Chapter 13: Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices

Question 1

The 6 vital signs

Answer 1

• pulse
• blood pressure
• respiratory
• skin
• pulse ox
• pupils

Question 2

Taking a pulse

Answer 2

• check carotid for unresponsive
• check radial for responsive
• look for presence, strength, and regularity

Question 3

Taking a blood pressure

Answer 3

• auscultation (listening)

- palpation (using cuff and pump) (systolic only)

Question 4

Taking respiratory vitals

Answer 4

• rate, depth, and quality of breaths

- color, temp, and condition of skin

Question 5

Looking at pupils for vitals

Answer 5

• size, equality, and reactivity

Question 6

What are vital signs

Answer 6

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

Question 7

pulse

Answer 7

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

Question 8

pulse rate

Answer 8

the number of pulse beats per minute

Question 9

tachycardia

Answer 9

a rapid pulse; any pulse rate above 100 beats per min.

Question 10

bradycardia

Answer 10

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

Question 11

pulse quality

Answer 11

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

Question 12

radial pulse

Answer 12

the pulse felt at the wrist

Question 13

brachial pulse

Answer 13

the pulse felt in the upper arm

Question 14

carotid pulse

Answer 14

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

Question 15

respiratory rate

Answer 15

of breathes per min

Question 16

respiratory quality

Answer 16

the normal or abnormal (shallow, labored, or noisy) character of breathing

Question 17

respiratory rhythm

Answer 17

the regular or irregular spacing of breaths

Question 18

Skin colors

Answer 18

pink, pale, cyanotic (blue-gray), flushed (red), jaundiced (yellow), mottled (blotchy)

Question 19

Pink skin

Answer 19

normal in light-skinned pts; normal at inner eyelids, lips, and nail beds dark-skinned pts

Question 20

Pale skin

Answer 20

constricted blood vessels possibly resulting from inadequate breathing or heart function

Question 21

Flushed skin

Answer 21

exposure to heat, emotional excitement

Question 22

Jaundiced skin

Answer 22

abnormalities of the liver

Question 23

Mottled skin

Answer 23

occasionally in pts w/ shock

Question 24

Skin temperature/condition

Answer 24

• cool, clammy
• cold, moist
• cold, dry
• hot, dry
• hot, moist
• goose bumps

Question 25

cool, clammy skin

Answer 25

sign of shock, anxiety

Question 26

cold, moist skin

Answer 26

body is losing heat

Question 27

cold, dry skin

Answer 27

exposure to cold

Question 28

hot, dry skin

Answer 28

high fever, heat exposure

Question 29

hot, moist skin

Answer 29

high fever, heat exposure

Question 30

goose bumpy skin

Answer 30

chills, communicable disease, exposure to cold, pain, or fear

Question 31

pupil

Answer 31

the black center of the eye

Question 32

dilate

Answer 32

get larger

Question 33

constrict

Answer 33

get smaller

Question 34

reactivity

Answer 34

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

Question 35

systolic blood pressure

Answer 35

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

Question 36

systolic blood pressure

Answer 36

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

Question 37

dilated pupils

Answer 37

fright, blood loss, drugs, prescription eye drops

Question 38

constricted pupils

Answer 38

drugs (narcotics), prescription eye drops

Question 39

Unequal pupils

Answer 39

stroke, head injury, eye injury, artificial eye, prescription eye drop

Question 40

Lack of reactivity

Answer 40

drugs, lack of O2 to the brain

Question 41

brachial artery

Answer 41

major artery of the arm

Question 42

auscultation

Answer 42

listening; a stethoscope is used to auscultate for characteristic sounds

Question 43

palpation

Answer 43

touching or feeling; a pulse or blood pressure may be palpated with the fingertips

Question 44

pulse oximeter

Answer 44

an electronic device for determining the amount of O2 carried in the blood, aka O2 saturation SpO2

Question 45

O2 Saturation

Answer 45

the ratio of the amount of O2 present in the blood to the amount that could be carried, expressed as a %

Question 46

SpO2 percentages

Answer 46

• 96-100 is good
• 91-95 is mild hypoxia
• 86-90 is significant or moderate hypoxia
• 85 or less is indicates severe hypoxia

Question 47

Blood glucose level

Answer 47

how much sugar is in the blood

Question 48

blood glucose levels

Answer 48

• normal level is 60-80 and no more than 120 or 140