Vital Signs

Question 1

The best way to prevent a medical emergency

Answer 1

A good medical history - Baseline knowledge of Pt

Question 2

Vital signs are

Answer 2

temperature, pulse, respirations, and BP

Question 3

The benefits of vital sign measurements are

Answer 3

Baseline normal values ensures a standard comparison in the event of a medical emergency.
Used as a screening tool for abnormalities, either diagnosed or undiagnosed

Question 4

Classical signs of infection

Answer 4

calor (heat), dolor (pain), rubor (redness), tumor (swelling)

Question 5

Viral Infection

Answer 5

parasitic and require a host cell. Ex: influenza, HSV, HIV, HPV

Question 6

Bacterial infection

Answer 6

singled-cell microorganism. Ex: strep throat, E. coli, cellulitis, MRSA, and tuberculosis

Question 7

Fungal infection

Answer 7

yeast and mold. Ex: ringworm, thrush, and histoplasmosis

Question 8

Parasitic infection

Answer 8

Live on or in a host. Ex: malaria, lice, and tapeworm

Question 9

Dry socket/alveolar osteitis

Answer 9

delayed healing, not associated with infection

Question 10

Temperature

Answer 10

we do take this, orally 98.6 = average. 
lowest in 6AM 
highest from 4-6pm
Normal for us = 97-99
Axillary = oral - 1
Rectal = oral + 1

Question 11

Orally taken temp is

Answer 11

under the tongue, as far back as possible, > 20 minutes since they had anything to eat or drink, wait for beep

Question 12

Digital thermometers

Answer 12

when used correctly they are accurate enough to meet daily needs and safer than the mercury thermometers

Question 13

Different methods of taking temperatures can produce

Answer 13

different average readings. Important to take temp with whatever method u choose and if its inaccurate it is generally read lower than the true temperature.

Question 14

Fever

Answer 14

Considered to be a temperature of 100.4F/38C degrees or higher. Skin may appear redder than usual. Cheeks become flushed

Question 15

Low grade fever

Answer 15

Considered to be a temperature of 99.6F-100.3 F

Question 16

Pulse

Answer 16

Radial, Brachial, Carotid. Normal is 60-100 beats per min (children higher and athletes lower)

Question 17

Radial Artery

Answer 17

Thumb side of the wrist, tips of index and middle fingers, take for 30secsX2.

Question 18

Carotid artery

Answer 18

Has some advantages - most ppl know where it is, and how to find it because of CPR training, it is reliable because it is large, central artery

Question 19

Pulse rate greater than 100bpm

Answer 19

Tachycardia

Question 20

Pulse rate less than 60 bpm

Answer 20

Bradycardia

Question 21

An abnormal pulse rate may be a sign

Answer 21

of a cardiovascular disorder, but also could be influenced by anemia, exercise, anxiety, drugs, or fever.
Can be misreading and anxiety - most common in the clinic

Question 22

Respirations

Answer 22

Count breaths
30 secX2
Normal = 12-14 per min. - children higher and athletes lower.

Question 23

Bradypnea=

Tachypnea =

Answer 23

Slow

Rapid breathing

Question 24

Hypertension

Answer 24

Increase is attributed to aging population.

Increase in obesity

Question 25

Systolic

Answer 25

Max pressure your heart exerts while beating. Phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries. How much blood pressure is pushing on your blood vessel walls. Upper number

Question 26

Diastolic

Answer 26

Lower number. The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood. Pressure in your arteries between beats

Question 27

Systolic hypertension

Answer 27

Blood pressure is higher than 130 but your diastolic blood pressure is under 80. Most common kind of high blood pressure in older people

Question 28

Pulse pressure

Answer 28

the difference btw the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The force that the heart generates each time it contracts. Considered a risk factor when it is greater than 60 mmHg. Mortality predictor esp with hemodialysis patients

Question 29

Antecubital Fossa

Answer 29

Middle of the arm

Question 30

Automated BP cuffs

Answer 30

Arm and wrist (not as accurate)

Question 31

Taking BP steps

Answer 31

remove jacket or sweater, roll up sleeve, arm on armrest at heart level and elbow out straight, line up artery with arrow when wrapping about 1 in above the antecubital fossa, snug but not squeeze, check to make sure you found the artery, inflate cuff 20-30mmHg above normal systolic pressure, place stethoscope over palpated brachial artery at the bend of the elbow, release valve allowing the needle to fall at a rate of 2-3 mmHg per second, as needle falls the point which beating sounds first become audible (Korotkoff sounds), pressure this point is recorded is the systolic pressure, when sound completely disappears this is the diatonic pressure

Question 32

Choosing which arm

Answer 32

Generally which ever is close to u, unless wound, scar, or bandage, and avoid if lymphoma from mastectomy-> had breast removed

Question 33

Common mistakes with BP

Answer 33

Rushing through the procedure (dropping the rate too fast), Cuff too larger (low reading) or too small (elevated reading), cuff too loose/too tight, arm not at heart level or not supported. Patients legs crossed-can increase systolic readings by 7% and diastolic by 2%

Question 34

BP Confirmation

Answer 34

wait >2 minutes before taking it again or confirm with other arm

Question 35

Hypertension

Answer 35

prevalence is simulate among men and women but varies with race and ethnicity - Non hispanic blacks - 42% - Non hispanic whites - 28% - Hispanics - 26% - non hispanic asians - 25%

Question 36

Pt factors with Hypertensinon

Answer 36

``` Stress - increase BP by 6-12 - Goes away after 5-10 mins - "white coat" effect Distended bowel and bladder ```

Question 37

Hypertension & drugs

Answer 37

``` Caffeine - if not a habitual drinker Tabacco - lasts for 30 minutes Cocaine Amphetamines Meth Alcohol ```

Question 38

BP Categories

Answer 38

Normal - BP defined as less than or equal to 120/80mmHg Elevated 121-129/80 Hypertension stage 1 - 130-139/80-89 Hypertension stage 2 - 140 or higher/90 or higher Hypertensive crisis - higher than 180/higher than 120. Should consult with your doctor immediately

Question 39

BP starts out low at ____ and rises _____

Answer 39

night | a few hours before you wake up and continues throughout the day