Vital signs Flashcards
When should you take vital signs?
- When a patient is brought to the department for any invasive diagnostic procedure
- Before and after the patient receives medication/as required by preprocedural screening (usually CT).
- Any time the patient’s general condition suddenly changes. (LOC)
What are Cardinal Signs?
Quick, objective and non-invasive evidence of patient condition.
Is a physician’s order required to measure vital signs?
T/F
Vital signs are measured against accepted ranges.
True
What are Physiologic responses indicators of?
Indicators of adversity or response to therapy.
Is pain considered to be a vital sign?
Yes
What is measured when taking a patients vital signs?
- Body temperature
- Pulse
- Respiration.
(Measured to monitor life supporting functions)
Is blood pressure considered a vital sign?
Blood pressure is not a true vital sign category, but is often measured with the other three in the overall assessment of the patient.
What is this describing?
Physiologic balance between heat produced in cells and heat lost to environment
Body temperature
T/F
Humans are cold blooded.
False; Humans are warm blooded
How much of a fluctuation in body tempurature has to occur before cellular functions and cardiopulmonary demands are affected?
A fluctuation of 2-3 ◦C
List 3 factors that can influence body temperature:
-Time of day
-weight
-hormone levels
(metabolic activites)
What part of the body performs thermoregulation?
The hypothalamus
How does the body preserve heat?
Shivering and vasoconstriction
How does the body regulate heat loss?
Diaphoresis and peripheral vasodilation
What is a normal body temperature?
37 °C (98.6 °F )
What is the Common body tempertature daily variation?
0.5 – 1°C (1 – 2 °F).
What is the common body temperature for infants (3m-3years)
37.2 – 37.61°C (99 – 99.7 °F)
What is the common body temperature for Child (5 – 13 years)?
36.56 - 37 °C (97.8 – 98.6 °F).
What can hypothermia result from?
- Induced medically
- Trauma to hypothalamus
How does hypothermia cause the body to shut down?
Reduces patient’s need for O2 and therefore, cardiopulmonary system slows down (bradycardia)
What does hyperthermia mean?
Elevated Body temperature
What does Febrile mean?
Related to fever
What is hyperthermia ussually caused by?
Usually due to disease process
How does hyperthermia cause the body to shut down?
As body temperature increases, body demands for O2 increase, CO2 production increases
How is the site for Measuring Body Temperature chosen?
- Patient’s age
- State of mind
- Ability to cooperate in the procedure.
T/F
Site used must be included when recording or reporting. Why or why not?
True; because the reading varies depending where it is measured
Where is oral temperature taken?
Mouth (under tongue)
When is oral temperature taken?
Used in adults and cooperative children
What is the normal oral body temperature?
37 °C O or 98.6 °F O
Where is axiallary temperature taken?
Armpit
What is the most useful area for taking temperature with infants?
Axillary
What is a normal axillary body temperature?
36.4 – 36.7 °C Ax or 97.6 - 98 °F Ax
Why is axillary temperature sometimes unreliable?
Time and precision of placement
Where is a rectal temperature taken?
Anal opening to rectum
What is the most reliable form of measuring body temperature?
Rectally
What is the colour of the Probe cover for rectal thermometers?
Probe cover is red
When should rectal temperature not be taken?
Should not be taken if the patient is restless or has rectal pathology.
When is rectal temperature used?
Used normally only on infants
What is a normal rectal body temperature?
37.5 °C R or 99.6 °F R
What is the Tympanic (Aural) Temperature meausring?
Temperature of the blood vessels in the tympanic membrane of the ear.
What is a normal tympanic body temperature?
36.4 °C T or 97.5 °F T
What are the forms of Core body temperature readings?
- Rectal temperature
- Tympanic temperature
What is being shown here?
A tympanic thermometer
What is being shown here?
Temperature sensitive patches
Where are Temperature sensitive patches placed?
Abdomen/forehead
T/F
With a temperature sensitive patch, If abnormal temperature is indicated, a more accurate method can be used to verify reading.
True
What are the ways to measure body temperature?
- Temporal Artery Thermometers
- Temperature Sensitive Patches
- Tympanic Temperature
- Rectal Temperature
- Axillary Temperature
- Oral Temperature
T/F
Measurements approximately 1 °F higher with a Temporal Artery Thermometer than oral readings.
True
What is being shown here?
Temporal Artery Thermometer
What does pulse indicate?
Reflects rapidity of heart contractions.
Why should you not press too hard while taking a pulse?
May obliterate if you press to hard
What is a normal pulse rate in an adult?
60 – 90 beats per minute (BPM)
What is the normal pulse rate in a Child (4 – 10 years)?
90 – 100 BPM
What is the normal pulse rate in an infant?
120 BPM
What does taking an Apical Pulse entail?
Listening to heart directly and Counting heartbeat over 1 min
T/F
An apical pulse may be lower than the radial pulse.
False; An apical pulse will never be lower than the radial pulse.
Where should you take an apical pulse reading?
5th intercostal space, 3 – 4 inches lateral to left sternal margin .
What are the different sites on the body that a pulse reading can be measured?
- Apical pulse
- Radial pulse
- Brachial Pulse
- Carotid Pulse
- Femoral Pulse
- Popliteal Pulse
- Temporal Pulse
- Dorsalis Pedis Pulse
- Posterior Tibial Pulse
Where on the body is a radial pulse taken?
At wrist (at base of thumb)
What is the most acessible spot to take a pulse reading?
On the wrist (radial pulse)
Where is a brachial pulse taken?
-Antecubital fossa above the elbow below the brachial artery
Where is a carotid pulse taken?
At angle of mandible over carotid artery
When is a carotid pulse ussually taken?
Typically, during CPR
How do you take a carotid pulse?
Push up with fingers slightly anterior and below the angle of the mandible.
Where is a femoral pulse taken?
Over femoral artery in groin
Where is a popliteal pulse taken? When would you take this kind of pulse?
-Behind knee
-Taken in a trauma situation
Where is a temporal pulse taken?
Over temporal artery (in front of ear)
Where is the Dorsalis Pedis Pulse taken?
At the top of the foot in line with the groove between the 1st and 2nd toes (between the extensor tendon of the great and second toe)
T/F
The Dorsalis Pedis Pulse may be congenitally absent
True