Vital Signs Flashcards
Examples of factors that can affect vital signs
Time of day Stress Temperature alterations Exercise Emotions Medication Postural changes Acute pain Smoking Disease or injury status Noise Food and liquid consumption Odours Fluid and electrolyte status
What are some factors that can affect vital signs?
Time of day (temp, BP) Stress (all 5) Temperature alterations (5) Exercise (5) Emotions (pulse, respiration, BP) Medication (5) Postural Change (pulse, BP, oxygen saturation) Acute pain (5) Smoking (5) Disease or injury (5) Noise (Pulse, BP, oxygen saturation) Food / liquid consumption (temp, pulse) Odours (pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation) Fluid and electrolyte status (temp, pulse, respiration, BP, oxygen saturation)
What is the acceptable range for adult temperature?
Oral/tympanic/temporal: 37
Rectal: 37.5
Axillary: 36.5
What is the acceptable range for pulse?
60 to 100 beats per minute
What is the acceptable range for respiration?
1 to 20 breaths per minute
What is the acceptable range for blood pressure?
Systolic: 120 to 139 mm Hg
Diastolic: 80 to 89 mm Hg
Pulse pressure: 30 to 50 mm Hg
What is the acceptable range for pulse oximetry?
SpO2 is greater than or equal to 95 percent
What is body temperature?
Body temperature is the difference between the amount of heat produced by body processes and the amount of heat lost to the external environment.
Sites that reflect core temperature:
Rectum Tympanic membrane Temporal artery Esophagus Pulmonary artery Urinary bladder
What are some reasons you would need to measure body temperature?
Expected or diagnosed infection Open wounds or burns White blood cell count below 5 x109/L or above 12 x109/L Immunosuppressive drug therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, anti-rejection medications) Injury to hypothalamus Exposure to temperature extremes Blood product infusion Hypothermia or hyperthermia therapy Postoperative status
Factors that normally influence temperature:
Age Exercise Hormones Stress Environmental Temperature Medications Daily Fluctuations
Acronym to assess pain:
Onset Provocative or Palliative Quality Radiation and Region Severity Timing Understanding - how does it affect their life Values – heat works better than cold, grin and bear it etc. What is a tolerable pain level for you - goal.
How can you relieve pain?
Medication / Pharmacological Distraction Therapy Reduce painful stimuli Using a warm blanket, heat, cold, massage Splint when coughing
What is the typical range for an infant’s heart rate?
70-190 bpm
By age 2 how many BPM does heart rate typically slow to?
80-120 bpm
