Vital Signs Flashcards
What do vital signs consist of?
- Body temperature
- Pulse rate
- Breathing rate
- Blood pressure
What does it mean to have a fever?
The patient is fighting an infection inside their body
What does pulse measure, and what is the regular range?
it measures how many times the heart beats per minute.
Regular range: 60 to 100 beats per minute
Note: consider the person’s age, fitness level, etc
What is Respiration? What is the healthy range for adults?
It measures how many breaths per minute a person takes
Healthy range: 12 to 16 breaths
Blood Pressure
Measures the pressure exerted on the blood vessels
Normal blood pressure: 120/80
What body systems help regulate body temperature?
Endocrine, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary
Endocrine System in Relation to Body Temperature
Hypothalamus in the brain regulates heat production by “turning it off or on”
Ex: sweating, shivering, dilation, or constriction of blood vessels
Cardiovascular System in Relation to Body Temperature
Heat is lost through the skin because of body processes
Ex: conduction, conception, radiation, and evaporation of perspiration
Respiratory System in Relation to Body Temperature
Heat is lost through respiration
Urinary System in Relation to Body Temperature
Heat is lost by expelling urine
What are some ways to take body temperature?
Oral, Axillary (armpit), Aural (ear), Rectal, Temporal Artery (forehead)
Body Temperature Changes
Continuous: fairly constant over 24 hours, could be a fever (infection)
Remittent: significantly fluctuates in a 24-hour period
Intermittent: several waves of high temp followed by regular temp (malaria or other infection)
Relapsing: fever occurs for 5-7 days and then returns to normal temp for 5-7 days (fever caused by pathogen)
What causes a lower body temprature?
a decrease in activity, stress, depression, viral infection, dehydration, sleep, etc
What are some methods to take pulse?
Apical: heartbeat heard when using a stethoscope
Radial: palpitation at the radial artery in your wrist
Contractions of the heart is called ___________.
Pulse
Give some examples that could affect respiration rate
allergic reactions, disease, shock, high emotions, drugs/medication, exercise, etc
Pulse and Respiration rate are measured __________.
At the same time
Systolic Blood Pressure
measures the pressure exerted on the arteries when the heart beats
Diastolic Blood Pressure
measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats
What are the Standard Patient Positions?
Anatomical, Sitting, Fowler’s, Semi-Fowler’s, Supine, Dorsal Recumbent, Prone
Anatomical
Standing with feet together & palms facing outwards
Fowler
Back at a 90 degree angle w/ legs straightened
Semi-Fowler
Back at a 45 degree angle and legs extended
Supine
Laying flat on your back
Dorsal Recumbent
Laying flat on your back, with knees bent, and flat feet on the table
Prone
Laying on your abdomen
Assessment Methods
Inspection, Palpation, Auscultation, Percussion, Mensuration
Inspection
Any internal or external examinations
Palpation
Touching the patient to feel the surface of the body or the organs
Auscultation
Listening to the parts of the body
Percussion
Tapping w/ fingertips lightly but sharp to find the location and size of the organs
Mensuration
Measuring parts of the body
