Vital signs Flashcards
Systolic
Amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart beats
Dystolic
Amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats
Hypoperfusion
Means blood pressure is low
What blood pressure sign indicates that there is not enough blood getting to the patient’s organs.
If our blood pressure is less than 90 systolic
Indicates hypoperfusion
Average pulse in an adult
60-100 pulse
What is normal for the pulse rate of an athlete
Can have a pulse rate of under 60 or 40-50
What are the reasons for a low pulse rate
- Heart block: electrical problem inside your heart
- Medication overdoses
Reasons why pulse rate could be too high
Fear
Exercise
Pain
Anxiety
Infection
100-150 pulse rate could be due to any one of these reasons or more
What would a heart rate of over 150 indicate
Primary heart problem
Respiratory rate
How many times a patient breaths in and out in a minute
What is a normal respiratory rate
12-20 breaths per minute
What respiratory rate indicates a true medical emergency
Breathing under 12 per minute
What action should you take when a patient’s respiratory rate is below 12
Ventilate and assist their breathing
What could be causes of a patient’s respiratory rate of over 20
Pain and anxiety
Pulse oximetry (SPO2)
Measures how well oxygen is combined with the red blood cells in your body
Normal pulse oximetry
94 to 99% is a normal range
Pediatrics could have 99%
What is a normal pulse oximetry to see in a pediatric
99-100%
What is a not uncommon SPO2 to see in a patient who smokes
94-96%
What is not an uncommon SPO2 for patients who have COPD or CHF
92-94% and they are taking supplemental oxygen for their
Blood glucose (BGL)
Normal blood glucose is anywhere from 70-120
Hyperglycemia
Very high blood glucose levels
Over 140 mg/dl
End Tidal CO2
Measuring what the patient is breathing out
Normal N Tidal CO2 is 35-45
Hypotensive
Low blood pressure of below 90 systolic
Hypertensive
High blood pressure
Bradycardia
Slow heart rate
Below 60 BPM
Normal in athletes and only bad when they are symptomatic
Tachycardia
Fast heart rate over 100
100-150 usually due to pain, anxiety, dehydration
170+ heart is life-threatening high
Hypoventilation
6-8 breaths a minute
Hyperventilation
Over 20 BPM
Could be someone in respiratory failure
AVPU
Helps determine how responsive a person is
Alert
Verbal stimuli
Painful stimuli
Unresponsive
Glascow Coma Scale
GCS
Mnemoic: EVM 456
Eye
Verbal
Motor
What to look for in respiratory rate
Rate, rhythm, quality, depth
Respiratory rate scale
Adults: 12-20
13-18: 12-16
8-12: 18-30
4-5: 22-34
1-3: 24-40
Infants: 30-60
What to do when patients have low SPO2
Give them supplemental oxygen
What is the blood pressure in neonates
80/40
3 types of pupils
Normal
Constricted
Dilated
What are we looking for in peoples
PEARRL
Pupils
Equal
AND
Round
Regular Size
Lightly Reactive
What are common causes of pinpoint pupils
Opiate overdose
Trauma
Common causes of dilated pupils
Cocaine
Common causes of unreactive, unequal pupils
Neurological conditions like Strokes
What should you do when a patient is unresponsive or has altered mental status
Get a blood glucose level
How to measure blood glucose level
Glucometer
Neuroexam
PMS
Pulse, Motor, Sensory
What can affect pulse oximeter readings
Fingernail polish
Skin temperature
CO poisoning
