WEEK 2- VITAL SIGNS Flashcards
Outline components included in the general survey.
Physical appearance
body structure
mobility
behavior
Outline equipment required to complete a general survey
physical appearance:
- age
- sex
- LOC
- skin colour
- facial features
body structure
- stature
- nutrition
- symmetry
- posture
- position
- contour
mobility
- gait
- range of motion
behavior
- facial expression
- mood and affect
- speech
- dress
- personal hygiene
measurement
- weight, height, BMI
Identify measurement components related to height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), & waist-to-hip ratio.
Weight in kg
Height in cm
BMI
Normal 18.5 to 24.9
***Note: Ensure the BMI formula includes the denominators being squared (Jarvis p. 156)
Weight in Kg
Height in metres²
Waist-to-hip ratio = waist circumference
Hip circumference
Waist circumference > 88 cm in women and > 102 places individuals at risk for diabetes, heart disease and hypertension
Distinguish approaches & techniques of general survey when examining clients across the lifespan.
Outline relationship between health promotion & objective data gathered during general survey.
Describe assessment findings in the following growth & development abnormalities of hypopituitary Dwarfism,
insufficient growth hormone in pituitary gland
gigantism
too much growth hormone
acromegaly (hyperpituitarism),
too much growth hormone
a-chondro-plastic Dwarfism,
abnormal bone growth in face, hands, etc
anorexia nervosa
BMI below 18, fear of gaining weight
Endogenous obesity: Cushing’s Syndrome.
chronic exposure to excessive levels of cortisol
Outline equipment required to complete a vital signs assessment
Identify strategies to maintain infection prevention & control safety principles.
Overview different methods of obtaining a temperature.
- rectal (most invasive, infants)
- oral (least invasive, common)
- axillary
- tympanic
Outline range of normal temperatures via different routes
oral- 35.8-37.3
rectal- 36-37/38
Differentiate between expected findings and abnormal findings (hyperthermia & hypothermia) and identify potential physiologic causes
Outline developmental differences related to technique & findings.
Range of Afebrile – 35.8-37.4C
Febrile 37.5 C and >
Pediatric population
Canadian Paediatric Society (2011) recommendations for rectal temperatures
Older Population
With age less likely to be febrile, but great risk for hypothermia
Document findings in narrative and graphic form.
Outline methods of obtaining a peripheral pulse.
Radial pulse
Pads of your 3 fingers
Place on flexor of wrist along the radius bone
Identify findings of rate, rhythm, force & expected findings when assessing a peripheral pulse.
Rate
Normal, bradycardia & tachycardia
Rhythm
Sinus arrhythmia
Force (0- 3+)
0- absent pulse
1+ weak
2+ normal
3+ bounding
Differentiate between expected findings and abnormal findings (bradycardia & tachycardia) and identify potential physiologic causes.
normal findings
50-95
bradycardia- less than 50
tachycardia- more than 100
Outline developmental differences related to technique & findings.
Outline method of assessing respirations.
maintain position for counting pulse
- assess, rate, rhythm, quality (relaxed, quiet, automatic)
Identify findings of rate & rhythm & expected findings.
infants (30-40)
2yr old (25-32)
adults (10-20)
less respirations
Differentiate between expected findings and abnormal findings (bradypnea & tachypnea ) and identify potential physiologic causes.
bradypnea- slow respirations (less) less than 10.
tachypnea- fast respirations (more) more than 20 in a adult.
Outline developmental differences related to technique & findings.
Outline method of obtaining a blood pressure using the one step & two step methods.
Wait 5 minutes
Heart level
Palpate brachial artery
Medial to biceps tendon
Above antecubital fossa
Wrap cuff 1 inch above brachial artery
Ausculatory Gap
*abnormal finding
Palpate brachial artery
Inflate cuff until pulsation is obliterated
And then, 20-30mm Hg above
Deflate cuff quickly
Wait 15-30 seconds
Begin BP
Identify findings of Korotkoff’s sounds.
Inflate cuff to maximum inflation level
Deflate slowly 2 mm Hg per heartbeat
Note Korotkoff sounds I & V
Differentiate between expected findings & abnormal findings (hypotension & hypertension) & identify potential physiologic causes.
Hypertension
Contextual
140/90
Hypotension
<95/60
Outline common technique errors that lead to false results.
- cuff too narrow or to big (can yield falsely high or low results)
Outline technique & potential findings of orthostatic hypotension.
Specific change in pulse and BP observed through a series of position changes
Supine, sitting with feet dangling, and standing
2 minutes in between so that venous congestion subsides
Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in systolic BP of more than 20mmHg or increase of pulse of more than 20 bpm
Reason for taking: hypertension, volume depletion, or reports of syncope
Prolonged bedrest, older age
Outline developmental differences related to technique & findings.