Vital Signs Flashcards

1
Q

What are the different types of vital signs?

A

Temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure (all within normal, limits to sustain life)

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2
Q

Graphic method

A
  1. Shows large amount of info for healthcare pros to easily & quickly access
  2. Record of vital signs help provide diagnoses & respond to rapidly changing situations
  3. Using this method: date, temp, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure can be reduced
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3
Q

Body temperature

A
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4
Q

Sings of elevated temp

A

Flushed face, hot skin, unusually bright eyes, restlessness, chills, thirst

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5
Q

Normal range for body temp

A

Body temp often lowest in morning, highest in late afternoon and evening

Newborns have higher body temp than adults

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6
Q

Elevated body temp: known as _____ (fever), they are said to be _____ .

What does it indicate?

A

Pyrexia, febrile

Signifies illness, body is fighting infection

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7
Q

Fever terminology

A
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8
Q

Temp that alternates between fever and normal/subnormal reading

A

Intermittent fever

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9
Q

Temp that rises several degrees above normal , and returns to normal

A

Remittent fever

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10
Q

Fever that remains elevated

A

Constant fever

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11
Q

Sudden drop from fever to normal is called ____

A

Crisis

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12
Q

Lysis

A

When elevated temp gradually returns to normal

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13
Q

Relapsing fever

A

Fever that returns to normal for at least a day, and then occurs again

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14
Q

Lowered body temp, also known as

A

Hypothermia

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15
Q

What does it mean?

A

Caused by overexposure to the elements (drowning and cold water)

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16
Q

Clinical vs accidental hypothermia

A

Clinical is used for surgical procedures while accidental is life threatening and requires immediate treatment

17
Q

Thermometer

A

Most common: electronic thermometer

18
Q

Where to measure?

A

Oral (O) -mouth
Rectal (R) -anus
Axil.ary (Ax) -armpit
Tympanic (TM) -ear
Temporal (TA) -forehead

19
Q

How to measure

A

Ensure entire sensor is covered by tissue, clean thermometers between use

20
Q

Oral measurement

A
  1. Measure within sublingual arteries
  2. Wait before using if patient has consumed hot or cold drink
  3. Do not administer if patient is confused, unconscious, uncooperative
  4. Sublingual space must be sealed when measuring
21
Q

Rectal measurement

A
  1. Highly accurate
  2. Uncomfortable
  3. Used for unconscious patients
  4. Cannot use if patient has rectum cancer, diarrhea colitis
22
Q

Axillary measurement

A
  1. Least accurate
  2. Used for newborns
  3. Only use if other methods cannot be used
23
Q

Tympanic measurement

A
  1. Measures thermal radiation given off by tympanic membrane
  2. Fast recording of temp
24
Q

Temporal artery measurement

A
  1. Newer method (forehead scanner)
  2. Uses infrared technology to scan temp in artery
  3. Quickest, noninvasive way
  4. Very accurate
25
Q

Pulse, what is it?

A

Heartbeats produce a wave of higher pressure blood causing pulsation through arteries. Wave is the pushed which should occur rhythmically

26
Q

Where can it be observed

A

Temporal pulse (forehead), carotid pulse (neck), brachial pulse (front of elbow), apical pulse (heart or chest), radial pulse (wrist), femoral pulse (pussy), popliteal pulse (knee), pedal pulse (foot)

27
Q

Regulation of pulse rate basic facts

A
  1. Pulse rate: how often heart beats per minute ( HR)
    2.Normal, adult pulse 60-80 BPM
  2. Newborn is 120-140 BPM
  3. Pulse rate changes with sleep, exercise, extreme emotion, disease, physical work
28
Q

What causes it to increase

A

Overactive thyroid gland and fever
Rises 10 BPM every 1 degree Fahrenheit increase in body

29
Q

Tachycardia

A

Pulse rate consistently above 100 BPM
1. Signifies heart disease, heart failure, hemorrhage.

30
Q

Bradycardia

A

Pulse rate consistently below 55 BPM