Vital Signs Chapter 19 Flashcards
These allow the nurse to detect changes in the health status of the patient, identify early warning signs of life-threatening health conditions, and evaluate effectiveness of interventions.
Vital signs
Vital signs consist of what 5 things?
Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry
Vital sign: measurable heat of the human body. What is the normal range?
Temperature; 97.6-99.6
Vital sign: detectable rhythmic expansion of an artery that occurs with the pumping action. What is the normal range?
Pulse; 60-100 BPM
Vital sign: act of breathing measured in beats per minute. What is the normal range?
Respiration; 12-20 BPM
Vital sign; the measurable pressure of blood within the systemic arteries. What is the normal range?
Blood pressure; systolic 90-120, diastolic 60-80.
Vital sign; measures the amount of oxygen available to tissues. What is the normal range?
Pulse oximetry; 95%-100%
Infection, physical environment, emotional state of patient, medications, fluid and food intake, activity level and tolerance are all factors that influence what?
Factors that influence vital signs.
Age, exercise, hormone fluctuations, circadian rhythms, stress, environment, and smoking are all factors that influence what?
Factors that influence temperature.
Condition of low body temperature. signs and symptoms include respirations, pale, cool skin, and decreased blood pressure.
Hypothermia
Condition of high body temperature.
Hyperthermia
This condition occurs when prolonged exposure to the sun or high environmental temperatures overwhelms the body’s heat loss mechanisms.
Heat stroke
This condition occurs when extreme or prolonged environmental heat exposure leads to profuse sweating with consequent excessive water and electrolyte loss.
Heat exhaustion.
What are the 5 common sites used to measure temperature?
Mouth, ear, rectum, forehead, axilla
This selection is affected by patient’s age, state of consciousness, amount of pain the patient is suffering, and treatment the patient is undergoing.
Site selection of temperature
Pulse is measured through which 9 areas? TCABRFPPtD
Temporal, Carotid, Apical, Brachial, Radial, Femoral, Popliteal, Posterior tibial, Dorsalis pedis
This pulse site is located at neck area and both should not be palpated at the same time because it could limit blood flow to the brain.
Carotid site
This pulse site is located at the apex of the heart, at the fifth intercostal space midclavicular line. AKA Point of maximal impulse.
Apical pulse
This pulse site is located at the inner aspect of the arm and used to assess pulse in pediatric emergencies
Brachial pulse
This pulse site is located at femoral artery and used in cases of cardiac arrest and for assessing circulation to the leg.
Femoral pulse