Vitals Skill

Question 1

What are the 5 primary vitals to check?

Answer 1

Blood pressure (BP), pulse, respiration, skin, and pupils

Question 2

What are the two components of a BP reading?

Answer 2

Systolic and Diastolic pressure

Question 3

Whats an average systolic pressure

Answer 3

120mmHg

Question 4

Whats an average diastolic pressure

Answer 4

80mmHg

Question 5

Where do you locate the pulse for taking BP?

Answer 5

Brachial artery at the anterior medial elbow

Question 6

Which pressure do you hear first in the stethoscope?

Answer 6

Systolic pressure (the higher number)

Question 7

How do you find the diastolic pressure?

Answer 7

The last auditory pulse in the stethoscope

Question 8

Define Systolic

Answer 8

The pressure against the walls of the artery caused by the heart contracting

Question 9

Define Diastolic

Answer 9

The pressure against the walls of the artery when the heart is relaxing

Question 10

What are the three components of Pulse

Answer 10

rate, rhythm, quality

Question 11

Which fingers do you use to obtain a pulse?

Answer 11

index and middle

Question 12

Why do you not use your thumb?

Answer 12

The thumb has its own pulse, and can interfere with your reading

Question 13

What are the three components of respiration?

Answer 13

Rate, rhythm, and depth

Question 14

How should you measure respiration if irregularity is suspected?

Answer 14

Measure for 60 seconds instead of 30.

Question 15

What is a typical reading?

Answer 15

12bpm, regular, normal

Question 16

Define rate for respiration

Answer 16

Number of breaths in 60 seconds

Question 17

Define rhythm for respiration

Answer 17

regular vs irregular

Question 18

Define depth for respiration

Answer 18

deep, shallow, normal

Question 19

What are the three components of skin vitals?

Answer 19

color, temperature, and condition

Question 20

What is a normal reading for skin?

Answer 20

unremarkable, warm, dry

Question 21

How do you measure skin condition?

Answer 21

Using back of hand, test the skin on the neck for most accurate results

Question 22

Why do you use your back of the hand instead of palm?

Answer 22

Palm is normally warmer, moister, and less sensitive.

Question 23

Define Color conditions for skin

Answer 23

unremarkable, jaundiced (yellow), pale, cyanotic (blue), mottled, flushed, etc

Question 24

Define temperature conditions for skin

Answer 24

cool, warm, hot, etc

Question 25

Define condition qualities for skin

Answer 25

dry, moist, diaphoretic (excessive sweat), clammy

Question 26

How are some other ways to assess skin color?

Answer 26

nail beds, conjunctiva, and mucous membranes

Question 27

What are the three components of pupils?

Answer 27

Reactivity, roundness, equality

Question 28

What are normal conditions for pupils?

Answer 28

Pupils are Equal, Round and Reactive to Light (PERRL)

Question 29

How do you obtain reactivity for pupils?

Answer 29

Use a pen light to assess pupil size in response to changes in light

Question 30

How do you obtain equality for pupils?

Answer 30

Mask one eye from the pen light and test if both pupils change when one is subject to changes in light

Question 31

What are normal BP ranges for adults?

Answer 31

(90-120)/(60-80)

Question 32

What are normal pulse ranges for adults?

Answer 32

60-100bpm

Question 33

What are normal respiration ranges for adults?

Answer 33

12-20bpm

Question 34

What are normal skin conditions for adults?

Answer 34

Warm, dry, and unremarkable

Question 35

What are normal pupil conditions for adults?

Answer 35

Pupils are Equal, Round and Reactive to Light (PERRL)

Question 36

Define hypertensive

Answer 36

BP above normal range

Question 37

Define hypotensive

Answer 37

BP blow normal range

Question 38

Define tachycardic

Answer 38

Pulse rate above normal range

Question 39

Define bradycardic

Answer 39

Pulse rate below normal range

Question 40

Define tachypneic

Answer 40

Respiration rate above normal average

Question 41

Define bradyneic

Answer 41

Respiration rate below normal average