Vital Signs

Question 1

when are vital signs performed in the DI department?

Answer 1

• if pt is having an invasive procedure
• before and after medication admin
• pt reports feeling unwell
• no recent baseline noted in chart

Question 2

what are the 3 cardinal vital signs?

Answer 2

1. body temp
2. pulse
3. respiration

Question 3

what additional vital signs do we take that isn’t a cardinal vital sign?

Answer 3

blood pressure

Question 4

normal limits for body temp

Answer 4

37˚C +/- 0.5-1˚C

Question 5

temperature is dependent on where it was taken. list then from areas that has the lowest to highest temp.

Answer 5

armpits (axillary)
temporal
oral
ear (tympanic)
rectal

Question 6

(decrease/increase) of metabolism can produce MORE heat

Answer 6

increase in metabolism = more heat

Question 7

pyrexia

Answer 7

fever
temp is ≥38˚ depending on the location of assessment
increase pulse rate, respiration due to increase demand for o2

Question 8

hypothermia

Answer 8

temp below normal limits
body losing heat faster than it can produce
decrease pulse and resp

Question 9

how do you document body temp?

Answer 9

time and location it was taken (eg. axillary, oral)

Question 10

where can you detect a pulse?

Answer 10

• radial (wrist)
• carotid (neck)
• apical (apex of heart)

Question 11

normal pulse rate for adults

Answer 11

60-90 bpm

Question 12

what words are used to describe a pulse when documenting?

Answer 12

weak/strong, regular/irregular

Question 13

how do you properly document pulse rate?

Answer 13

description, time and location

Question 14

what is considered tachycardia?

Answer 14

> 100 bpm

Question 15

what is considered bradycardia?

Answer 15

<60 bpm

Question 16

when describing a pulse as thready, what does that mean?

Answer 16

it is difficult to find
if you lessen the pressure, it won’t be found
can be irregular

Question 17

respiration = ____ + _____

Answer 17

one inspiration and one expiration

Question 18

4 things we’re looking for when observing respiration.

Answer 18

1. rate
2. depth
3. quality
4. pattern

Question 19

normal respiration range for adults

Answer 19

15-20

Question 20

cyanosis

Answer 20

range of 10 or less respirations

Question 21

what words are used to describe respiration?

Answer 21

shallow, laboured, regular/irregular

Question 22

how do you document respiration?

Answer 22

ex. R 15/min, or RR 15

Question 23

what is blood pressure dependent on?

Answer 23

• heart function
• blood volume
• blood viscosity
• peripheral resistance

Question 24

what is normal adult bp?

Answer 24

<120/80mmHg

Question 25

what range puts someone at pre-hypertension?

Answer 25

120-139mmHg/80-89mmHg

Question 26

what is the BP when someone is hypertensive?

Answer 26

≥140mmHg/≥90mmHg

Question 27

what is the BP when someone is hypotensive?

Answer 27

<90mmHg/<50-60mmHg

Question 28

what are the symptoms for hypotension?

Answer 28

lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, fatigue, nausea, lack of concentration

Question 29

what are the two ways to measure BP?

Answer 29

1. sphygmomanometer with cuffs + stethoscope 2. automatic digital BP monitor

Question 30

what are some factors that increases BP readings?

Answer 30

- cuffs too small - laboured breathing - legs crossed - pain - full bladder

Question 31

if a pt's arm is below heart level, what can it potentially do to the pt's BP reading?

Answer 31

increases BP readings

Question 32

if a pt's arm is above heart level, what can it potentially do to the pt's BP reading?

Answer 32

decreases the BP readings

Question 33

stethoscope checklist

Answer 33

1. ensure correct ear tip size 2. ear tips pointing forward 3. no debris? 4. check seal of tubing 5. diaphragm open?

Question 34

when opening the valve for BP monitoring, the first beat is the ___.

Answer 34

systolic pressure

Question 35

when monitoring BP, the change or first absence of the sound is the ___.

Answer 35

diastolic pressure

Question 36

Korotkoff sounds

Answer 36

sounds heard during blood pressure measurement

Question 37

what are the 5 Korotkoff sounds?

Answer 37

1. sharp thump/tapping 2. blowing/whooshing 3. softer thump 4. softer blowing/muffled 5. silence

Question 38

if sound continues to 0mmHg, what do we mark the diastolic pressure as?

Answer 38

when the Korotkoff sounds become muffled

Question 39

normal fasting blood sugar for someone diabetic?

Answer 39

4-7 mmol/L

Question 40

normal 2 hours after meal blood sugar for someone diabetic?

Answer 40

5-10 mmol/L

Question 41

normal fasting blood sugar for someone not diabetic?

Answer 41

3.9-5.5 mmol/L

Question 42

normal blood sugar 2 hours after a meal for someone not diabetic?

Answer 42

<7.8 mmol/L

Question 43

what's considered low o2 saturation?

Answer 43

<90%

Question 44

when someone is undergoing respiratory distress, what happens to their RR? HR? WOB? AMI?

Answer 44

it all increases

Question 45

normal SpO2?

Answer 45

95-100%

Question 46

<85% SpO2 means?

Answer 46

inadequate o2 delivered to tissues

Question 47

what is the most accurate way to measure o2 saturation levels?

Answer 47

by taking arterial blood samples SaO2

Question 48

hypoxic drive

Answer 48

when pts with severe chronic lung issues reduce their breathing when given too much oxygen

Question 49

how is flow rate of o2 measured?

Answer 49

LPM litres/min

Question 50

what is the most common o2 equipment in the imaging department?

Answer 50

nasal cannula

Question 51

flow rate for nasal cannula

Answer 51

low flow rate 1-6 LPM

Question 52

flow rate of the high flow nasal cannula

Answer 52

6-15 LPM

Question 53

flow rate for a face mask?

Answer 53

5-10 LPM, never less than 5 LPM to prevent rebreathing CO2

Question 54

flow rate for bagging?

Answer 54

>15 LPM

Question 55

flow rate for non-rebreather masks

Answer 55

10-15