Vital Signs Flashcards
What is the core temperature of most humans?
37 C
98.6 F
What are the methods used to take temperature?
Oral, rectal, tympanic, axillary, temporal, infrared scanner
What temp is a fever?
Over 100.4 F
Over 38 C
What is the process for oral temperature?
Wear gloves if lesions or secretions noted
Ask patient if they have had any warm or cold drinks or foods or if they’ve smoked recently— if so, delay measurement
Use probe cover and place top of probe under the back of the tongue in the sublingual pocket
What is the most accurate reading for temp?
Rectal. It reads 1 F higher than oral temp.
Define pulse
With every beat of the heart, blood leaves the left ventricle and produces a pressure wave which can be felt in peripheral arteries as the pulse.
Normal pulse for adults?
50- 100 BPM
What is bradycardia?
A resting heart rate in adults less than 50 BPM
it can be accompanied by dizziness. But, it can also be normal in athletes with a strong heart muscle.
What is tachycardia?
A heart rate in adults over 100 BPM
a rapid heart rate can occur for various reasons such as exercise or anxiety. But.. It can be accompanied by abnormal conditions such as fever or hypovolemia.
When would you check the apical pulse?
If you feel an irregular heartbeat when palpating either the radial or carotid pulse. Auscultate the apical pulse with your stethoscope for one minute.
Where is the apical pulse located?
Left midclavicular line at the 5th intercostal space.
What is the normal respiratory rate?
10-25 breaths per minute
Define blood pressure?
The measurement of the force of blood pushing against the walls of the artery, written as a fraction: systolic / diastolic
Normal BP range?
90/60 to 120/80
What is the systolic pressure?
Pressure against walls of artery during systole. (Contraction- ejection phase of left ventricle of the heart.)
The number when you hear the first beat as you slowly release air from the inflated BP cuff.
Define diastolic pressure?
Pressure against walls of artery during diastole. (Relaxation- filling phase of left ventricle.)
The number when you last hear a beat as you slowly release air from the cuff.
How to accurately put cuff on?
Select proper cuff size to fit patients arm
Use size guide to check fit
Place smoothly against bare skin with bottom edge of cuff about 1 inch above antecubital crease
How should the patient be positioned while taken BP?
Patient should be seated with good posture and feet flat on the floor (not crossed)
Patient may be lying down
Arm should be supported at level of the heart
How to take the palpable systolic?
Position patient and cuff correctly
Palpate the radial pulse, then inflate the BP cuff with slow pumps of the bulb.
Note the number on the gauge when the radial pulse disappears, that is the palpable systolic.
Slowly release the air from the BP cuff, noting that the radial pulse returns
Why would we take a palpable systolic?
It can be uncomfortable on the patients arm, especially on an older patient who had frail skin.
You may not be able to hear in a loud atmosphere.
