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Physical Diagnostics > Vital Signs > Flashcards

Vital Signs Flashcards

1
Q

What is the normal oral temp in fahrenheit? Celcius?

A
  1. 2 F

36. 8 C

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2
Q

What is an oral fever in fahrenheit? Celsius?

A

100.4 F or higher

38-38.5 C or higher

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3
Q

What are the 5 sites for measuring body temp?

A 
Oral
Rectal
Axillary
Tympanic membrane
Skin/temporal artery
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4
Q

What is the most common site to take a temp?

A

orally

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5
Q

What is the best temp site?

A

rectal

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6
Q

How does rectal temp differ from oral temp in degrees?

A

rectal is 1 F higher than oral

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7
Q

What are the best temp sites for babies, infants, and sometimes the elderly?

A

rectal and axillary

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8
Q

How does axillary body temp differ from oral in degrees?

A

axillary is 1 F lower than oral

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9
Q

Which temp site is closest to the body core temp?

A

tympanic membrane

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10
Q

T/F?

Temporal artery measures heat produced by temporal arteries

A

true

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11
Q

Which 2 temp sites utilize infrared technology and are used for quick assessment (ex: post op)?

A

tympanic membrane and skin/temporal artery

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12
Q

A pt should avoid what before taking an oral temp?

A

Avoid eating/drinking hot/cold foods/drinks within 15 min prior to taking oral temp

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13
Q

What is pyrexia?

A

Fever, or raised body temp.

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14
Q

What is hyperthermia?

A

elevated body temp., usually in response to prolonged hot, humid weather, but is not considered a fever

common in Florida!

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15
Q

Define hyperpyrexia

A

extremely high body temp/fever that goes above 106.7 F / 41.5 C due to changes in the hypothalamus

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16
Q

Define hypothermia

A

abnormally low body temp., typically dangerous when it is 95 F or less / 35 C or less

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17
Q

Pulse though palpation can be done with which arteries?

A

carotid, brachial, femoral, popliteal, and radial artery

radial is most commonly used

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18
Q

What does PVD stand for?
Pay special attention to which patients?
PVD is common where?

A

PVD is peripheral vascular disease

Look out for this in pt with heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes

PVD is common in the lower extremities, this is why you should take LE pulses for these patients

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19
Q

When looking for PVD, you take lower extremity pulses. What arteries are you palpating?

A

dorsalis pedis (DP) artery and posterior tibial (PT) artery

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20
Q

T/F:

Elevated pulse may be compensating for something else wrong in the body

A

true

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21
Q

Elevated pulse may indicate…

A

tachycardia, heart problems, stress, etc.

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22
Q

What is the most common pulse site?

A

radial pulse is most common palpated at the radial artery

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23
Q

How do you measure someone’s pulse?

A

count for 15 sec and multiply by 4 to get rate/min

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24
Q

When measuring someone’s pulse what should you be taking note of?

A

rate/min
rhythm
volume (weak, thready, etc)

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25
For pulse there may be 3 variations in rhythm and volume. What are they?
regular regularly irregular (regular pattern to irregularity) irregularly irregular
26
If a pulse is described as absent or nonpalpable, what does this mean in terms of scale? Examples that may cause this?
0 or 0/4 Ex: asystole, thrombosis, or occlusion
27
If a pulse is described as weak, diminished amplitude, or may have difficulty locating, what does this mean in terms of scale? Examples that may cause this?
1, 1/4, 1+/4 Ex: stenosis, left ventricular failure, hypovolemia, anemia, dehydration
28
If a pulse is described as normal or readily palpable, what does this mean in terms of scale? Examples that may cause this?
2, 2/4, 2+/4 Ex: hemodynamic stability
29
If a pulse is described as strong, increased amplitude, or quickly palpable, what does this mean in terms of scale? Examples that may cause this?
3, 3/4, 3+/4 Ex: anxiety, mild exertion, caffeine
30
If a pulse is described as bounding, what does this mean in terms of scale? Examples that may cause this?
4 or 4/4 Ex: fever, strenuous exercise, fear, cocaine
31
Define bradycardia
slower than expected heart rate, generally beating fewer than 60 bpm
32
Define tachycardia
very fast, rapid heart rate
33
What is the normal heart rate range?
60-90 bpm
34
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) forces air out of the lungs, not fully involuntary anymore
35
Should you warn a pt you're about to measure their respiration?
no, pt should not be aware that you are counting breaths- once they think about it, their normal resp. will change
36
How do you measure respiration?
count for 30 sec and multiply by 2
37
When measuring respiration what should you take note of?
depth (normal, shallow, or deep) rate rhythm effort
38
What is the normal range for respiration?
12-20 bpm
39
Define eupnea
normal, good, healthy, and unlabored breathing, sometimes known as quiet breathing or resting respiratory rate
40
What is bradypnea?
breath is SLOWER than normal (it can mean your body is not getting enough oxygen)
41
What is tachypnea?
RAPID breathing, often shallow
42
Define hyperpnea
abnormally rapid breathing: increased rate, rhythm, and depth
43
C with a line over it is an abbreviation for what?
"with"
44
How would you write a BP with an auscultatory gap in a chart?
BP = 170/90 C an auscultatory gap at 150-190/90 150-190 means you can't hear anything in that range
45
When you first put on a BP cuff should you be able to feel the brachial or radial artery easily?
Yes, but once you inflate and start measuring for BP, the blood supply will be blocked from the brachial/radial artery
46
120/80 what is the systolic here? Diastolic?
``` 120 = systolic 80 = diastolic ```
47
What is arteriosclerosis?
When blood vessels harden/stiffen with age This is why health professionals attempt to avoid an auscultatory gap
48
What is atherosclerosis?
This is different from arteriosclerosis Atherosclerosis is from too much plaque of fatty material in the blood vessels, this does not occur with age, or cause auscultatory gap
49
What are Korotkoff sounds?
thumping heart sounds when measuring bp
50
What is the official name for a BP dial?
Aneroid sphygmomanometer dial
51
When you hear the first thump, note the needle's position and record the _______ pressure
Systolic When you hear the first thump, note the needle's position and record the systolic pressure
52
When you hear the last thump, note the needle's position and record the _______ pressure
Diastolic When you hear the last thump, note the needle's position and record the diastolic pressure
53
What measurement is mmHg?
millimeters of mercury
54
When taking BP, a pt should not....
1) drink caffeine within 30 min 2) cross legs when measuring BP 3) arms should be at heart level when measuring, nowhere else
55
What is normal BP?
120/80 or less
56
What is the prehypertension range?
120-139/ 80-89
57
What is orthostatic hypotension (also called postural hypotension)?
Pt (typically older pt) feels woozy/lightheaded when they change positions
58
How do you test a pt for orthostatic hypotension?
Have pt lay in supine position and take BP, after 3 min take BP standing If the BP is drastically different (15+ mmHg), this means the pt has orthostatic hypotension If this is the case, tell pt to change positions from standing, sitting, laying, etc. slowly
59
T/F When taking a patient's BP, you should indicate the side it was measured on
true
60
If you have a new pt should you take their BP once or twice?
twice- one measurement on each side (L/R) Make sure that the BP does not differ any more than 10-15 mmHg
61
Are all vital signs objective evidence?
yes
62
What are the 5 main types of vital signs? What is an additional vital that some healthcare professionals do?
``` temp. BP respiration pulse pain ``` blood oxygen saturation
63
Is pain considered subjective or objective?
It can be both, but in terms of vitals it is objective because pain levels can be tested for different types
64
What is a pulse oximeter measuring?
how well RBCs carry oxygen

Physical Diagnostics (13 decks)

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