Vital Signs

Question 1

Average Blood Pressure

Answer 1

Systolic - number on top (first thump)
Diastolic - number on bottom (last thump)

Ausculatated - listening
Palpated - feel

You will use the brachial pulse

It will always land on an even number
It is measured in millimeters of mercury

Question 2

Pulse

Answer 2

Radial pulse - wrist
Carotid - neck
60 Seconds

Rate ~ 60 - 100 average for adult
• less 60 is bradycardia
• greater 100 is tachycardia

Rhythm
• Regular
• Irregular- if irregular check for one min

Quality
• Strong
• Weak

Question 3

Skin Signs

Answer 3

Colors
• Normal
• Pale
• Flushed (red)
• Cyanotic (blue)
• Ashen (grey)
• Jaundice (yellow)
• Mottled (patchy)

Moisture
• normal
• dry
• moist
• purfused/diaphoretic

Temperature
• warm (normal)
• hot
• cool/cold

Question 4

Lung Sounds

Answer 4

• Clear (CBL)
• Wheezing (higher pitch)
• Rhonchi (low pitch)
• Rales/crackles (fluids)
• Demenished (tight)

Stridor is an obstruction not sound

Mid calvical
Mid axillary

Question 5

Pupils

Answer 5

Pupils
Equal
Round
Reactive
L(to)light

dilated (big)
constricted (small)
unequal (one is big one is small)
sluggish (droppy)
fixed (dead)

Question 6

Respiratory

Answer 6

Rate - 12 to 20 average adult

Depth
• Shallow (short)
• Normal
• Deep (longer)

Ease
• Labored (fast)
• Non labored

Question 7

Cap refill

Answer 7

<2 seconds - immediate
>2 seconds - delayed