Vital Signs

Question 1

What is the core temperature of most humans?

Answer 1

37 C
98.6 F

Question 2

What are the methods used to take temperature?

Answer 2

Oral, rectal, tympanic, axillary, temporal, infrared scanner

Question 3

What temp is a fever?

Answer 3

Over 100.4 F
Over 38 C

Question 4

What is the process for oral temperature?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What is the most accurate reading for temp?

Answer 5

Rectal. It reads 1 F higher than oral temp.

Question 6

Define pulse

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Normal pulse for adults?

Answer 7

50- 100 BPM

Question 8

What is bradycardia?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What is tachycardia?

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

When would you check the apical pulse?

Answer 10

If you feel an irregular heartbeat when palpating either the radial or carotid pulse. Auscultate the apical pulse with your stethoscope for one minute.

Question 11

Where is the apical pulse located?

Answer 11

Left midclavicular line at the 5th intercostal space.

Question 12

What is the normal respiratory rate?

Answer 12

10-25 breaths per minute

Question 13

Define blood pressure?

Answer 13

The measurement of the force of blood pushing against the walls of the artery, written as a fraction: systolic / diastolic

Question 14

Normal BP range?

Answer 14

90/60 to 120/80

Question 15

What is the systolic pressure?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Define diastolic pressure?

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

How to accurately put cuff on?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

How should the patient be positioned while taken BP?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

How to take the palpable systolic?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Why would we take a palpable systolic?

Answer 20

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.