Flashcards
Vital signs contain: __________
Body temperature (T, Temp; degree Celsius, ˚C)
Pulse rate (P or PR; beats per min., bpm)
Respiration rate (R or RR; breaths per min, bpm)
Blood pressure (BP; milliliters mercury, mmHg)
Pulse oximetry (SaO2/ SpO2; percent, %)
Pain: 5th vital signs (Subjective data)
Time to perform vital signs assessment: ____________
- Doctor’s prescription (eg. Daily/ QD/ BD/ TDS/ QID/ Q4H),
- At least every 4 hours or even more frequent for patients when:
Elevated temperature >37.5˚C (Re-check temperature every 4 hours until fever subsided, and QD 72hrs no fever),
Changes in physical conditions (eg. Abnormal pulse rate/ respiratory rate too fast / too slow , abnormal blood pressure too high / too low),
Respiratory difficulty (airway & breathing problems),
Cardiac related discomfort - On admission
- Assess patients during home care visit or out-patient care setting visit
- Before, during and after any procedures/ operations/ nursing interventions, eg. Passive movements on bed, surgery, abdominal tapping成肚水 …
- Before, during and after the administration of medications or application of therapies that affect cardiovascular, respiratory, or temperature-control functions
- Client reports specific symptoms of physical distress
Frequency to monitor vital signs: 1 time per day = _______
Daily, QD
Frequency to monitor vital signs: 2 times per day = _______
BD
Frequency to monitor vital signs: 3 times per day = _______
TDS, TID
Frequency to monitor vital signs: 4 times per day = _______
QID
Frequency to monitor vital signs: every ? Hour(s) = _______
Q?H
QD = ?
1 time per day
BD = ?
2 times per day
TDS, TID = ?
3 times per day
QID = ?
4 times per day
Q?H = ____
Every ? Hour(s)
Factors of thermoregulation - heat production includes ______
- Basal metabolic rate (BMR): Rate of energy utilization to maintain essential activities, decrease with age
- Muscle activity, Eg. Exercise, shivering; increase the BMR and heat production
- Thyroxine output; Increase thyroxine output increases BMR
- Epinephrine, nonepinephrine, and sympathetic stimulation/ stress response; immediately increase BMR
- Fever
Factors of thermoregulation - heat loss includes ______
- Radiation
◦ Infrared rays
◦ Transfer heat from the surface of one object to the surface of another without contact between two
objects - Conduction
◦ Transfer heat from high temperature to low temperature by the contact of objects - Convection
◦ Dispersion of heat by air currents - Evaporation
◦ Continuous vaporization of moisture from respiratory tract, oral mucosa, and skin
List factors that you can change to reduce patient’s body temperature
Exercises (ask the patient to sit down for 15 minutes), Environment (turn on the air-conditioner or turn up the AC), Diseases, e.g. Infection -> fever (give antibiotic as prescribed for infectious disease) 打針比panadol effective
Factors affecting body temperature
-Age (basal metabolic rate)
-Diurnal variations (~1˚C morning to late afternoon)
-Hot/ cold drink (affects oral temperature)
-Exercises (increase metabolic rate)
-Hormones (e.g. Increase temperature during ovulation, thyroid disorders)
-Stress (due to hormonal changes)
-Environment (too hot/ too cold)
-Diseases, eg. Infection–> fever
Which body sites can measure core temperature?
Tympanic membrane, rectum, (temporal artery), (esophagus), (pulmonary artery), (urine bladder)
Which body sites can measure surface temperature?
Oral cavity, axilla, skin
Body temperature readings measured at tympanic is _____
37.5˚C (99.5˚F)
Body temperature readings measured at rectal is _____
37.5˚C (99.5˚F)
Body temperature readings measured at oral is _____
37.0˚C (98.6˚F)
Body temperature readings measured at axillary is _____
36.5˚C (97.7˚F)
Body temperature readings measured at forehead (skin) is _____
34.4˚C (94˚F)
How to measure tympanic temperature?
Straighten ear canal for measurement
◦ Adult: pull pinna upward & backward
◦ Child (< 3 years old): pull pinna downward & backward
State the advantages of taking tympanic temperature
Easily accessible site (available when the patient is sleeping), Provides accurate core reading because eardrum is close to
hypothalamus and sensitive to care temperature changes
State the limitation of taking tympanic temperature
Not used with patients who have had surgery of the ear or
tympanic membrane (should have no lesion)
Position for patient taking rectal temperature: ______
side-lying with one leg flexed
Procedures of taking rectal temperature: ________
Provide privacy
wear disposable gloves
Cover probe with disposable sheath
Lubricate & insert 1-1.5 inch into rectum; hold in place for 3 mins/ until “beep” sound
Remove disposable cover–> check the reading
(Never force insertion if resistance is felt)