Patient Assessment: Vital Signs (U3) Flashcards
Vital signs definition?
Physical signs that indicate an individual is alive
How are vital signs seen?
Observed, measured and monitored to assess an individual’s level of physical functioning, patient must have been sitting for approx. 5 minutes (relax)
What should you do before assessing a patient?
Take a minute to look at the entire patient, all assessments made when seated (ex. patient hygiene level, are they relaxed….)
What are some factors to consider when looking at normal vital signs?
Age/sex/weight/exercise tolerance/condition
What are the four assessments, and why in that order?
- Temperature
- Pulse
- Respiration
- Blood pressure
Least to most invasive
Temperature can vary due to what reasons?
Time of day, illness, stress, exposure to heat/cold
Normal temperature?
36.5-37.7 degrees Celsius
What are the four temperature sites?
Oral, axillary, tympanic, rectal
What is the oral temperature site?
Within the mouth/under tongue
What is the axillary temperature site?
In the armpit
What is the tympanic temperature site?
In the ear canal
What is the rectal temperature site?
Through the anus in the rectum
What is a pulse?
Pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart contracts/relaxes
What are the three things pulse measures?
Rate, rhythm, volume
What is pulse rate?
Number of beats/minutes
What is pulse rhythm?
Refers to regularity
What is pulse volume?
Refers to strength
What is the pulse taken on?
Radial/carotid artery, and on arteries
What are the arteries that pulse is taken on?
Temporal, carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial
What is the temporal site?
Sides of the head
What is the carotid site?
Sides of the neck
What is the brachial site?
Inner aspect of forearm at the antecubital space
What is the radial site?
Inner aspect of the wrist, above thumb
What is the femoral site?
Inner aspect of the upper thigh