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Amy's Nursing 50A > Lecture: Vital Signs > Flashcards

Lecture: Vital Signs Flashcards

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1
Q

What is normal for temperature?

A

36-37 C or 96.8-98.6 F (according to lecture)

36-38 C or 96.8-100.4 F (according to text)

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2
Q

What is the normal range for pulse? What is average?

A 
Normal = 60-100 bpm
Average = 80 bpm
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3
Q

What is the normal range for respirations?

A

12-20 breaths/min

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4
Q

What is normal for BP?

A

<120/80 mm/Hg

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5
Q

What is normal for pulse oximetry?

A

95-100%

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6
Q

When should you monitor vital signs?

A

Admission to a healthcare agency, based on institutional policy (qs, q4), any time there is a change in the patient’s condition, before and after procedures, activities and medications that may affect vital signs

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7
Q

How should you check a patient’s pulse if they are on the medication digoxin?

A

Listen to the AP for a full minute

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8
Q

What is the primary source of heat production?

A

Metabolism

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9
Q

What increases metabolism?

A

Hormones, muscle movements, exercise

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10
Q

How is heat lost?

A

Through skin, sweat, warming and humidyfing inspired air, urine, feces

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11
Q

What are the four methods of transferring heat?

A

Radiation, convection, evaporation, conduction

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12
Q

Define convection in terms of transferring heat.

A

The transfer of heat away by air movement

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13
Q

Define radiation in terms of transferring heat.

A

The transfer of heat from one object to another without direct contact

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14
Q

Define evaporation in terms of transferring heat.

A

The transfer of heat when liquid is changed to gas

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15
Q

Define conduction in terms of transferring heat.

A

The transfer of heat from one object to another with direct contact

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16
Q

What does it mean to become afebrile?

A

Fever has broken

17
Q

What are the four most accurate methods of measuring body temperature?

A

Tympanic membrane (TM), Oral (O), Rectal (R), Axillary (AX)

18
Q

When can you never take a rectal temperature?

A

When the patient is neutropenic. Also not for patients with diarrhea, rectal disorders, bleeding tendencies or those who had rectal surgery.

19
Q

Which feature of the heart controls the pulse?

A

The sinoatrial (SA) node

20
Q

What controls breathing and how is it activated?

A

The medulla controls breathing, which is activated by impulses from chemoreceptors.

21
Q

What is the most powerful respiratory stimulant?

A

CO2

22
Q

What is cheyne-stokes?

A

Deep irregular breaths with periods of apnea, usually right before someone dies

23
Q

How is apnea treated?

A

With a c-pap, which maintains pressure in airways to keep them open. Allows those with sleep apnea to get a deeper sleep.

24
Q

What specific population has a high rate of hypertension and generally does not respond to beta blockers?

A

African American men

25
Q

What device should you use if a pulse is not palpable and the patient is obviously not coding?

A

A doppler

26
Q

What should you do if a pulse is not palpable and the patient is coding?

A

Call a code and start compressions

27
Q

What should you do if a pulse disappears?

A

Check finger placement and look at your patient

28
Q

What should you do if a pulse is irregular?

A

Measure for a full 60 seconds

29
Q

When should you use an AP?

A

Before administering any heart meds and for any pediatrics

30
Q

Which pressure in BP is your highest pressure?

A

Systolic

31
Q

Which pressure in BP is you lowest pressure?

A

Diastolic

32
Q

Formula for calculating cardiac output

A

CO = SV x HR

33
Q

What is the average CO in a healthy adult?

A

3.5 L/min to 8.0 L/min

34
Q

What happens if you have a change in SV or HR?

A

It affects CO, which in turn affects BP

35
Q

What is the first thing you should do if you get a low spO2?

A

Look for other symptoms to support your reading (ex: pale, coughing, shortness of breath)

36
Q

Which conditions may affect a patient’s normal sp02?

A

COPD, lung cancer, mesothelioma

Amy's Nursing 50A (17 decks)

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