Quiz 2 ; Ch. 24 Flashcards
How often are vital signs checked for higher risk patients?
4 hours min.
What are vital signs?
Vital signs are a persons temp, pulse, respiration, and BP
Pain is often included as the fifth vital sign
What’s the definition of body temp?
Body temperature is the difference between the amount of heat produced by the body and the amount of heat lost to the environment measured in degrees.
Core body temp is usually between 97.0-99.5
Core temperatures are measured by nurses at tympanic or rectal site but they may also be measured in the esophagus, pulmonary artery, or bladder.
What is the primary source of heat in the body?
Metabolism, with heat produced as a byproduct of metabolic activities that generate energy for cellular functions.
When additional heat is required to maintain balance, epinephrine and norepinephrine are released to rapidly alter metabolism so that energy production decreases and heat production increases.
What is the primary site of heat loss?
The skin
What is convection?
The dissemination of heat by motion between areas of unequal density
Ex: an oscillating Fan blows currents of cool air across the surface of a warm body
What is conduction?
The transfer of heat to another object during direct contact
Ex: The body transfers heat to an ice pack, causing the ice to melt
Febrile vs. Afebrile
The person with the normal body temperature is referred to as Afebrile
A person with a fever is said to be febrile
What is Hyperpyrexia?
A very high fever, usually above 105.8 F
What are some physical effects of having a fever?
Patients may experience loss of appetite, headache, hot, dry skin, flush face, thirst, muscle aches, and fatigue. Respirations and pulse rate increase
What does antipyretic mean?
Antipyretics are fever reducing drugs, such as aspirin or acetaminophen. These drugs reset the elevated setpoint regulated by the hypothalamus.
What happens if your temp falls below 93.2?
Your severely hypothermic and will most likely die
How do you convert Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa
Celsius to Fahrenheit = multiply by 9/5 and add 32
Fahrenheit to Celsius = subtract 32 and multiple by 5/9
What are the sites most commonly used to assess body temperature?
Oral, anal, axillary, tympanic (ear)
How to take someone’s pulse
The peripheral pulses a throbbing sensation that can be palpated over a peripheral artery,such as the radial artery or the carotid artery.
The normal pulse rate for adolescents and adults ranges from 60-100 beats a minute
What is stroke volume?
The quantity of blood forced out of the left ventricle with each contraction
What is cardiac output?
The cardiac output is amount of blood pumped per minute, and averages from 3.5 L to 8.0 L in a healthy adult. This volume is determined by using the following formula, cardiac output = stroke volume x heart rate.
Ex: The cardiac output of an adult with a stroke volume of 70 mL and a heart rate of 70 bpm is 4.9 L/min
What is the pulse regulated by?
The pulse is regulated by the autonomic nervous system through the SA node (pacemaker of the heart). Parasympathetic stimulation of the SA node via the Vegas nerve decreases the heart rate, sympathetic stimulation of the SA node increases the heart rate and force of contraction
What is bradycardia?
Bradycardia is a pulse rate below 60 beats per minute. The pulse rate is normally slower during sleep, and men, and in people who are thin
What are dysrhythmias?
An irregular pattern of heartbeat
Describe respiration
Respiration involves ventilation, diffusion, and perfusion. Ventilation or breathing is movement of gases in And out of the lungs. Diffusion is exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli of the lungs and the circulating blood. Perfusion is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the circulating blood and tissue cells.
What is normal respiration called?
Eupnea
Under normal conditions, healthy adults breathe about 12 to 20 times each minute
What is tachypnea ?
And increased respiratory rate, may occur in response to an increased metabolic rate when the person has a fever.
What is bradypnea?
A decrease in respiratory rate