Vital Signs

Question 1

4 Main Vital Signs:

Answer 1

Temperature
Pulse
Respirations
Blood Pressure

Question 2

Other Vital Signs:

Answer 2

1. Pain - (Scale 0-10, Patients asked to rate on a scale of 1-10)
2. Skin Color
3. Size of Pupils and reaction to light
4. Level of consciousness
5. Patients response to stimuli
6. Pulse oximeter reading

Question 3

Temperature

Answer 3

A measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced

Question 4

How is temperature measured

Answer 4

1. Oral (O)
2. Rectal (R)
3. Axillary (Ax)- under arm
4. Aural (ear) T - aka Tympanic
   * *A low or high reading can indicate disease**

Question 5

Normal Temperature

Answer 5

Normal range 96.6 to 100.6 F depending on route used. Individuals have different body temperatures

• Time of day
• Lower in am, after resting
• Higher in the pm or after activity or food intake

Question 6

Temperature at different body parts vary

Answer 6

O – 98.6
R – 99.6
Ax – 97.6

Question 7

Hypothermia

Answer 7

Body temp < 95 F rectally. Death usually occurs if temp < 93 degrees F rectally.

Question 8

Hyperthermia

Answer 8

Body temp > 104 F rectally. Prolonged exposure will cause brain damage or serious infection. > 106 F will lead to convulsions, brain damage, or death

Question 9

Clinical thermometer

Answer 9

Red = Rectal

Blue =Oral or axillary

Question 10

Pulse

Answer 10

The pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart contracts and relaxes

Question 11

Rate

Answer 11

of beats per minute

Question 12

Rhythm

Answer 12

refers to regularity of heart beat

Question 13

Volume

Answer 13

refers to strength of heart beat

Question 14

Where do you normally take heart rate

Answer 14

Usually taken on the radial or carotid artery

Question 15

Areas pulse can be taken

Answer 15

Temporal – sides of forehead
Carotid – sides of the neck
Brachial – inner aspect of forearm
Radial – inner aspect of the wrist
Femoral – inner aspect of the upper thigh
Popliteal – behind the knee
Doralis Pedis – top of the foot arch

Question 16

Bradycardia

Answer 16

pulse < 60 bpm

Question 17

Tachycardia

Answer 17

pulse > 100 bpm

except in children

Question 18

Normal heart rate ranges:

Answer 18

Normal Ranges:
Newborn baby - 120 to 160 bpm
Baby aged from 1 to 12 months - 80 to 140 bpm
Baby/toddler aged from 1 to 2 years - 80 to 130 bpm
Toddler/young child aged 2 to 6 years - 75 to 120 bpm
Child aged 7 to 12 years - 75 to 110 bpm
Adults – 60-100 bpm

Question 19

Respirations (Normal Ranges)

Answer 19

Normal ranges:
Adults: 12-20 breaths per minute
Newborns up to 6 months old: 30-60 breaths per minute
Infants 6-12 months old: 24-30 breaths per minute
Toddlers and Children 1-5 years old: 20-30 breaths per minute
Children 6-12 years old: 12-20 breaths per minute
Adults: 12-20 breaths per minute

Question 20

Respirations

Answer 20

1. 1 breath consists of 1 inspiration and 1 expiration

2. Respirations should be counted in a way that the patient is unaware of the procedure

Question 21

Dyspnea

Answer 21

Difficult or labored breathing

Question 22

Apnea

Answer 22

absence of respirations

Question 23

Bradypnea

Answer 23

RR < 12 bpm

Question 24

Tachypnea

Answer 24

RR > 20 bpm

Question 25

Orthopnea

Answer 25

severe dyspnea in which breathing is very difficult in any position other than sitting erect or standing

Question 26

Blood Pressure

Answer 26

1. The measurement of the pressure that the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries during the various stages of heart activity
2. BP is read in mm of Hg

Question 27

Medical name for Blood Pressure

Answer 27

Sphygmomanomete

Question 28

SYSTOLIC:

Answer 28

1. Top number in reading

2. Normal range 100 to 120 mm Hg

Question 29

DIASTOLIC:

Answer 29

1. Bottom number in reading

2. Normal range 60 to 80 mm Hg

Question 30

Prehypertension

Answer 30

Systolic 120-139 or

Diastolic 80-89

Question 31

Normal BP

Answer 31

Systolic less than 120 and

Diastolic less than 80

Question 32

High BP (Hypertension) stage 1

Answer 32

Systolic 140-159 or

Diastolic 90-99

Question 33

High BP (Hypertension) stage 2

Answer 33

Systolic 160 or higher or

Diastolic 100 or higher

Question 34

Hypertensive crisis

Answer 34

Systolic higher than 180 or

Diastolic higher than 110

Question 35

Why are height and weight important

Answer 35

They are important because they provide necessary information in performing and evaluating:

• Lab tests
• Calculating dosages of medication
• Monitor patients who have cancer and are on chemotherapy
• Monitor patients who have edema (swelling) due to heart, kidney, or other diseases

Question 36

For those patients who require daily weights:

Answer 36

• Use the same scale each day
• Make sure the scale is balanced before weighing a patient
• Weigh the patient at the same time each day
• Make sure the patient is wearing the same amount of clothing each day

Question 37

Pulse Oximeter

Answer 37

• Normal is over 96% O2 saturation
• Levels below 96% can indicated a respiratory or cardiovascular abnormality (congenital heart disease, sickle cell anemia, asthma, etc)

Question 38

List 5 type of scales used:

Answer 38

1. Balance Beam Scale
2. Bed Scale
3. Wheelchair Scale
4. Chair Scale
5. Infant Scale