Chapter 13 Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices

Question 1

Key Terms

listening. A stethoscope is used to __________ for characteristic sounds

Answer 1

Auscultation

Question 2

Key Terms

the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels

Answer 2

Blood Pressure

Question 3

Key Terms

a machine that automatically inflates a blood pressure cuff and measures blood pressure

Answer 3

Blood pressure monitor

Question 4

Key Terms

the major artery of the arm

Answer 4

Brachial Artery

Question 5

Key Terms

the pulse felt in the upper arm

Answer 5

Brachial Pulse

Question 6

Key Terms

a slow pulse; any pulse rate below 60 beats per minute

Answer 6

Bradycardia

Question 7

Key Terms

the pulse felt along the large carotid artery on either side of the neck

Answer 7

Carotid Pulse

Question 8

Key Terms

get smaller

Answer 8

Constrict

Question 9

Key Terms

the pressure remaining in the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is relaxed and refilling

Answer 9

Diastolic Blood Pressure

Question 10

Key Terms

get larger

Answer 10

Dilate

Question 11

Key Terms

the ratio of the amount of oxygen present in the blood to the amount that could be carried expressed as a percentage

Answer 11

Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)

Question 12

Key Terms

touching or feeling. A pulse or blood pressure may palpated with the fingertips

Answer 12

Palpation

Question 13

Key Terms

the rhythmic beats felt as the heart pumps blood through the arteries

Answer 13

Pulse

Question 14

Key Terms

an electronic device for determining the amount of oxygen carried in the blood, known as the oxygen saturation or SpO2

Answer 14

Pulse Oximeter

Question 15

Key Terms

the rhythm (regular or irregular) and force (strong or weak) of the pulse

Answer 15

the rhythm (regular or irregular) and force (strong or weak) of the pulse

Question 16

Key Terms

the number beats per minute

Answer 16

Pulse Rate

Question 17

Key Terms

the black center of the eye

Answer 17

Pupil

Question 18

Key Terms

the pulse felt at the wrist

Answer 18

Radial Pulse

Question 19

Key Terms

in the pupils of the eyes, reacting to light by changing size

Answer 19

Reactivity

Question 20

Key Terms

the act of breathing in and breathing out

Answer 20

Respiration

Question 21

Key Terms

the number of breaths taken in one minute

Answer 21

Respiratory Rate

Question 22

Key Terms

the regular or irregular spacing of breaths

Answer 22

Respiratory Rhythm

Question 23

Key Terms

the cuff and gauge used to measure blood pressure

Answer 23

Sphygmomanometer

Question 24

Key Terms

the pressure created when the heart contracts and forces blood out into the arteries

Answer 24

Systolic Blood Pressure

Question 25

Key Terms

a rapid pulse; any pulse rate above 100 beats per minute

Answer 25

Tachycardia

Question 26

Key Terms

outward signs of what is going on inside the body, including respiration; pulse; skin color, temperature, and condition (plus capillary refill in infants and children); pupils; and blood pressure

Answer 26

Vital Signs

Question 27

Short Answer

Name the vital signs.

Answer 27

Vital signs traditionally measured in EMS are respiration; pulse; skin color, temperature, and condition (plus capillary refill infants and children); pupils; and blood pressure.

Question 28

Short Answer

Explain why vital signs should be taken more than once.

Answer 28

Vital signs should be taken more than once because the patient’s condition may change while in your care. You should repeat vital signs on stable patients every 15 minutes. You should repeat vital signs on unstable patients every 5 minutes. Repeat vital signs after every medical intervention.

Question 29

Critical Thinking

How much time should the EMT spend looking for a pulse when the radial pulse is absent or extremely weak?

Answer 29

If you are attempting to assess for a radial pulse and cannot fine one, do not spend more than a couple of seconds before checking the other arm or another artery such as the brachial or carotid artery.

Question 30

Critical Thinking

How should you react when the blood pressure monitor gives a reading that is extremely different from previous readings you got?

Answer 30

If you ever question a blood pressure reading, whether the reading came from a blood pressure monitor or was measured by auscultation from another caregiver, always repeat the procedure.

Question 31

Critical Thinking

How can you get an accurate pulse oximeter reading on a patient with thick artificial nails?

Answer 31

Nail polish can cause an inaccurate reading on a pulse oximeter (blue nail polish actually gives the most inaccurate readings). One option is to carry acetone wipes to quickly remove the nail polish from the patient’s fingernail before attaching the device. Remove any artificial nail. If the nail is too thick or it is not possible to remove the polish or an artificial nail, you may try attaching a probe to the patient’s toe or earlobe.

Question 32

Pathophysiology to Practice

Sometimes a patient’s heart will have an electrical problem and beat more than 200 times a minute. Why is the pulse so weak in such a patient?

Answer 32

Whenever the heart beats faster than the natural maximum heart rate, the chambers of the heart will fail to completely fill with blood before contracting, leading to poor blood flow from the ventricles and weaker pulses felt in the periphery.

Question 33

Pathophysiology to practice

When someone has lost a significant amount of blood, the adrenal glands secrete epinephrine (adrenaline), which causes pale, sweaty skin. What effect does epinephrine have on blood vessels, leading to this condition?

Answer 33

The sympathetic nervous system and the hormone epinephrine work to combat blood loss by constricting blood vessels. This causes more blood from the periphery, such as the skin, to be shunted toward the core of the body, such as the heart and lungs, where it is needed the most. Skin appears pale and sweaty because of the vasoconstrictive properties of epinephrine.

Question 34

Pathophysiology to Practice

Why is chronically high diastolic pressure strongly associated with heart disease?

Answer 34

The diastolic pressure is the pressure that remains in the arteries when the left ventricle relaxes and refills. Chronically high pressures during this relaxation phase, also known as diastolic hypertension, obviously increase the stress and wear on cardiac structures and put the patient at much greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.