Vital Sign Flashcards
What are the 4 vital signs?
- Temperature
- respiration
- pulse
- blood pressure
What are vital signs also referred to as?
Cardinal Signs
What do changes in a patient’s vital signs indicate?
Indicate a problem or potential problem that may become life threatening
When are a patient’s vital signs taken in the radiology department?
- When a patient undergoes an invasive procedure
- Before and after the patient receives medication
- Anytime the patient’s condition changes suddenly
- If the patient reports nonspecific symptoms of distress (not feeling well or feeling different)
What is a normal adult oral temperature range?
97.7-99.5 degrees F (36.5-37.5 C)
What is the average oral temperature?
98.6 +/- 1-2 degrees
How do axillary temperatures compare to oral temps?
They are slightly lower
How do rectal temperatures compare to oral temps?
Slightly higher
Which of the temperature reading sites are most accurate?
Rectal temperatures
What is the normal respiration rate of adults?
12-20 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiration rate of children under 10?
20-30 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiration rate of newborns?
30-60 breaths per minute
How do you obtain an accurate measurement of respiration?
Count the number of respirations for a full minute
What state should the patient be in when measuring respiration?
At rest
What else should be measured as a part of respiration?
The depth or respiration, shallow or deep and the pattern of respiration, regular or irregular
What does pulse rate assess?
Cardiovascular function
How is pulse rate recorded?
The number of heart beats per minute
How long should a patient be resting to obtain resting heart rate?
10 minutes
What is the normal pulse rate for adults?
60-100 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for children under 10?
70-120 bpm
What are common sites of measurement of pulse?
At areas where the artery passes close to the skin
Radial Artery (over the radial artery at the base of the thumb)
Brachial Artery (in the groove between the biceps and triceps muscles above the elbow at the antecubital fossa)
Carotid Artery (over the carotid artery, at the front of the neck)
Where are uncommon sites of pulse measurements?
- Femoral artery
- Apical artery
- Popliteal artery
- Dorsal pedis artery
- Posterior tibia artery
What is the procedure for taking a patient’s pulse?
Count the number of pulses for 15 seconds and multiply by 4
How long should pulse be measured to be more accurate?
To monitor for a full minute
What is blood pressure the measure of?
The measurement of the amount of pressure exerted against the walls of the vessels
What is blood pressure?
The force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body
How is a blood pressure determined?
By the force and amount of blood pumped and the size/flexibility of the arteries
What tool is used to measure BP?
Using an instrument called a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)
How is BP measured?
- The BP cuff is wrapped around your arm and inflated to stop blood flow in the artery
- As the cuff is slowly deflated, a stethoscope is used to hear the blood pumping through the artery
- The first pump heard is the systolic pressure and the last sound is the diastolic pressure
What is a normal BP in adult patients?
Systolic: 95-140 mm Hg
Diastolic: 60-90 mm Hg
What is systolic pressure?
The highest pressure taken when the left ventricle of the heart contracts
What is diastolic pressure?
The lowest pressure when the ventricles of the heart relax
