VITAL SIGNS

Question 1

Vital Signs:

Answer 1

An indication of the status of a patients body’s
vital functions.

The homeostasis status aka “normal stage”

Question 2

What are the Vital Signs

Answer 2

Body temperature

Pulse rate:heart rate
bpm

Blood pressure:force
that the blood hits
arterial walls

Respiratory rate:rate
of breath per minute

Mental state:how
alert is the patient

Question 3

Temperature

Answer 3

97.7° to 99.5° F (98.5 is oral average temp)

Question 4

Respirations

Answer 4

Adult:
12 to 20 breaths per minute

Child:
20 to 30 breaths per minute

Question 5

Pulse

Answer 5

12-Adult
60 to 100 BPM

Child
70 to 120 BPM

Birth -1 year:
75-160

1 -3 years:
80-100

3-5 years:
70-110

5-12 years:
65-110

Question 6

Blood Pressure

Answer 6

Systolic
<120 mm Hg

Diastolic
<80 mm Hg

Question 7

Temperature
Routes of Measurement

Answer 7

Oral: 2nd most accurate temp

Axillary:

Tympanic: ear temp typically 1 degree lower

Temporal:

Rectal: most accurate temp.

Question 8

Febrile

Answer 8

anything over 99.5 degree

Question 9

Physiology of Pulse

Answer 9

When left ventricle contracts, blood is pumped out of the
heart into the aorta and out to the arteries of the body.

Ventricular contraction is transferred to arterial walls and
permits pulse measurement.

Question 10

Common sites to measure Pulse

Answer 10

Radial artery: wrist, most common site for palpating.

Brachial artery: arm

Carotid artery: neck

Measure the pulse by bpm. Count beats in 30 seconds then
multiply by 2

Question 11

Tachycardia

Answer 11

Heart rate that is too fast: over
100bpm.

Stress, physical activity, medication

Question 12

Bradycardia

Answer 12

Heart rate that is too slow: under 60
BPM

Pain heart, problems, shock

Question 13

apical pulse

Answer 13

**A pulse can be detected by listening to the chest
with a stethoscope.

Question 14

Tachypnea

Answer 14

increased respiratory rate. More than 20 breaths/min

Question 15

Bradypnea

Answer 15

decreased respiratory rate. Fewer than 12 breaths/min

Question 16

Apnea

Answer 16

absence of ventilation.

Question 17

Cyanosis:

Answer 17

skin turns blue from lack of
oxygen,(hypoxic).

Question 18

hypoxic

Answer 18

lack of
oxygen,

Question 19

Erythema:

Answer 19

skin is reddened.

Question 20

“pulse oximeter.”

Answer 20

-pulse can also be registered by a oximeter.

-Hemoglobin O2 saturation is obtained by the use of a
pulse oximeter.

Question 21

Normal O2 saturation in the blood

Answer 21

95%-100%

Question 22

Types of oxygen devices:

Answer 22

-Nasal Cannula: thin tube goes into both
nostrils usually hooked onto wall or free
standing tube. Delivers smallest amount
of oxygen

-Simple oxygen mask: plastic mask

-Aerosol mask : nebulizer type

-Non-rebreather mask: highest
concentration of oxygen

Question 23

how is blood pressure measured? Spell the word

Answer 23

sphygmomanometer

Question 24

Normal Blood Pressure range

Answer 24

write it as
Systolic over Diastolic

Systolic = 95–119

Diastolic = 60–79

Question 25

Blood Pressure is
measured

Answer 25

MMHG (millimeters
of mercury)

Question 26

Hypertension

Answer 26

high blood pressure.

Question 27

Two stages of High Blood Pressure

Answer 27

Stage 1—systolic ranges 140–159 mm Hg; diastolic ranges 90–99
mm Hg

Stage 2—the most severe form

Systolic reading is 160 mm Hg or greater and diastolic is 100 mm
Hg or greater.

Question 28

Hypotension

Answer 28

low blood pressure of either
systolic pressure <90 mm Hg or
Diastolic pressure <50 mm Hg

Question 29

Normal Blood pressure range

Answer 29

Systolic/Diastolic 120/80 (normal in a healthy person)

Birth-1 year:
87-105/53-66

1- 3 years:
95-105/53-66

3-5 years:
96-110/54-70

5-12 years:
97-112/57-71

12- adult:
112-128/66-80