Vital Signs Flashcards
What are the vital or cardinal signs?
Body temperature Pulse Respirations Blood Pressure (Arguments are being made for pain).
Why are vital signs important in patient care?
Changes can occur quickly or slowly.
May indicate a change in your patient’s condition (immediate or progressive).
True or False. A patient’s normal baseline may be abnormal vital signs.
True.
Consider patient history.
What are the six purposes of a vital sign assessment?
- Provide a health status of patient.
- Help you create a care plan for patient.
- Determine if treatments are effective.
- Assist in modifying or changing treatment plans accordingly.
- Routine part of a physical assessment of patient.
- Help problem solve/understand situation patient is facing.
When should you take vital signs?
- Initial patient admission.
- Before and after an invasive or surgical procedure.
- When there is a change in a patient’s condition, e.g. increase in pain.
- Standards of Practice or institutional policy.
- Before and after medication administration or therapy that may affect cardiovascular, respiratory and temperature control functions.
- Patient complains of physical distress.
What are the guidelines for measuring vital signs prior to starting the assessment?
- Equipment used works & appropriate for size & age of patient.
- Have an idea of patient’s baseline vital signs.
- Medical history and history of present illness of patient**.
- Control and minimize environment conditions that may affect patients vital signs if possible.
What are the guidelines for measuring vital signs for how you do the assessment?
- Organized and systematic approach.
- Introduce yourself and approach in calm and caring manner.
- Demonstrate proficiency and confidence in handling equipment to be used.
- Communicate with patient and explain the techniques and procedures to be utilized during the assessment.
What are the guidelines for measuring vital signs for immediately after you do the assessment?
- Record all data accurately and appropriately.
9. Compare vital signs to previous records if possible and look for any outliers.
What is body temperature?
Body temperature reflects the balance between the heat produced and the heat lost by the body.
What is the normal body temperature range?
Normal body temperature ranges from 36.1C to 37.2C.
Above what temperature is hyperthermia or fever?
Above 37.2C
Below what temperature is hypothermia?
Below 36.1C
What two kinds of body temperature can be measured?
Core temperature: Refers to the temperature of the deep tissue of the body, such as the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.
Surface temperature: refers to the temperature of the skin, subcutaneous tissue and fat.
What is the body’s normal core temperature? Stable?
Normal Core Temperature is ~37C. Typically relatively constant unless exposed to extreme heat and cold.
How does the body’s surface temperature behave?
Rises and falls in response to the environment.
Body continually creates heat as a by product of metabolism.
