Vitals

Question 1

What are the various areas to take a temperature

Answer 1

oral, axillary, rectal, temporal, ears

Question 2

how does the axillary temperature differ from oral temperature

Answer 2

oral - 1 (reads higher)

Question 3

how does the rectal temperature differ from oral

Answer 3

oral +1 (reads lower)

Question 4

what constitutes a fever

Answer 4

100.4 or higher

Question 5

what is a low grade fever

Answer 5

99.6-100.3

Question 6

what are the 3 areas a pulse can be taken

Answer 6

radial, brachial, carotid

Question 7

what is the normal BPM range

Answer 7

60-100

Question 8

what constitues tachycardia

Answer 8

BPM greater than 100

Question 9

what constitutes bradycardia

Answer 9

bpm lower than 60

Question 10

what is tachypnea

Answer 10

fast breathing

Question 11

what is bradypnea

Answer 11

slow breathing

Question 12

what does systolic BP measure

Answer 12

pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts

Question 13

what does diastolic BP measure

Answer 13

pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and filling with blood

Question 14

what is pulse pressure

Answer 14

the difference between systolic and diastolic BP, force that the heart generates each time it contracts

Question 15

what does pulse pressure measure and what value becomes a risk factor

Answer 15

risk factor when greater than 60 mmHg and it is a mortality predictor in hemodialysis patients

Question 16

how do you take a BP reading manually

Answer 16

-cuff is placed with the lower border an inch above the elbow
-cuff is inflated 20-30 mmHg above normal systolic pressure
-stethoscope is placed over brachial artery at the bend of elbow
- pressure release valve is turned slowly, allowing needle to fall at a rate of 2-3 mmHg per second
- first audible noise is systolic
-last audible korotkoff sound is diastolic

Question 17

what are the common mistakes with taking BP using a manual cuff

Answer 17

-rushing
- cuff is wrong size
- cuff is too loose or too tight
-arm not at heart level
- patient has legs crossed

Question 18

what happens to the BP when cuff is too small

Answer 18

BP reading is high

Question 19

what happens to BP when cuff is too big

Answer 19

BP reading is low

Question 20

why is it important to have arm elevated

Answer 20

pressure will increase as a result of hydrostatic forces

Question 21

what are the risk factors for hypertension

Answer 21

-ethnicity, african american, white, mexican, asian
-men until after age 45
- post-menopausal women

Question 22

what is elevated BP

Answer 22

120-129/80

Question 23

what is hypertension stage 1

Answer 23

130-139/80-89

Question 24

what is hypertension stage 2

Answer 24

140+/90+

Question 25

what is hypertensive crisis

Answer 25

180+/120+