part 1 Flashcards
- What are Laura’s findings?
Laura’s findings are dry, scaly skin, inflamed hemorrhoid and tremors to his fingers and toes. He vomits after drinking a cup of apple juice. Blood pressure was 156/94, temperature was 98.8, radial pulse was 52 beats, respirations 25 breaths, pulse oximetry 87%.
- What would be normal for any of these that are not normal?
He should not be vomiting after drinking apple juice, The hemorrhoid should not be inflamed. The blood pressure should be 120/80. Radial pulse should be around 60-100. Respiration rate should be around 12-16. Pulse oximetry should be around 95-100%.
- What are vital signs?
Vital signs are clinical measurements of a patient like blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate and pulse oximetry.
- Explain the purpose of assessing vital signs?
The purpose of assessing vital signs is to make sure that your body’s basic functions are good and that there is nothing disrupted like your blood or the way you’re breathing.
- Identify common assessment sites and techniques for assessing pulse.
Common assessment sites for the pulse are carotid, radial, brachial are the most common to test and the way to test them is listen and count to the beats for 30 seconds then multiply that amount by 2.
- Describe assessment of respirations and blood oxygenation.
The way to test respiration rate is to listen to breaths in and out for 30 seconds and then multiply that by 2 or check the chest to go up and down for 30 seconds then multiply by 2 as well. Blood oxygenation is by using a pulse oximeter or a blood test.
- Summarize correct methods for measuring blood pressure.
The correct way to check blood pressure is to first put on the cuff right above the patient’s artery and use the pump of the blood pressure to reach 160 and then make sure your stethoscope is under the blood pressure and heat for three clicks. The first click is the top number and the last click is the bottom.
- What is the purpose of pulse oximetry?
The purpose of a pulse oximetry is to check blood oxygenation and make sure the way your blood is going is right.
- Explain the rationale for the 4 concepts above.
a. Choose a cuff that is the right size: using the wrong size can lead to an inaccurate blood pressure.
b. Ensure that the patient is sitting or lying: a patient supporting their arm can increase the reading which can lead to inaccurate blood pressure.
c. Support the extremity: taking the blood pressure from an unsupported arm is able to increase the systolic pressure by 10 mm Hg.
d. Ensure proper cuff application: if the cuff is on wrong, you might be able to not hear the clicks properly.
