Vitals Flashcards
What are the 4 vital signs
- Temp
- Pulse
- Respiratory Rate
- Blood Pressure
What is considered the 5th vital sign
Pain
When should vitals be measured
- On admission to hospital
- Beginning of shift (for inpatient)
- Before / during / after surgery
- Before / after certain meds
How often should vitals be taken in the hospital
Every 4 - 6 hours
Core temp is how many degrees above skin temp
1 - 2
Define Thermoregulation
The balance of heat production and heat loss
What 3 ways is body heat produced?
- Metabolism
- Skeletal muscle movement
- No -shivering Thermogenesis
What is BMR (basal metabolic rate)
The amount of energy required to maintain the body at rest
What condition increases the BMR?
Hyperthyroidism
Excess thyroxine
What condition decreased the BMR?
Hypothyroidism
Low thyroxine
What are 4 modes of heat transfer
- Radiation
- Convection
- Conduction
- Evaporation
Describe radiation
Electromagnetic waves emit heat from skin
What percentage of body heat is lost by radiation
50%
Describe Convection and give an example
- Transfer of heat through air/water
- Warm bath or blowing fan
Describe Conduction
Heat transfer from warm surface to cooler surface
Describe evaporation
Water converted to vapor
How much body heat is lost to evaporation
15 - 20%
Normal Blood Pressure
<120 /<80
Normal pulse
Average pulse
60 - 100bpm
80bpm
What is the normal temperature range?
Average temp?
- 8 - 100.4
98. 6
Axillary temp
Oral temp
Rectal temp
97 - 97.6
98 - 98.6
99 - 99.6
Most accurate type of measurement for Core Temp
PA Catheter
Normal Respiratory Rate
12 - 20 breaths/min
Tachypnea
> 20 breaths/minute
Bradypnea
<12 breaths/minute
Most common cause of Bradypnea
Opioids
Normal Oxygen Saturation
95 - 100%
Hypotension
<90 / < 60
What are the grades of a Pulse
0 = absent or not palpable 1+ = thready / weak 2+ =normal 3+ = above normal 4+ = bounding / strong
Tachycardia
> 100bpm
Bradycardia
<60 bpm
What are 2 other words to describe a fever?
- Pyrexia
2. Febrile
What oral temp is considered a fever?
Rectal temp?
- > 100
2. >101
What is the term for “without a fever”
Afebrile
What is the temp for Hyperpyrexia
> 105.8
Between what temps will death occur
109 - 112F
What are the three treatments for a fever?
- Antipyretics
- Antibiotics
- Antivirals
What are the 3 phases of a fever?
- Febrile episode
- Course
- Defervescence / Crisis
What are 4 types of Fever?
- Constant
- Intermittent
- Remittent
- Recurrent
Describe Hyperthermia
When the body is above the “SET POINT”
106 or higher
What temps are Heat Exhaustion
98.6 - 103
What temp is Heat Stroke
> 103
Hypothermia occurs below what temp?
Death?
<95
<70
Red electrical thermometers are for?
Blue?
Red = rectal
Blue = oral
What are 7 pulse sights?
- Temporal
- Carotid
- Brachial
- Radial
- Femoral
- Popliteal
- Dorsalis Pedis
What is the average stroke volume?
70mL
What is the pulse pressure?
Difference between systolic and diastolic pressure
What is the pulse deficit?
Difference between radial and apical pulse
Where is the Apical pulse found?
- PMI
- 5th intercostal space, mid-clavicular line
What is Eupnea
Normal respiratory rate
What is Bradypnea
<10 breaths/min
What is Tachypnea
> 24 breaths/min
What is apnea
The absence of breathing
What are the 3 descriptions of breathing depth?
Shallow
Normal
Deep
What are the 2 descriptions of breathing rhythm?
Regular
Irregular
What are 3 descriptions of respiratory effort
- Effortless
- Dyspnea
3 Orthopnea
What is Dyspnea
Labored breathing
What is orthopnea
Difficult breathing when laying supine
What are 8 different types of skin color
Pallor Cyanosis Jaundice Flushing Erythema Ecchymosis Petechiae Mottling
In what sequence should the abdomen quadrants be assessed? And why?
Right Lower
Right Upper
Left Upper
Left Lower
Follows anatomy of the Bowel
