Vitals

Question 1

What are the vital signs referred as?

Answer 1

TPR & BP

Question 2

What is the normal range for mouth (oral) temperature?

Answer 2

98.6 degrees F, between 97.6 and 99.6 degrees F

Question 3

What is the normal range for rectum (rectal) temperature?

Answer 3

99.6 degrees F, between 98.6 and 100.6 degrees F

Question 4

What is the normal range for armpit (axilla) temperature?

Answer 4

97.6 degrees F, between 96.6 and 98.6 degrees F

Question 5

What is the normal range for ear (tympanic) temperature?

Answer 5

Between 96.6 abd 99.7 degrees F

Question 6

What is the normal range for temporal artery (forehead) temperature?

Answer 6

Between 97.2 and 100.1 degrees F

Question 7

What is a normal pulse rate?

Answer 7

60-100 beats per minute

Question 8

What is a normal respiratory rate?

Answer 8

12-20 respirations per minute

Question 9

What is normal blood pressure?

Answer 9

Systolic: less than 120
Diastolic: less than 80

Question 10

What is a low blood pressure?

Answer 10

Systolic: lower than 90 and
Diastolic: lower than 60

Question 11

What is a high blood pressure?

Answer 11

Systolic: 130 or higher or
Diastolic: 80 or higher

Question 12

What are the types of thermometers?

Answer 12

Digital, electronic, disposable, tympanic, temporal artery, mercury-free

Question 13

When are people’s temperatures typically lower during a day?

Answer 13

In the morning

Question 14

Where can a digital thermometer be used?

Answer 14

Oral, rectal, or axillary

Question 15

What is an ear thermometer called?

Answer 15

Tympanic

Question 16

What color code are oral thermometers?

Answer 16

Green or blue

Question 17

What color code are rectal thermometers?

Answer 17

Red

Question 18

What are reasons not to measure an oral temperature?

Answer 18

Patient is unconscious, has recently has oral surgery, is younger than 5 years old, is confused/disoriented, is heavily sedated, is likely to have a seizure, is coughing, is using oxygen, has facial paralysis, has a nasogastric tube, has sores, redness, swelling, pain in the mouth, or has an injury to the face or neck

Question 19

Which side of the body should the patient/resident be laying while measuring rectal temperature?

Answer 19

Left side of the body due to anatomy of digestive system

Question 20

What are all of the pulses and where are they located?

Answer 20

Temporal pulse: forehead
Carotid pulse: neck
Apical pulse: left side of the chest, just below the nipple
Brachial pulse: inside the elbow, about 1 to 1.5 inches above the elbow
Radial pulse: inside of the wrist
Femoral pulse: pelvic area
Popliteal pulse: knee
Pedal pulse: top of foot

Question 21

What is another name for the pedal pulse?

Answer 21

Dorsalis pedis pulse

Question 22

What is the normal pulse rate for small children?

Answer 22

100-120 beats per minute as they tend to have more rapid pulses

Question 23

What is the normal pulse rate for a new born baby?

Answer 23

Can be as high as 120-180 beats per minute

Question 24

What are some things that can affect pulse rate?

Answer 24

Exercise, fear, anger, anxiety, heat, infection, illness, medications, and pain

Question 25

What is the normal respiration rate for infants?

Answer 25

30 to 40 respirations per minute

Question 26

What is blood pressure measured in?

Answer 26

mm Hg (millimeters of Mercury)

Question 27

What is blood pressure measured with?

Answer 27

A manual or digital sphygmomanometer

Question 28

What are the parts of a sphygmomanometer?

Answer 28

A cuff, a bulb, tubing, and a pressure gauge

Question 29

When should blood pressure not be measured?

Answer 29

If the arm has an IV, a dialysis shun, or any medical equipment. A side that has a cast, recent trauma, paralysis, burns or has had breast surgery (mastectomy) should be avoided.

Question 30

What is low blood pressure called?

Answer 30

Bradycardia

Question 31

What is high blood pressure called?

Answer 31

Tachycardia