Vital Signs Flashcards
Vital Signs include
Temp
Pulse/ Pulse Ox
Respiration
Blood Pressure
Who orders the frequency of vitals?
Can a nurse take vital signs at any time?
MD orders frequency of vitals
Yes, a nurse can take vital signs at any time
Normal Oral Temperature
97 to 100 degrees
Most accurate body temperature
Rectal
Neutropenic
Low WBC
How does body temperature maintain normal/ core temp?
Heat production has to equal heat loss to maintain normal temp
How does body lose heat?
Through skin and lungs
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Evaporation (Sweat and Fever)
What happens to the core temperature the older you get?
Core temperature gets lower
Factors that affect body temp
Age
Environment
Time of Day
Exercise
Stress
Hormones
Normal Temp Ranges
Oral
Axillary
Rectal
Tympanic
Oral -97-100 F
Rectal- 98-101 F
Tympanic- 97-100 F
Axillary- 96-99 F
How long should an apical pulse be listened to?
One full minute
What do pulses check for?
Circulation
What can happen to your heart rate the older you get?
Heart rate can increase
Bradycardia
< 60 BPM
Tachycardia
> 100 BPM