Vitals Flashcards
-accurate height: remove all footwear, stand straight with back against wall, remain still accurate weight: remove all heavy objects from pockets, stand on scale facing forward, remain still -BMI=weight (kg)/height (m^2)
Height/Weight/BMI
110/70 is considered normal by the American Heart Association (AHA)
Blood Pressure (BP)
-oral temperature: 98.6 degrees F -axillary normal temperature (armpit): 97.6 degrees F -temporal: forehead -tympanic: within the ear -rectal: considered most accurate form but poses greater risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens
Temperature
12-20 respirations per minute is considered normal
Respiration
having a fever (any temperature over 100)
Febrile
the last sound heard (relaxation) during a blood pressure reading (bottom number); all sounds disappear -lowest point of pressure -when the ventricles relax
Diastolic Pressure
first sound heard (contraction) during blood pressure reading (top number); sounds like tapping -highest point of pressure -represents the force of the blood pushing against arterial walls when the ventricles of the heart are contracting
Systolic Pressure
used to check the heart rate of an infant; may be heard over the apex of the heart with a stethoscope or by palpating to obtain a pulse
Apical Pulse
feverish periods lasting a few hours alternating with periods in which temperature is normal
Intermittent Fever
-measures amount of oxygen circulating in the blood on the hemoglobin molecules -normal: 95-100%; levels below 90% must be treated -measured by the application of a pulse oximetry device attached to a patient’s finger
Oxygen Saturation/Pulse Oximetry
fever that fluctuates less than 3 degrees but does not return to normal
Continuous Fever
temperature remains above normal throughout the day and fluctuates more than 3 degrees
Remittent Fever
absence of fever
Afebrile
-normal is considered 60-100 bpm -checked by counting number of pulsations per 60 seconds; should also document regularity/strength of pulse
Pulse
