Observations Flashcards
- Recording Temperature: Disposable thermometers - Recording Temperature: Tympanic thermometers - Recording Temperature: Electronic thermometers - Assessing the Pulse - Assessment of Respiration - Measuring Blood Pressure Parts 1, 2 and 3 - Pulse Oximetry - Urine Testing: Observation - Urine Testing: Urinalysis - Assessing and measuring fluid balance
What is is the standard core temperature?
37 degrees c
Should you use the same or different method when calculating multiple temp readings from one patient?
the same
What is the standard oral temperature?
36.8 degrees
What is another word for fever?
Pyrexia
What is pyrexia?
a fever (abnormally high temp)
Why does the body become pyrexic?
raises the bodies’ thermoregulatory point in order to fight infection
How many minutes should you wait before taking the temp of patient who has eaten/drunk hot/cold food?
20/30 mins
why should you wait 20-30 min taking the temp of patient who has eaten/drunk hot/cold food?
It could distort the reading
What should you gain before taking a patient’s temp?
their consent
Before opening a disposable thermometer what should you do?
decontaminate hands
What should you check before opening disposable thermometer?
it’s expiry date
any perforations in the packaging.
When taking temperature orally, where should you place the disposable thermometer?
in the sublingual heat pockets.
How long should you keep a disposable thermometer in the patient’s mouth?
1 minute
What is the axillary route?
under the arm
when taking temp via the axillary route, where should you place the disposable thermometer?
vertically, aligning the spine
how long should you leave the disposable thermometer via the axillarry route?
3 minutes
How does a tympanic thermometer measure temperature?
measures reflected infrared emissions from the tympanic membrane
When should you not use the tympanic method for taking temperature?
if the patient complains of earache or ear discharge
If the patient has hearing aids, how long should you wait before taking a tympanc temperature?
10 minutes
why should you pull back the ear prior to inserting the tympanic temp probe?
to straighten the ear canal
which ear should you use for a tympanic reading?
use both and take the highest value
what routes can be used for electronic thermometers?
oral
axillary
rectal, when using an appropriate probe cover
when using a disposable thermometer, which routes provides the lower temperature?
axillary route
what’s the temp difference between taking a disposable temp via the axillary and oral route?
approximate 0.6 degrees
What is the normal range of heart rate for adolecents to adults?
60-115
when assessing capillary refill, how long should you expect the finger to flush red in a healthy individual?
about 2secs or less
Which artery is most commonly used for pulse palpitation?
radial pulse
What is urinalysis?
involves microbiological, chemical, microscopical and physical examination of freshy voided urine
What are the functions of urinalysis?
Screening for systemic diseas
Diagonosis
Monitoring
What is the normal rnge of pH for urine?
4.5-9
What are some of the reason s for a high pH?
Stale urine samples
UTI
ammonia forming organisms
What pH might someone with a UTI have?
high/alkaline
What pH may someone with diabees ketoacidosis have?
low/acidic
what is the normal specific gravity range for urine sample?
1.002-1.035
What may cause a high specific gravity in urine?
dehydration
How might dehydration affect specific gravty of urine?
high values produced
What may cause a low specific gravity in urine?
high fluid intake, diabetes insipidus, renal failiure.
How might renal failiure affect specific gravity of urine sample?
Low values produced.
