Vital signs Flashcards
Two important habits must be developed by the medical assistant before taking a patient’s vital signs
Aseptic technique in the form of hand washing2.Correction of factors that may influence results of vital signs.
usually obtained during the patient’s initial visit. These baseline results are used as a reference point.
Baseline assesments
Referred to as cardinal signs
What are these four>
Vital signs Respiration pulse Blood pressure temperature
Indicative of the general health and well-being of a patient
Vital signs
factors can affect Vital Signs
Anxiety over potential results
Angry or have rushed into office
Eat or drink before examination
Patient apprehension and mood
Variations in results can indicate
a .new disease process
b. patient’s response to treatment
c. patient’s compliance with a treatment plan
Body temperature is maintained and regulated by two processes functioning in conjunction with one another:
- heat production
2. heat loss
The delicate balance between heat production and heat loss is maintained by the ______
Hypothalamus
Body heat is produced by
The actions of voluntary and involuntary muscles,
as the muscles move, they use energy, which produces heat.
Cellular metabolic activities,
such as the process of breaking down food sugars into simpler components (catabolism), are another source of heat.
The body loses heat by
Convection Conduction Radiation Evaporation Elimination
Heat that is lost through the normal functioning of the intestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts
Elimination
A heat loss mechanism that uses heat absorption through vaporization of perspiration.
Evaporation
The process by which heat is lost through the skin by being transferred from the skin by air currents flowing across it, such as a fan used on a hot day for cooling purpose
Convection
The transfer of heat from within the body to the surface of the skin and then to surrounding cooler objects touching the skin, such as clothing.
Conduction
The transfer of heat from within the body to the surface of the skin and then to surrounding cooler objects touching the skin, such as clothing.
Conduction
Decrease in temperature may result from:
Viral infections
b. Decreased muscular activity
c. Fasting
d. A depressed emotional state
e. Exposure to cold
f. Drugs that decrease metabolic activities,
g. Age, in this instance refers to older adults, in that older adults have decreased metabolic activity resulting in a decrease in body temperature.
Other factors that can increase or decrease bodytemperature:
Time of day
during sleep
early morning
Terms to describe body temperature
absence of fever
a fluctuating fever that returns to or below baseline, then increases again
another name of fever
body temperature increased beyond normal range
a fever that remains above the baseline; it does not fluctuate but remains fairly constant
a fluctuating fever that does not return to the baseline temperature; it fluctuates but remains increased
afebrile Intermittent pyrexia fever continuous Remittent
What are the type of thermometers
define
Disposable Thermometers- individually wrapped strips not acurate
Electronic and Digital Thermometer- Widely used
red-rectal
blue oral
Tympanic Thermometer- PEDIATRIC More popular because theyarefast,
providenodiscomforttothepatient,canbeusedon
Inaccurate readings can result if patients:
Cerumen
Otitis media
To convert °F to °C
Subtract 32 from F temperature, then multiply by 5/9
To convert °C to °F
:Multiply C temperature by 9/5, then add 32.
Purpose measuring/monitoring patient’s body temperature:
determine body temperature
assist in diagnosis
patient’s recovery from illness
To determine if immediate measures should be implemented if elevated or dangerously low
To evaluate patient’s response once heat conserving or heal reducing measures have been implemented
is the beat of the heart felt at an artery as a wave of blood passes through the artery
Pulse
The pulse is the same as the
Heart rate
Are also used when necessary as pressure points for controlling severe bleeding
Pulse site
Are also used when necessary as pressure points for controlling severe bleeding
Pulse site
- Is located at the thumb side of the wrist approximately 1 inch above the base of the thumb.
- The most commonly used site for obtaining a pulse rate
Radial pulse
Used during emergency situations and CPR
Found between the larynx and sternocleidomastoid muscle in the front side of the neck on either side of the trachea
Found between the larynx and sternocleidomastoid muscle in the front side of the neck on either side of the trachea
Brachial pulse
-Islocatedatthetempleareaofthehead-Rarely used to obtain a pulse rate but may be used to monitor circulation,control bleeding from the head and scalp,and to take a temporalarterytemperature
temporal pulse
Is located in the groin area-A deep artery and must be compressed firmly to be felt.
Femoral pule
Commonly used to monitor lower limb circulation
Dorsalis pedis
Is found at the apex of the heart,
Apical pulse
Pulse rates may varyaccording to
age, activities, general health, sex, emotions, pain, and medications,
Heart rates infants 1-10 children and adults athe;ets
140-160
60-140
60-100
40-60
pulse rate less than 60 beats per minute
pulse rate greater than 100 beats per minute
Bradycardia
Tachycardiaa
Each breath includes inspiration and expiration
Respiration
Measure in breaths per minute
Respiration
is the number of respirations per minute.
Respiratory Rate
Normal range of breaths per minute
12-24 bpm
difficulty in breathing breathing less than 16 cycles per minute normal breathing breathing more than 24 cycles per minute temporary complete absence of breathing.
Dyspnea bradypnea eupnea tacypnea apnea
Newborns
Infants
Children (1–7 years)
Adults-
44 Bpm
20-40 Bpm
18-30 Bpm
12-20B Bpm
PROCEDURE IN TAKING TEMPERATURE
1.Wash your hands
2.Prepare all required Requirement
3.Explain the purpose and the procedure of the client
4.Close doors and or use a screen
5.Clean the thermometer
6.Assist the client to a supine or sitting position.
7.Move clothing away from shoulder and arm
8.Be sure the client’s axilla is dry. If it is moist, pat it dry gently before inserting the thermometer.
9.Press the button to turn on the digital thermometer
10.Insert the bulb of the thermometer under the arm, fully into the armpit, so that it is in contact with skin
11.
PROCEDURE IN TAKING TEMPERATURE
- Wash your hands
- Prepare all required Requirement
- Explain the purpose and the procedure of the client
- Close doors and or use a screen
- Clean the thermometer
- Assist the client to a supine or sitting position.
- Move clothing away from shoulder and arm
- Be sure the client’s axilla is dry. If it is moist, pat it dry gently before inserting the thermometer.
- Press the button to turn on the digital thermometer
- Insert the bulb of the thermometer under the arm, fully into the armpit, so that it is in contact with skin
- Keep the arm flexed across the chest, close to the side of the body.
- Remain still and wait for the thermometer’s beep to signal that it is finished. After the beep, promptly remove the thermometer.
- Wipe the thermometer from the stem to bulb with alcohol.
- Explain the result and instruct him/her if he/she has fever or hypothermia.
- Wash your hands.
- Record the client’s result.
PROCEDURE IN TAKING PULSE
- Wash hands
- Explain the procedure and purpose to the client
- Explain the procedure and purpose to the client
- Count and examine the pulse
- Record the rate on the client’s chart.
- Wash your hands.
Counting Respiration
- ) Make the client’s position comfortable, preferably sitting or lying with the head of the elevated 45 to 60 degrees. To ensure clear view of chest wall and abdominal movements. If necessary, move the bed linen.
- ) Prepare count respirations by keeping your fingertips on the client’s pulse. A client who knows are counting respirations may not breathe naturally.
Body heat lost from the surface of the skin to a cooler environment, much like a cool room becoming warm when occupied by many people.
Radiation
An increase in temperature may result from
Bacterial infection
b. Increased physical activity
c. Food intake
d. Exposure to heat
e. Pregnancy
f. Drugs that increase metabolism
g. Stress and severe emotional reactions
h. Age, becomes a factor in that infants have an average body temperature that is one to two degrees higher than adults.
This artery is used for leg blood pressure measurements and to monitor circulation
Popliteal pulse
