Vital Signs Flashcards
1
Q
Clinical Indicators for Vitals Assessment
A
- Newly admitted (obtain baseline)
- As per MD order or facility’s routine (no order needed as a nurse)
- Pre- and post-surgery or certain procedures
- Before, during, and after administration of specific drugs
- As indicated by client condition/response: “I feel dizzy, weird, funny, different”
2
Q
Pulse
A
- Slow/fast heartbeat
- Each ventricular contraction 60mL of blood (stroke volume)
- Waves travel from aorta through distal artery ends
- Accesses rate (bpm), rhythm, strength & symmetry
3
Q
Bradycardia
A
- heart rate below 60bpm
4
Q
Tachycardia
A
- Heart rate above 100bpm
5
Q
Pulse Deficit Discrepancy
A
- Difference of bpm in different pulse locations
6
Q
Asystole
A
- No heart contractions
- Dead?
7
Q
Arrhythmia
A
- Heart rate outside regular range
8
Q
LUB Heart Sound
A
- signals beginning of systole contraction (blood pushed out of heart)
- Loudest at apex or lower left sternal boarder
9
Q
DUB Heart Sound
A
- Signals beginning of diastole relaxation phase (heart fill with blood)
- Loudest at base (top of heart)
10
Q
Heart Sounds
A
- Blood movement is silent
- Listen to sounds of valve closing after blood passes
11
Q
Palpation of Heart Rate
A
- Best heard at 5th intercostal space at mid clavicular line
- Below nipple (men) & above bra wire line (female)
- Apex, point of maximum impulse (PMI)
12
Q
Apical Pulse
A
- above heart apex
- Check if radial pulse is irregular, uncertainty or pulse deficit
- Difficult to check in children
- Always check in infants <2
- Monitor during administration of drugs that alter heart rate (digoxin/lanoxin)
13
Q
Auscultation of Heart Rate
A
- Use diaphragm of stethoscope
- Apex of heart 4/5th intercostal space
- Listen for LUB & DUB
- Count LUB sounds for 60 seconds
14
Q
Distal Pulse Sites
A
- Temporal
- Carotid (side of neck)
- Brachial (inner side of biceps)
- Radial (inner wrist under thumb line)
- Femoral (near pelvic bone)
- Popliteal (behind knee)
- Posterior tibial (lower limb calf)
- Dorsalis pedis (over instep of food)
15
Q
Radial Pulse
A
- Take on adults & children 3+
- Most accessible
- Located inside wrist on thumb line
- Excess pressure will obliterate pulse
16
Q
Rhythm of Radial Pulse
A
- Count for 30 seconds multiple by 2 for bpm
- Unexpected finding at radial listen to apical site for 30 seconds
17
Q
Newborn Pulse
A
- 120bpm
- Range 70-190
18
Q
Toddler Pulse
A
- 110bpm
- Range 80-130
19
Q
Child Pulse
A
- 95bpm
- Range 70-115
20
Q
Preteen Pulse
A
- 90bpm
- Range 65-110
21
Q
Teen Pulse
A
- 80bpm
- Range 55-105
22
Q
Adult Pulse
A
- 70-75bpm
- Range 60-100
23
Q
Elite Athlete Pulse
A
- 50-60bpm
- Range 50-100
24
Q
Pulse Influencing Factors
A
- Age, younger = faster
- Gender, men faster
- Exercise, increased oxygen needs = faster
- Medications faster/slower
- Fever, increased metabolic need = faster
- Hemorrhage, loosing blood = faster
- Stress, increased fight/flight = faster
- Body position change, pump blood further = faster
- Pain, SYN response = faster
- Heart/respiratory contractions faster/slower
25
Q
Pulse Documentation
A
- Strength (amplitude) 0-4
- 4 bounding, 3 full & increased, 2 normal, 1 diminished, 0 absent
- Rhythm (different volumes)
- Rate, bpm (2x30secs)
- Symmetry/location
26
Q
Blood Pressure
A
- Pressure within arteries while pumping blood (how hard heart is working)
- Forced exerted on walls of artery under pressure from heart
- Indicator of cardiovascular health
- Access same time as pulse
- Measured in mmHg on sphygmomanometer
27
Q
Systolic Blood Pressure
A
- peak of maximum pressure with ejection/contraction
- top number
28
Q
Diastolic Blood Pressure
A
- minimum pressure exerted with relaxation
- bottom number
29
Q
Contributing Factors of Blood Pressure
A
- Cardiac output
- Peripheral vascular resistance
- Viscosity
- Elasticity of vessel walls
30
Q
Hypertension (HTN)
A
- High blood pressure
- 140+
31
Q
Diurnal Rhythm
A
- Varies throughout day
- Higher in AM
32
Q
Hypotension
A
- Low blood pressure
- Below 90/60