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Clin skills 1 > Vital Signs > Flashcards

Vital Signs Flashcards

1
Q

When is it important to establish baseline vital signs for patients?

A

> 65 years old or < 2 years old
Debilitated
Performed limited aerobic activity for > several weeks
History of cardiovascular problems
Recent trauma

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2
Q

What information does Vital signs give?

A

Baseline
status of cardiovascular/pulmonary system
guides clinical judgement

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3
Q

how do vital signs guide clinical judgement

A

-Screening
-Guide prognosis and plan of care
-Monitor progress
-Evaluate effectiveness of intervention
-Guide referral to PCP
-VS measurement yield the most useful information when performed and recorded at periodic intervals over time as opposed to a signal measure in time

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4
Q

What should you do when you get abnormal values at rest?

A
  1. determine the cause
  2. observe: use logical systematic approach to observing your patient
  3. check if information is extremely abnormal or inconsistent with patient cues
  4. check equipment/factors that may alter the accuracy
  5. ask a more experience therapist to recheck
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5
Q

What should you observe about a patient if given abnormal values?

A

facial expression
overall appearance
signs of pain or distress
skin condition

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6
Q

What are some factors that affect Vital signs

A

level/amount of physical activity
Environmental temperature
Age
Hormonal status
Emotional status
Physiological status: Illness, disease, trauma, medication, pain

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7
Q

When should you take vitals?

A

initial eval
after exercise
in response to a change in condition or noted adverse effects to activity

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8
Q

what are adverse affects to activity?

A

Mental confusion, slow response to commands,
Nausea, syncope, vertigo
Diaphoresis
Change in appearance
Drop in BP
Pupil constriction

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9
Q
  1. diaphoresis
  2. syncope
A
  1. profusely sweating
  2. fainting
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10
Q

What is the normal ranges for respiratory rate
(neonates, infants, children and adults)

A

Neonates: 40-60
Infants: 25-50
Children: 15-30
Adults: 12-20

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11
Q

What are the parameters of respiratory rate and explain?

A
  1. Rate: number of breaths per minute
  2. Rhythm: regularity of breathing pattern/interval between breath - Regular (normal) or irregular (abnormal)
  3. Depth: refers to amount of air exchange with each inspiration
    -Deep breathing: greater thoracic expansion
    -Shallow breathing: minimal chest expansion
  4. Character: refers to deviation from normal/resting respiration
  5. Observe for rate and quality
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12
Q

Define
1. tachypnea
2.bradypnea
3.dyspnea
4. orthopnea

A

Tachypnea- resp. Rate > 24
Bradypnea- resp. Rate <10
Dyspnea- difficult or labored breathing
Orthopnea- difficulty breathing lying down

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13
Q

ATS scale

A

Grade 0: only breathless w/ strenuous exercise
Grade 1: troubled by shortness of breath when hurrying on level ground; walking up a slight hill
Grade 2: on level ground, walks more slowly than people of same age b/c of breathlessness/stopping to catch breath while walking own pace
Grade 3: stops of breath while walking about 100 yards/a few minutes on level ground
Grade 4: Too breathless to leave the house

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14
Q

What are factors that affect the respiratory rate and explain?

A

Factors that affect respiration rate
Age: younger you are the faster you breath
Physical activity/exercise
Emotions:
environment/air quality
Altitude
disease/pathology/medications

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15
Q

give an example of how to document the respiratory rate

A

15 breaths per minute, patient was seated and at rest

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16
Q

What are the ranges of Blood pressure for each category that someone can fall in?

A

Normal: S= less than 120 AND D =less than 80

Elevated: S=120-129 AND D= less than 80

High blood pressure (hypertension stage 1): S=130-139 OR D=80-89

High blood pressure (hypertension stage 2): S=140 or higher OR D=90 or higher

Hypertensive crisis: S= higher than 180 AND/OR D=higher than 120

17
Q

What are the normal ranges of BP for neonates, infants, children, adults

A

Neonates (1-28 days old): Systolic <60; D highly variable
Infants (1-12 months): S: 70-95; D: highly variable
Children 1-8 years): S: 80-110; D: highly variable
Adults: S: 90-140; D: 60-90

18
Q

What are factors that affect BP?

A

Age: increases as you age and peaks around puberty
Physical activity/exertion
emotions/anxiety
Hydration: lack of hydration decreases BP
Medication
Pain
Position of the patient and extremity (orthostatic hypotension)

19
Q

what are factors that can influence BP?
-exercise
-valsalva maneuver
-orthrostatic hypotension

A
  1. Exercise: does intensity need to be changed
    -Increase in SBP and no change or slight increases in DBP
    -Drop in SBP or failure of SBP to increase with increased workload in indication for stopping exercise
  2. Valsalva maneuver: force exhalation:
    -Decrease Blood flow to heart and drop in BP followed by rapid increase in HR/BP when breath is released due to increase in intrathoracic pressure
  3. Orthostatic hypotension: getting up to quickly
    Sudden drop in BP when moving upright postured (sitting or standing
20
Q

When should you not take a BP on an extremity with…

A

IV or other inserted line
Abnormall;y high or low muscle tone (such as following a CVA or stroke)
Axillary lymph node removal such as a mastectomy

21
Q

Example of how to document BP

A

120/80 mmHg with patient seated at rest

22
Q

What are the normal ranges for neonates, infants, children, and adults for heart rate

A

Adult: 60-100 bpm
child : 80-120 bpm
Newborn 100-130 bpm
Neonates: 120-160 bpm

23
Q

Bradycardia vs tachycardia

A

Bradycardia: < 60 bpm (slow)
Tachycardia: >100 bpm (fast)

24
Q

Scale to determine the quality of a pulse

A

+4: bounding- readily palpable, forceful, not easily obliterated by finger pressure
+3 normal- easily palpable and obliterated only by strong finger pressure
+2 week: hard to feel and easily obliterated by slight finger pressure
+1 thready: barely perceptible, easily obliterated by slight finger pressure, fades in and out
0 absent: not discernable

25
Q

factors that affect pulse rate

A

Age: generally increases
Gender:
Physical activity: generally increases
Emotions: increases or decreases
Medications: increases or decreases
disease/pathology: increases or decreases
Physical conditioning: increases or decreases
Systemic or local heat: increases or decreases

26
Q

what are some abnormal response to activity with heart rate

A

Pulse rate does not increase or increases slowly
Pulse rate declines before intensity of activity decreases
Rate of pulse increase exceeds the level expected
Pulse rate demonstrated abnormal rhythm

27
Q

How to you document heart rate

A

75 BPM seated and at rest

28
Q

what is a normal pulse ox range?

A

95-100%

29
Q

hypoxia

A

range is 88-94
*for exercise you should never drop below 90 unless otherwise told by physician

30
Q

What is temperatures normal ranges?

A

96.5-99.4 * F

31
Q

Pryexia-
hyperpyrexia
hypothermia

A

Fever (pyrexia): temperature exceeding 100 degrees F
Hyperpyrexia: extreme elevation of temp above 106 degrees
Hypothermia: abnormally low temp below 95 degrees

Clin skills 1 (18 decks)

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