Vital Signs

Question 1

what are the 6 vital signs?

Answer 1

temperature

pulse rate
respiratory rate
oxygen saturation
blood pressure

ACVPU - alert, confusion, voice, pain, unresponsive

Question 2

describe what is normal, pyrexic and hypothermic temperatures and their aetiologies

Answer 2

normal
= 36-37.5

pyrexic
>37.5
- infections, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune, medications, environment, malignancy, metabolic

hypothermic
<35
- environment
- trauma/disease - sepsis, MI

Question 3

how is temperature checked?

Answer 3

thermometer
- in the mouth, armpit or rectum

Question 4

what is normal, tachycardia and bradycardic pulse rates and aetiologies?

Answer 4

normal - 60-100bpm
- usually lower in fit people

tachycardic
>100bpm
- anxiety, fear
- exercise
- medication
- hypovolaemic
- cardiac, metabolic, endocrine conditions

bradycardic
<60
- athletes
- medication
- heart block
- raised intracranial pressure

Question 5

how is pulse measured?

Answer 5

place two fingers on a pulse point
- inside wrist or neck
- count no. of beats for 30 seconds
- x2 = bpm

Question 6

what are you measuring for when taking a pulse?

Answer 6

the rate
if theres regular rhythm
volume and character

Question 7

what is peak expiratory flow and how is it measured?

Answer 7

the volume of air forcefully expelled from the lungs in one quick exhalation

• measured by using a peak flow meter
• compare the results on an average PEV/age graph

Question 8

what is the normal percent of oxygen saturation? how is it measured

Answer 8

96%

• using pulse oximetry
• place a probe on the finger
  = measures % of Hb in arterial blood

Question 9

what oxygen saturation may a patient with risk of hypercapnia have?

Answer 9

88-92%

Question 10

which race of people may oxygen saturation probes read inaccurate and why?

Answer 10

black people with darker skin tones
- melanin in skin absorbs light
- harder for device to measure O2 level

Question 11

what is normal blood pressure?

Answer 11

120/80mmHg

top number = systolic number
= max pressure in artery when heart beats and pumps blood

bottom number = diastolic number
= minimum pressure in artery when heart relaxes

Question 12

how is blood pressured measured?

Answer 12

• explain and gain consent
• place stethoscope over the major brachial artery in the upper arm
• inflate the cuff to occlude arterial flow
  = systolic pressure is exceeded
• gradually deflate cuff
• falls to systolic pressure and pulsatile blood flow begins
  = tapping sounds = Korotkoff sounds
• the measure on the gauge @first sound of the pulse = systolic pressure
• the measure on the garage @ disappearance on sound = diastolic pressure

Question 13

whats an easy quick way to measure capillary refill time?

Answer 13

apply pressure to nail bed
- release
- count in seconds how long it takes to turn pink

delayed return = dehydration or shock indication

Question 14

what is ACVPU?

Answer 14

a scale to measure a persons consciousness

alert - px is awake and able to follow command

confusion - may not be orientated

voice - px responds to verbal stimuli but don’t open eyes spontaneously

pain - px doesn’t respond to voice but responds to physical stimuli

unresponsive - no response to any stimuli

Question 15

how is respiratory rate measured and whats the normal rate?

Answer 15

• say to pt you’re going to repeat the pulse
• count their breaths instead

should be 12-20per min