Lab #2: Taking vital signs

Question 1

differences in temperature taking techniques

Answer 1

axillary is usually a degree lower, others are a half degree lower, rectal is the most accurate

Question 2

pulse

Answer 2

take with radial artery with two fingers, take for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
normal range 50-100bpm

Question 3

terms for low and high heart rate

Answer 3

bradycardia vs tachycardia

Question 4

respiratory rate

Answer 4

don’t tell patient you’re counting, take while taking heart rate. Count number of breaths in 30 seconds. Can look at their clothes moving, put hand on shoulder or listen to breathing

Question 5

Kussmaul breathing

Answer 5

a deep and labored breathing pattern often associated with severe metabolic acidosis, particularly diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) but also kidney failure.

Question 6

Cheyne stokes

Answer 6

an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by progressively deeper, and sometimes faster, breathing followed by a gradual decrease that results in a temporary stop in breathing called an apnea. The pattern repeats, with each cycle usually taking 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

Question 7

biot’s respirations

Answer 7

an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by groups of quick, shallow inspirations followed by regular or irregular periods of apnea.

Question 8

blood pressure

Answer 8

get the right cuff size, make sure bladder around a good portion of the arm. Marker goes over brachial artery, should be wrapping away from the arm

Question 9

identifying blood pressure with auscultation

Answer 9

Make sure you’re holding the patient’s arm and they are not holding their own arm. Pump up bladder to about 200mg. After you open up the valve on the bladder, the first sound is the systolic pressure, then the disappearance of the sounds is the diastolic pressure (this is called the auscultatory gap)

Question 10

two-step method of taking blood pressure

Answer 10

pump up until you can’t feel the radial pulse, then add 30mg, that is the pressure you should pump up to.
Take pressure with auscultation method.

Question 11

pulsus paradoxus

Answer 11

an abnormally large decrease in stroke volume, systolic blood pressure and pulse wave amplitude during inspiration

Question 12

orthostatic hypotension and how to take

Answer 12

A form of low blood pressure that happens when standing up from sitting or lying down. May be accompanied by elevated heart rate.
take the patient’s blood pressure while lying supine, then again while they are standing (sitting down if too dizzy)

Question 13

where to put vitals vs general assessment in notes

Answer 13

put the vitals BEFORE the general assessment

Question 14

Coarctation of the aorta

Answer 14

a narrowing of the aorta, the large blood vessel that branches off your heart and delivers oxygen-rich blood to your body. When this occurs, your heart must pump harder to force blood through the narrowed part of your aorta.
most commonly will have high blood pressure (hypertension) measured in your arms. However, your blood pressure is likely to be lower in your legs.