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Clinical Practice 1 > Vital Signs > Flashcards

Vital Signs Flashcards

1
Q

What are vital signs used for?

A

provide critical information about a patient’s physiological status

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2
Q

Define sign

A

observable, objective measure that can be quantified by using valid and reliable measurement instruments

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3
Q

Define symptom

A

how a person experiences a condition

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4
Q

What are the 4 internationally recognized vital signs

A
  • HR
  • BP
  • RR
  • Temperature
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5
Q

What is considered the “5th” vital sign?

A

Pain

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6
Q

Define basal HR

A

pulse rate measured after an extended period of rest

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7
Q

Define resting HR

A

pulse rate measured in the absence of imposed stress

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8
Q

Define periactivity HR

A

pulse rate taken during an intervention or imposed stress

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9
Q

Define recovery HR

A

taken 1-3 minutes following intervention/activity

measures the CV system’s ability to recover following stress

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10
Q

Define patency

A

the openness of the peripheral portion of the CV system

measured by presence/absence of pulse at a given site

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11
Q

What is a red flag for patency?

A

a patient with lack of patency without a known pathology

REFER to MD immediately

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12
Q

What are the signs of poor patency?

A
  • trophic: loss of hair, dry/flaky skin, muscle atrophy
  • decreased skin temperature
  • blanching
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13
Q

What is the trend of HR as we age?

A

HR decreases as we age

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14
Q

Target HR

A

max HR * desired intensity (%)

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15
Q

What does a grade 0 HR describe?

A

pulse is absent; no perceptible pulse

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16
Q

What does a grade 1+ HR describe?

A

pulse is thready; barely perceptible, easily obliterated with pressure, fades in/out

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17
Q

What does a grade 2+ HR describe?

A

pulse is weak; difficult to palpate, can be obliterated easily with slight pressure

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18
Q

What does a grade 3+ HR describe?

A

pulse is normal; easy to palpate, requires moderate pressure to obliterate

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19
Q

What does a grade 4+ HR describe?

A

pulse is bounding; very strong, hyperactive, cannot obliterate with moderate pressure

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20
Q

What are the normal HR for each age group?

A

Newborn - 120-160
Infant - 100-120
Child - 80-100
Adult - 60-100

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21
Q

Define auscultation

A

monitoring of the heart using a stethoscope

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22
Q

Define doppler measurements

A

US based device that uses frequency of blood flow changes during blood flow to examine patency

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23
Q

What are the 6 main sites for HR measurement?

A

carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis

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24
Q

What is the main site for HR measurement in an infant?

A

brachial artery

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25
Define blood pressure
measure of force exerted by blood against the aorta
26
Define systole
ventricles of the heart contracting; maximum pressure exerted
27
Define diastole
ventricles of the heart relaxing; minimum pressure exerted
28
What is the purpose of BP?
to determine vascular resistance to blood flow; to determine the effectiveness of the cardiac muscle in pumping blood to overcome vascular resistance
29
What should be considered when taking BP?
- size of cuff - placement of cuff/bladder - support of patient's arm - patient position
30
BP should be taken on the L arm except when
- IV lines placed - stroke - lymphedema - fracture - blood clot
31
Normal resting BP for all the age ranges are:
neonates >60s infants 70-95s child 80-110s adults 90-120/60-80
32
Normal BP is categorized as
<120/<80
33
Elevated BP is categorized as
120-129/<80
34
Stage 1 HTN is categorized as
130-139 OR 80-89
35
Stage 2 HTN is categorized as
>140 OR >90
36
Stage 3 HTN is categorized as
>180 and/or >120
37
High BP in the presence of these symptoms may warrant a referral
- HA - dizziness - flushed face - spontaneous epistaxis - vision changes - frequent nocturnal urination
38
If a patient is known to have HTN and is taking antiHTN medications and their BP is >140/90 this is known as:
A RED FLAG, stop immediately
39
Define orthostatic hypotension
a sudden drop in blood pressure with changes in position drop of >20mmHg systolic drop of >10mmHg diastolic drop of both
40
Symptoms of orthostatic hypotension
- faintness - lightheadedness - dizziness - confusion - blurred vision
41
What does the ankle brachial index indicate
risk for cardiovascular events
42
A low ABI (0.90) indicates what?
peripheral arterial disease, increased risk for CV events
43
A high ABI (>1.50) indicates what?
abnormal finding, may be due to diabetes or calcified arteries
44
Define pulse pressure
the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure
45
Name the accessory muscles of inspiration
SCM, pec M, pec m, serratus ant, serratus post, lat, trap, QL
46
Name the accessory muscles of expiration
TA, internal/external obliques, rectus abdominis, intercostales, QL
47
What is the trend of BP as we age
it increases as we age
48
What is the trend of respiration rate as we age?
it decreases as we age
49
What is the normal respiration rate for adults?
12-20 breaths per minute
50
A 0 on the ATS Dyspnea scale indicates
dyspnea only with strenuous exercise
51
A 1 on the ATS Dyspnea scale indicates
trouble breathing when hurrying on level ground or slightly uphill
52
A 2 on the ATS Dyspnea scale indicates
walking slower than those of the same age on level ground; having to stop and catch breath
53
A 3 on the ATS Dyspnea scale indicates
stopping for breath after 100yd or every few minutes on level ground
54
A 4 on the ATS Dyspnea scale indicates
too breathless to leave the house; becomes breathless while dressing
55
What is the trend of temperature as we age?
it decreases slightly
56
What are the sites where temperature may be taken?
oral, rectal, auditory canal/tympanic, forehead, axillary
57
What is a typical temperature for an adult
95.9 - 98.6
58
What is a typical temperature for an infant
95.9 - 99.5
59
What are the varying factors of temperature?
time of day, season, age, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, physical fitness, shift work, meals, alcohol
60
What sites may pulse oximetry be taken
finger, earlobe, foot

Clinical Practice 1 (13 decks)

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