Vital Signs (In depth) Flashcards

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1
Q

Vital signs emt measures

A

Respiration
Pulse
Skin
Pupils
Blood pressure
Pulse oximetry

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2
Q

What are you looking for when taking respiratory vital sign

A

Rate
Quality
rhythm

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3
Q

what should you base a patients normal Respiratory on?

A

How the patient presents

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4
Q

What respiratory rate should you begin to provide ventilation
(adult, Infant)

A

Adult - over 30
Infant - Over 60

not sustainable
To fast for good Tidal volume

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5
Q

Normal respiration signs

A

at least 1 inch of chest rise
no accessory muscles
normal rate
Exhale 2x as long as inhale

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6
Q

Shallow resporation signs

and treatment

A

slight chest rise
abnormal chest expansion

PPV by bvm or just PPV

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7
Q

Labored resporation signs

A

Grunting or stridor
accessory muscles
nasal flaring

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8
Q

Signs of struggle to inhale vs. exhale

A

Inhale = Accessory muscles
Exhale = abdominal

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9
Q

Noisy resperation signs

on auscultation

A

wheezing, rhonchi, and crackles (rales).

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10
Q

Trauma patient resperation assessment

looking for

A

sounds or not

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11
Q

medical patient resperation assessment

looking for

A

abnormal sounds

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12
Q

what age do you check brachial pulse

A

1 year or younger

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13
Q

Pulse to assess when pt is unresponsive

A

carotid and radial at same time

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14
Q

How to take accurate pulse

A

pt sitting/laying down
irregular for full minute

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15
Q

Pulse description meaning

Rapid, regular, full

A

Exertion, fright, fever, high blood pressure, or very early stage of blood loss

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16
Q

Pulse description meaning

Rapid, regular, and thready

A

Reliable sign of shock, often evident in early stage of blood loss

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17
Q

Pulse description meaning

Slow

A

Head injury
barbiturate/narcotic use
some poisons
possible cardiac problem
hypothyroidism

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18
Q

Pulse description meaning

No pulse

A

Cardiac arrest
Profund hypotension

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19
Q

What to record for pulse quality

A

strong
weak
reggular
irregular

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20
Q

pulses paradoxis

A

decrease in pulse strength during inhalation

Report this to hospital

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21
Q

Pallor signs

A

vasoconstriction
bloodloss
shock
heart attack
anemia

22
Q

Diaphorosis

A

excessive sweating

23
Q

Pupil Factor cause

Dialated

A

Cardiac arrest (pupils will also be fixed), drug use such as LSD, amphetamines, or cocaine

24
Q

Pupil Factor cause

Constricted

A

Central nervous system disorder or narcotics use

25
Q

Pupil Factor cause

Unequal

A

Stroke
head injury
artificial eye
eye drops
eye trauma

26
Q

Pupil Factor cause

nonreactive

A

Stroke, head injury, artificial eye (occasionally a normal finding), eye drops, or eye trauma

27
Q

Pupil Factor cause

Sluggish reaction

A

hypoxia
drug overdose
inadequate perfusion

28
Q

Pupil Factor cause

fixed

A

Cardiac arrest
severe head injury
severe hypoxia,
extremely poor perfusion to the brain

not reactive to light

29
Q

Good systolic and diastolic ration

A

distolic is 2/3 of systolic

30
Q

systolic hypotension indicator

Adult/children

A

less than 90

31
Q

systolic hypotension indicator

1-10 yo / infants

A

toddler = less than 70 + (2 x age)
Infant = Less than 60

32
Q

Early sign of shock

A

Tachycardia
weak pulses
cool and clammy skin

33
Q

Late sign of shock

A

Hypotension

34
Q

Pulse pressure equation

A

systolic - dystolic
* Narrow = less than 25% of systolic
* wide = 50% of systolic

35
Q

Wide pulse pressure causes

A

Head injury

36
Q

narrow pulse pressure causes

A

less blood being ejected from the left ventricle because of either volume loss or left ventricular failure

shock, cardiac temponade, tension pnuemothorax

37
Q

Properly placed BP cuff

A

one inch above antecubital space
level with heart
cover 2/3 of arm
bladder above brachial artery
fit one finger under bottom edge
arm relaxed

38
Q

BP by palpation

A

Innacurate
systolic = 7 mmHg lower

39
Q

age to measure BP

A

3 YO and above

40
Q

Chest pain BP steps

A

Take in both arms
report difference of 20 in systolic

41
Q

Orthostatic Vital Signs

when to take

A

Suspected volume loss

42
Q

Orthostatic Vital Signs

how to take

A

BP in supine
assisted stand up pt
wait 2 mins
BP standing

Measure HR and BP

43
Q

Orthostatic Vital Signs

Positive test result

A

while standing:
* HR increases 10-20
* Systolic decreases 10-20

44
Q

Orthostatic Vital Signs

Downsides

A

pt over 60 = not accurate
beta blockers affect results
not for spinal injuries

45
Q

Pulse oximeter

where on body to place

When to place

A

finger
toe
earlobe
across the bridge of the nose

in primary assesment

46
Q

Pulse oximeter

Limitations

A

Blood loss
poor perfusion
excessive movement
Nail polish
Carbon monoxide
cigarette smokers
Anemia

47
Q

First BP taken by what device?

when to use the other?

A

BP cuff and Stethiscope

non invasive blood pressure monitor: After initial reading

48
Q

Capnometry (EtCO2 Monitor)

and advantages

A
  • EtCO2 = Co2 at end of exhale
  • PaCO2 = arterial blood Co2 Pressure
    *

good look at alveolar ventilation

49
Q

Smooth transition of care

A
  • info from on scene personelle = 1 min or less
    *
50
Q

ways to reduce pt anxiety

A

Bring order to the environment.
Introduce yourself.
Gain patient consent.
Position yourself.
Use communication skills.
Be courteous.
Use touch when appropriate.

51
Q

Chief complaint

A

where history begins
why EMS was called
not always primary problem

52
Q

Active listening techniques

A
  • facilitation = Body language, eye contact
  • Reflection = repeating what patient says
  • Clarification
  • empathetic response
  • confrontation = determine accurate information
  • Interpretation