Vital Signs Ch. 10

Question 1

What are the 4 objective vital signs?

Answer 1

Temperature
Pulse
Respiratory Rate
Blood Pressure

Question 2

What factors can influence temperature?

Answer 2

Diurnal cycle
menstruation
exercise
age

Question 3

What is the normal oral temperature range of a resting adult?

Answer 3

37 degrees C

98.6 degrees F

Question 4

What should you do if your patient says they have eaten/drank something within the last 15 minutes?

Answer 4

Proceed with other vitals and then take the temperature after 15 minutes

Question 5

When is the temperature tympanic membrane taken?

Answer 5

unconscious patients or those unable/unwilling to cooperate with traditional techniques

Question 6

What is TAT?

Answer 6

Temporal Artery Thermometer

very accurate since the temporal artery doesn’t vasoconstrict or dilate

Question 7

What should you always do when taking a temperature during a health assessment lab exam?

Answer 7

Report temperature in degrees C or F

Report the temperature and the route (oral)

Question 8

What is Stroke Volume?

Answer 8

Amount of blood every heart beat pumps into aorta

Question 9

What should you do if the radial pulse is irregular?

Answer 9

Count pulse for a full minute

Question 10

What is the normal bpm range for a resting adult?

Answer 10

60-100 bpm

Question 11

Define bradycardia and tachycardia

Answer 11

Bradycardia: below 60bpm (athletes/sleep)
Tachycardia: above 100bpm (stress/exercise)

Question 12

What is Sinus Dysrhythmia?

Answer 12

Irregularity in the heart beat

Question 13

What is the force of pulse and how is it measured/reported?

Answer 13

Strength of a heart’s stroke volume

3+= full, bounding, easy to feel
2+= normal
1+= weak, thready, hard to feel
0= absent

Question 14

What is the fairly consistent pulse rate/respiration to ratio?

Answer 14

4:1

Question 15

What is BP?

Answer 15

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the side of its container, vessel well

Question 16

When is low/high BP bad?

Answer 16

If it is symptomatic

Question 17

What should the width and length of the BP cuff’s bladder be in relation to their arm?

Answer 17

Width= 40% of arm circumference

Length: 80%

Question 18

When are Orthostatic/Postural Vital signs taken?

Answer 18

When volume depletion is suspected, patient is taking antihypertensive medication, reports fainting/syncope

Question 19

When BP measured at arm is excessively high, it should be compared to ___

Answer 19

BP measured at the thigh

Question 20

How does the pulse oximeter measure O2?

Answer 20

Measures the % of O2 on each Hb

Question 21

What is the range of an SpO2 in a healthy adult?

Answer 21

97%-98%

Question 22

When is a doppler used?

Answer 22

To measure a difficult-to-find pulse

Question 23

Explain abnormal findings in the objective vital signs

Answer 23

Hypothermia/Hyperthermia
Bradycardia/Tachycardia
Bradypnea/Tachypnea
Hypotension/Hypertension