Vital Signs taking Flashcards
set as a guide to a patient’s health. It provides the nurse and the physician the database
related with the symptoms indicated in the patient’s health issues and appropriate nursing and medical
interventions options.
Vital Signs
What is included in Vital Signs?
body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate and also oxygen
saturation.
is also done routinely when patient is hospitalized.
Vital signs taken
TPR B/P
Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate and Blood Pressure
What is Vital Signs also referred as?
Cardinal Signs
What are the Two important habits that must be developed by the nurse before taking a patient’s vital signs.
1) Aseptic technique in the form of hand washing
2) Correction of factors that may influence results of vital signs.
Body temperature is maintained and regulated by two processes functioning in conjunction with one
another
- heat production
- heat loss
Variations in results can indicate) R
a. a new disease process
b. patient’s response to treatment
c. patient’s compliance with a treatment plan
The body loses heat by a combination of five processes
1) Convection
2) Conduction
3) Radiation
4) Evaporation
5) Elimination
The process by which heat is lost through the skin by being transferred from the skin by air currents flowing
across it, such as a fan used on a hot day for cooling purposes.
Convection
The transfer of heat from within the body to the surface of the skin and then to surrounding cooler objects touching the skin, such as clothing.
Conduction
Body heat lost from the surface of the skin to a cooler environment, much like a cool room becoming warm when occupied by many people.
Radiation
Heat that is lost through the normal functioning of the intestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts.
Elimination.
A heat loss mechanism that uses heat absorption through vaporization of perspiration.
Evaporation.
absence of fever
Afebrile:
fever is present
febrile
body temperature increased beyond normal range
Fever
another term for fever
pyrexia
a fluctuating fever that returns to or below baseline, then increases again
Intermittent
a fluctuating fever that does not return to the baseline temperature; it fluctuates but remains increased
Remittent
a fever that remains above the baseline
Continuous:
Normal range for respiratory rate
12-20 breaths per minute.
normal breathing
Eupnea
respirations > 24 cycles per minute; seen with exercise, fever, anxiety, or anemia
Tachypnea
8-12 breaths per minute. May indicate sedation, increased intracranial pressure, or neurologic
Bradypnea
results from shallow breaths that may be seen with sedation or increased intracranial pressure
Hypoventilation
is rapid deep breaths that may be seen with metabolic acidosis, hypoxia, anxiety, or exercise.
Hyperventilation
difficulty in breathing or labored respirations.
Dyspnea
is the temporary or complete absence of breathing/respiration >10 seconds.
Apnea
PERSISTENT elevation of either diastolic or systolic blood pressure
Hypertension
high blood pressure with no identifiable cause
Essential (Primary) Hypertension
Secondary Hypertension
high blood pressure with a known cause
Distinct blood pressure sounds were first described by a Russian physician named
Korotkoff.
