NSG 1610 - Vitals Flashcards
What is the purpose of taking vital signs?
provides a baseline of client’s thermoregulatory, respiratory, and cardiovascular status
what is the normal stable core temperature?
37.2 degrees
what is one risk associated with taking a rectal temperature?
it may stimulate the vagus nerve which may result in bradycardia (slowed HR) and syncope (temporary LOC)
what may increase temperature?
increased metabolism, during/post-exercise, after eating, and external envrionments
what may contribute to heat loss?
heat radiation, sweat evaporation, convection (air currents), reduction (cold cloth)
at what point of the day is body temperature the lowest?
during sleep
how does age effect body temperature?
older and younger individuals may have reduced temperatures
older adults have a reduced capacity to conserve heat and detect cold due to degeneration of nerves
what range does temperature have to be above in order to be classified as hyperthermic? where must this temperature be taken?
greater than 40.0 degrees - must be taken through a rectal temperature
what range does temperature have to be above in order to be classified as hypothermic? where must this temperature be taken?
equal to or lower than 35.0 degrees - must be taken through a rectal temperature
describe febrile and afebrile, what their ranges are, and where these temperatures are taken
- febrile is a pt with a fever ranging above 38 degrees
- afebrile is a pt without a fever and temp within a normal range (35.8-38.0)
- taken through tympanic temperatures
what are the normal/average ranges of tympanic temperature?
could range from 35.8 to 38.0 degrees but averages at 36.5
what are the normal/average ranges of temporal temperature?
could range from 36.5 to 37.5 but average is 37.0 degrees
What are the five sites for temperature?
- tympanic
- temporal
- rectal
- oral
- axillary
what is the pathophysiology of a pulse?
we are feeling a pressure wave from the left ventricle of the heart
what 10 factors may influence pulse/HR?
- age
- disease
- stress
- exercise
- ethnicity
- temperature (fever will increase HR)
- acute vs chronic pain
- positional changes
- lung changes
- medical emergencies (hemorrhaging)
how does acute vs. chronic pain influence HR/pulse?
- acute pain will increase pulse rate
- chronic pain does not create changes in pulse