Test 2--Chapter 31 Measuring Vital Signs

Question 1

What are the four vital signs?

Answer 1

• Temperature
• Pulse
• Respirations
• Blood pressure

Question 2

Why record vital signs?

Answer 2

• detect changes in normal body function
• Tell about responses to treatment
• Often signal life-threatening events

Question 3

When are vital signs measured?

• During _______ exams
• When the person is ________ to the nursing center
• As often as required by the person’s ________
• Before and after _______
• Before and after complex ___________ or diagnostic _____
• After some care measures, such as ambulation
• After a _____ or other injury
• When _____ affect the respiratory or circulatory system
• When there are ___________ of pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, or not feeling well
• As stated on the care plan

Answer 3

• During physical exams
• When the person is admitted to the nursing center
• As often as required by the person’s condition
• Before and after surgery
• Before and after complex procedures or diagnostic tests
• After some care measures, such as ambulation
• After a fall or other injury
• When drugs affect the respiratory or circulatory system
• When there are complaints of pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, or not feeling well
• As stated on the care plan

Question 4

How should the person be positioned when you are taking vital signs?

Answer 4

• Take vital signs with the person lying or sitting.
• The person is at rest when vital signs are measured

Question 5

What sites are used for taking temperature?

Answer 5

• mouth,
• rectum,
• axilla,
• tympanic membrane, and
• temporal artery

Question 6

How long should a person refrain from eating, drinking, or smoking before taking his or her temperature?

Answer 6

15 to 20 minutes

Question 7

What types of thermometers are used?

Answer 7

• Glass thermometers:
• Electronic thermometers
  
  • Some have oral and rectal probes
  • Tympanic membrane thermometers
  • Temporal artery thermometers
• Digital thermometers
• Disposable oral thermometers
• Temperature-sensitive tape

Question 8

Pulse

Answer 8

the beat of the heart felt at an artery as a wave of blood passes through the artery.

Question 9

Locations to take pulse

Answer 9

Arteries:

• temporal,
• carotid,
• brachial,
• radial,
• femoral,
• popliteal,
• posterior tibial, and
• dorsalis pedis (pedal) pulses

Question 10

Where is the pulse taken most often?

Answer 10

Radial artery

Question 11

How do you take the apical pulse?

Answer 11

taken at the heart with a stethoscope

Question 12

Procedure for using a stethoscope

• Place the ________ tips in your ears. Earpiece tips angled away from face.
• Place the __________ over the artery.
• Wipe the earpieces and diaphragm with ___________wipes before and after use.
• Prevent noise

Answer 12

• Place the earpiece tips in your ears. Earpiece tips angled away from face.
• Place the diaphragm over the artery.
• Wipe the earpieces and diaphragm with antiseptic wipes before and after use.
• Prevent noise

Question 13

Normal adult pulse rate

Answer 13

60 to 100 beats per minute

Question 14

tachycardia

Answer 14

pulse above 100 beats per minute

Question 15

bradycardia

Answer 15

pulse rate less than 60 beats per minute

Question 16

respirations

Answer 16

˜breathing air into (inhalation) and out of (exhalation) the lungs.

Question 17

Normal respiration rate

Answer 17

12 to 20 per minute

Question 18

Blood Pressure

Answer 18

˜amount of force exerted against the walls of an artery by the blood.

Question 19

Systole

Answer 19

the period of heart muscle contraction

Question 20

Diastole

Answer 20

˜the period of heart muscle relaxation.

Question 21

Units for blood pressure

Answer 21

millimeters of mercury

mmHg

Question 22

How is blood pressure recorded

Answer 22

Systole

Diastole

Systole OVER diastole

Question 23

Tools for taking blood pressure

Answer 23

Stethoscope

Sphygmomanometer

Question 24

Where is the blood pressure taken?

Answer 24

over the brachial artery

Question 25

How long should a person rest before taking blood pressure?

Answer 25

10-20 minutes

Question 26

Normal Blood Pressure

Answer 26

Systolic: 120 mmHg

Diastolic: 80 mmHg

Question 27

Hypertension

Answer 27

Systolic pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg

and/or

Diastolic pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg

Question 28

Hypotension

Answer 28

Systolic pressure less than 90 mmHg

and

Diastolic pressure less than 60 mmHg