Chapter 13: Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices Flashcards
The 6 vital signs
- pulse
- blood pressure
- respiratory
- skin
- pulse ox
- pupils
Taking a pulse
- check carotid for unresponsive
- check radial for responsive
- look for presence, strength, and regularity
Taking a blood pressure
- auscultation (listening)
- palpation (using cuff and pump) (systolic only)
Taking respiratory vitals
- rate, depth, and quality of breaths
- color, temp, and condition of skin
Looking at pupils for vitals
- size, equality, and reactivity
What are vital signs
outward signs of what is going on inside the body, including respiration; pulse; skin color, temperature and condition (plus cap refill in infants and children); pupils; and blood pressure
pulse
the rhythmic beats felt as the heart pumps blood through the arteries
pulse rate
the number of pulse beats per minute
tachycardia
a rapid pulse; any pulse rate above 100 beats per min.
bradycardia
a slow pulse; any pulse rate below 60 beats per minute
pulse quality
the rhythm (regular or irregular) and force (strong or weak) of the pulse
radial pulse
the pulse felt at the wrist
brachial pulse
the pulse felt in the upper arm
carotid pulse
the pulse felt along the large carotid artery on either side of the neck
respiratory rate
of breathes per min
respiratory quality
the normal or abnormal (shallow, labored, or noisy) character of breathing
respiratory rhythm
the regular or irregular spacing of breaths
Skin colors
pink, pale, cyanotic (blue-gray), flushed (red), jaundiced (yellow), mottled (blotchy)
Pink skin
normal in light-skinned pts; normal at inner eyelids, lips, and nail beds dark-skinned pts
Pale skin
constricted blood vessels possibly resulting from inadequate breathing or heart function
Flushed skin
exposure to heat, emotional excitement
Jaundiced skin
abnormalities of the liver
Mottled skin
occasionally in pts w/ shock
Skin temperature/condition
- cool, clammy
- cold, moist
- cold, dry
- hot, dry
- hot, moist
- goose bumps
cool, clammy skin
sign of shock, anxiety
cold, moist skin
body is losing heat
cold, dry skin
exposure to cold
hot, dry skin
high fever, heat exposure
hot, moist skin
high fever, heat exposure
goose bumpy skin
chills, communicable disease, exposure to cold, pain, or fear
pupil
the black center of the eye
dilate
get larger
constrict
get smaller
reactivity
in the pupils of the eyes, reacting light by changing size
systolic blood pressure
the pressure created when the heart contracts and forces blood out into the arteries
systolic blood pressure
the pressure remaining in the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is relaxed and refilling
dilated pupils
fright, blood loss, drugs, prescription eye drops
constricted pupils
drugs (narcotics), prescription eye drops
Unequal pupils
stroke, head injury, eye injury, artificial eye, prescription eye drop
Lack of reactivity
drugs, lack of O2 to the brain
brachial artery
major artery of the arm
auscultation
listening; a stethoscope is used to auscultate for characteristic sounds
palpation
touching or feeling; a pulse or blood pressure may be palpated with the fingertips
pulse oximeter
an electronic device for determining the amount of O2 carried in the blood, aka O2 saturation SpO2
O2 Saturation
the ratio of the amount of O2 present in the blood to the amount that could be carried, expressed as a %
SpO2 percentages
- 96-100 is good
- 91-95 is mild hypoxia
- 86-90 is significant or moderate hypoxia
- 85 or less is indicates severe hypoxia
Blood glucose level
how much sugar is in the blood
blood glucose levels
- normal level is 60-80 and no more than 120 or 140
