Vital Signs Ch 4 Flashcards
Vital signs and other physiologic measurements often provide what
The basis for problem-solving
Vital signs include what
Temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure
They are called vital signs because of their importance
Many facilities have begun using the fifth vital sign witch is
Pain level or comfort level
Guidelines for obtaining vital signs (4)
Measure vital signs correctly.
Understand and interpret the values.
Communicate findings appropriately.
Begin interventions as needed
When do you access vital signs
When a patient is admitted to a facility, and then as prescribed by the physician or as policy dictates
Heart rate respiratory rate and blood pressure for a neonate
120-160
36-60
Systolic - 20-60
Heart rate respiratory rate and blood pressure for an infant
125-135
40-46
Systolic- 70-80
Heart rate respiratory rate and blood pressure for a toddler
90-120
20-30
Systolic 80-100
Heart rate respiratory rate and blood pressure for school-age 6 to 10 years
65-105
22-24
Systolic- 90-100
Diastolic- 60-64
Heart rate was between rate and blood pressure for Adolescent 10 to 18 years
65-100
16-22
Systolic 100-120
Diastolic 70-80
Heart rate respiratory rate blood pressure for an adult
60-100
12-20
Systolic- 100-120
Diastolic - 70-80
Heart rate respiratory rate blood pressure for an older adult
60-100
12-18
Systolic - 130-140
Diastolic - 90-95
Temperature
A relative measure of sensible hot or cold
What temperature is considered normal
What is acceptable variations
98.6 F (37 C)
97- 99.6 F (36.1 C - 37.5 C)
Factors that have the potential to cause body temperature variances
Environment, the time of day, the patient state of health and activity level, in the stage of the patients monthly menstrual cycle
Regulation of body temperature is the job of the what
And where is it located
Hypothalamus
Located in the brain, form in the floor and part of the lateral wall of the third ventricle.
The hypothalamus helps maintain a balance between heat loss and he produced by the body
What are the two categories temperature falls into
Core temperature and surface temperature
Core temperature
The temperature of the deep tissues in the body
Remains relatively constant unless a person is exposed to severe extremes in environmental temperature
Surface temperature
The temperature of the skin
Austin varies a great deal in response to the environment
What is usually the first sign of illness
Temperature elevations.
Pyrexia, febrile, and hypothermia all mean above normal body temp
What is fever and what is it do
It’s a body defense. Elevated body temperature will destroy invading bacteria
Intermittent fevers
Rise and fall
Remittent fevers
Similar to intermittent fevers except the temperature does not return to normal at all until the patient becomes well
Hypothermia
When body temperature is abnormally low
Factors affecting body
Age- neonates 99.5 F, older adult- 95 F
Exercise.- can raise as high as 103.2- 105.8
Hormonal influences.- woman have greater variations
Diurnal daily variations.-change throughout day
Stress.-
Environment .
Ingestion of hot and cold liquids.
Smoking- plus or minus 0.2 F
Signs and symptoms of elevated body temperature (10)
Thirst anorexia flushed warm skin Irritability glassy eyes or photophobia headache elevated pules and respiratory rate restlessness or excessive sleepiness increased perspiration disorientation
Heat sensitive patches
To obtain your reading of surface temperature is a possible choice
Place the patch on the area of the skin such as the four head the color change on the patch indicates the temperature
Electronic thermometer
Consist of rechargeable battery powered display unit, thin wire cord, and the temperature processing probe with the disposable cover
Separate probes are available for oral temperature measurement (Bluetip )and rectal temperature measurement (red tip)
Normal body temperature is according to the measurements site
Oral 98.6
Rectal 99.5
Axillary 97.6
Tympanic 98.6
Make a telephone oral and tympanic 98.6 down the axillary minus one of the butt plus one
Oral temperature
Most assessable site
comfortable for patient
necessary no position change. Do not use for patients who are infants or small children, disoriented or unconscious patient