Vital Sign

Question 1

What are the 4 vital signs?

Answer 1

• Temperature
• respiration
• pulse
• blood pressure

Question 2

What are vital signs also referred to as?

Answer 2

Cardinal Signs

Question 3

What do changes in a patient’s vital signs indicate?

Answer 3

Indicate a problem or potential problem that may become life threatening

Question 4

When are a patient’s vital signs taken in the radiology department?

Answer 4

• 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)

Question 5

What is a normal adult oral temperature range?

Answer 5

97.7-99.5 degrees F (36.5-37.5 C)

Question 6

What is the average oral temperature?

Answer 6

98.6 +/- 1-2 degrees

Question 7

How do axillary temperatures compare to oral temps?

Answer 7

They are slightly lower

Question 8

How do rectal temperatures compare to oral temps?

Answer 8

Slightly higher

Question 9

Which of the temperature reading sites are most accurate?

Answer 9

Rectal temperatures

Question 10

What is the normal respiration rate of adults?

Answer 10

12-20 breaths per minute

Question 11

What is the normal respiration rate of children under 10?

Answer 11

20-30 breaths per minute

Question 12

What is the normal respiration rate of newborns?

Answer 12

30-60 breaths per minute

Question 13

How do you obtain an accurate measurement of respiration?

Answer 13

Count the number of respirations for a full minute

Question 14

What state should the patient be in when measuring respiration?

Answer 14

At rest

Question 15

What else should be measured as a part of respiration?

Answer 15

The depth or respiration, shallow or deep and the pattern of respiration, regular or irregular

Question 16

What does pulse rate assess?

Answer 16

Cardiovascular function

Question 17

How is pulse rate recorded?

Answer 17

The number of heart beats per minute

Question 18

How long should a patient be resting to obtain resting heart rate?

Answer 18

10 minutes

Question 19

What is the normal pulse rate for adults?

Answer 19

60-100 bpm

Question 20

What is the normal pulse rate for children under 10?

Answer 20

70-120 bpm

Question 21

What are common sites of measurement of pulse?

Answer 21

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)

Question 22

Where are uncommon sites of pulse measurements?

Answer 22

• Femoral artery
• Apical artery
• Popliteal artery
• Dorsal pedis artery
• Posterior tibia artery

Question 23

What is the procedure for taking a patient’s pulse?

Answer 23

Count the number of pulses for 15 seconds and multiply by 4

Question 24

How long should pulse be measured to be more accurate?

Answer 24

To monitor for a full minute

Question 25

What is blood pressure the measure of?

Answer 25

The measurement of the amount of pressure exerted against the walls of the vessels

Question 26

What is blood pressure?

Answer 26

The force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body

Question 27

How is a blood pressure determined?

Answer 27

By the force and amount of blood pumped and the size/flexibility of the arteries

Question 28

What tool is used to measure BP?

Answer 28

Using an instrument called a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)

Question 29

How is BP measured?

Answer 29

• 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

Question 30

What is a normal BP in adult patients?

Answer 30

Systolic: 95-140 mm Hg
Diastolic: 60-90 mm Hg

Question 31

What is systolic pressure?

Answer 31

The highest pressure taken when the left ventricle of the heart contracts

Question 32

What is diastolic pressure?

Answer 32

The lowest pressure when the ventricles of the heart relax