Vital Signs Flashcards
What are the 4 vital signs?
- Temperature
- Respiration
- Pulse
- Blood Pressure
What are vital signs also referred to as?
Cardinal Signs
What do changes in a patient’s vital signs indicate?
Indicate a problem or potential problem that may become life threatening
When are a patient’s vital signs taken in the radiology department?
- When a patient undergoes an invasive procedure
- Before and after the patient receives medication
- Anytime the patient’s condition changes suddenly
- If the patient reports nonspecific symptoms of distress (not feeling well or feeling different)
What is temperature?
The measurement of the degree of heat on the deep tissues of the body
What is thermoregulation?
Term which describes the body’s heat production and heat loss
What does the hypothalamus do in terms of temperature?
Regulates body temp
What are the two things the hypothalamus does to preserve heat and regulate heat loss?
Shivering and sweating
What are the sites of temperature measurement?
- Oral
- Axillary
- Tympanic
- Temporal
- Infrared
- Rectal
What is a normal adult oral temperature range?
97.7-99.5 degrees F (36.5-37.5 C)
What is the average oral temperature?
98.6 +/- 1-2 degrees
How do axillary temperatures compare to oral temps?
They are slightly lower
How do rectal temperatures compare to oral temps?
Slightly higher
Which of the temperature reading sites are most accurate?
Rectal temperatures
What recommendations should be followed when taking temperature?
- Wait at least an hour after vigorous exercise or a bath
- Wait 20-30 minutes after smoking, eating or drinking hot/cold liquids
When does a patient have a fever?
If the reading of the thermometer is more than 1-1.5 degrees the normal temp
What are symptoms of a fever?
- Increased pulse
- Increased respiration
- General body discomfort and aching
What is pyrexia?
A fever or febrile condition
What is hyperthermia?
A high temperature with an oral reading over 99.5 F
What are signs of hyperthermia?
Dizziness, confusion and coma
What is hypothermia?
Low temperature with an oral reading below 97.7 F
What are signs of hypothermia?
Shivering, respiration difficulties
What does a fever produce changes in?
Metabolic rate
What is a metabolic rate?
The rate of utilization of energy
When is a metabolic rate usually measured?
When the patient is completely at rest and in a fasting state
How are body temp and metabolic rate related?
Increased body temp = increased metabolic rate
What does an increased metabolic rate produce?
More oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production at the cellular level
What does a higher metabolic rate put a strain on?
The cardiopulmonary system
What is diaphoresis?
Profuse sweating as a means of regulating body temperature
How are temperature vital signs recorded?
Temperature Amount followed by site
- 99.6 R
- 98.6 O
- 97.6 AX
- 97.6 T
What is the normal respiration rate of adults?
12-20 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiration rate of children under 10?
20-30 breaths per minute
What is the normal respiration rate of newborns?
30-60 breaths per minute
How do you obtain an accurate measurement of respiration?
Count the number of respirations for a full minute
What state should the patient be in when measuring respiration?
At rest
What else should be measured as a part of respiration?
The depth or respiration, shallow or deep and the pattern of respiration, regular or irregular
What does respiration provide to the body?
Supplies oxygen to the blood and eliminates carbon dioxide
How is the rate of respiration is taken by?
Observing the movement of the abdomen and the chest
What procedures should be used for assessing the respiration of the patient?
- Best that the patient is unaware that the respiration rate is being taken
- Count and observe the movement of the chest or abdomen
- Place a hand on the patient’s chest or abdomen is observation is difficult
What is Tachypnea?
Excessive rate of respiration (greater than 20 in adults)
What is Bradypnea?
Decrease in respiratory rate
What is Dyspnea?
Difficult or labored breathing resulting in insufficient airflow
What is apnea?
Cessation of breathing
What is orthopnea?
Shortness of breath that occurs while lying flat and is relieved when sitting or standing
What is cyanosis?
A bluish discoloration of the skin caused by a lack of oxygen
What is cyanosis a sign of?
Respiratory distress
What is hypoxia?
Reduction in the amount of oxygen in the tissue
What is ventilation?
The mechanical movement of air in and out of the lungs
How are respiration vital signs recorded?
R 20
What does pulse rate assess?
Cardiovascular function
How is pulse rate recorded?
The number of heart beats per minute
How long should a patient be resting to obtain resting heart rate?
10 minutes
What is the normal pulse rate for adults?
60-100 bpm
What is the normal pulse rate for children under 10?
70-120 bpm
What are common sites of measurement of pulse?
At areas where the artery passes close to the skin
- Radial artery
- Brachial artery
- Carotid artery
Where is the radial artery?
Over the radial artery at the base of the thumb
Where is the brachial artery?
In the groove between the biceps and triceps above the elbow
Where is the carotid artery?
Over the carotid artery at the front of the neck
Where are uncommon sites of pulse measurements?
- Femoral artery
- Apical artery
- Popliteal artery
- Dorsal pedis artery
- Posterior tibia artery
Where is the femoral artery?
In the groin
Where is the apical artery?
Over the apex of the heart
Where is the popliteal artery?
Behind the knee
Where is the dorsalis pedis artery?
On the top of the foot
Where is the posterior tibia artery?
on the lateral side of the foot
What is the procedure for taking a patient’s pulse?
Count the number of pulses for 15 seconds and multiply by 4
How long should pulse be measured to be more accurate?
To monitor for a full minute
In critical care settings which patient measurements continuously monitored?
- arterial blood saturation (SAO2)
- respiratory rate
- pulse rate
What devices measure pulse continuously?
- Electrocardiogram
- Arterial lines
- Pulse oximeter
What is an electrocardiogram?
An electrical recording of the heart and used in the investigation of heart disease
What are arterial lines?
An analysis of arterial blood gas (ABG)
What do blood gases measure?
The pH, oxygen content and carbon dioxide content of the blood
How are blood gas tests performed?
A small sample of blood is collected from the radial artery in the wrist, femoral artery in the groin or brachial artery in the arm
What is a pulse oximeter?
A photoelectric device that measures the O2 blood saturation of the blood
What are normal pulse oximeter values for a healthy person?
Between 95-100%
Where is a pulse oximeter placed for infants?
On the big toe or attached to the earlobe, temple, nose or foot
How does a pulse oximeter work?
Converts light intensity into oxygen saturation and pulse rate value
What is tachychardia?
Rapid heart rate with resting pulse above 100 bpm
What is bradychardia?
Decrease heart rate with resting pulse below 60 bpm
How do you record vital signs?
P 80
What is blood pressure the measure of?
The measurement of the amount of pressure exerted against the walls of the vessels
What is blood pressure?
The force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body
How is a blood pressure determined?
By the force and amount of blood pumped and the size/flexibility of the arteries
What tool is used to measure BP?
Using an instrument called a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)
How is BP measured?
- The BP cuff is wrapped around your arm and inflated to stop blood flow in the artery
- As the cuff is slowly deflated, a stethoscope is used to hear the blood pumping through the artery
- The first pump heard is the systolic pressure and the last sound is the diastolic pressure
What is a normal BP in adult patients?
Systolic: 95-140 mm Hg
Diastolic: 60-90 mm Hg
What causes BP to continuously change?
Activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state and medication use
What is systolic pressure?
The highest pressure taken when the left ventricle of the heart contracts
What is diastolic pressure?
The lowest pressure when the ventricles of the heart relax
What is hypertension?
High blood pressure of BP over 140/90
What is hypertension characterized by?
Chronically high bp
How is hypertension monitored/treated?
By medication, lifestyle changes or a combo of both
What is hypertension often referred to as?
The silent killer
What is hypotension?
Low bP when pressure is less than 95/60 mm Hg
What is the main issue of hypotension?
Inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs
What is Atelectasis?
Absence of gas from part of all of the lungs as a result of failure of expansion or reabsorption of gas from the alveoli
What is homeostasis?
Constancy in the internal environment of the body that is maintained by adaptive responses
What is intubation?
Insertion of a tubular device into a canal, hollow organ or cavity
What is pleural effusion?
Increased amount of fluid within the pleural cavity
What is a pneumothorax?
Presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity
