Vital signs

Question 1

measuring and recording temperature

Answer 1

37 degrees
skin, oral cavity, ear canal using a tympanic thermometer
single use and disposable tips

Question 2

respiratory rate

Answer 2

can be consciously monitored by patients
don’t tell them when performing

Question 3

how to manually take blood pressure

Answer 3

explain the procedure
gain consent
check cuff size
attach and align with brachial artery
estimate the systolic: feel the radial pulse, inflate until no radial pulse, note the reading when disappears and release
palpate the brachial artery, re-inflate to around 20-30 above the approximate systolic
deflate slowly
1st Korotkoff sound is systolic
when noise disappears is 5th Korotkoff sound which is diastolic
remove and thank patient
repeat on other arm and record

Question 4

radial pulse

Answer 4

palpate the radial artery
if not then feel the carotid

Question 5

oxygen saturation

Answer 5

SpO2
finger pulse oximeter
records the proportion of haemoglobin saturated with oxygen
based on absorbance of red and infrared light by oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
place on bench
can be altered if they’re cold or wearing nail varnish

Question 6

what gets recorded on a NEWS chart

Answer 6

blood pressure
SpO2
pulse
respiratory rate