Week 5: Vital Signs, Oxygen Saturation

Question 1

What is a pulse oximeter

Answer 1

• A non-invasive device that estimates a person’s arterial blood oxygen saturation by means of a sensor attached to a person’s finger

Question 2

What is a pulse

Answer 2

• A wave of blood created by contraction of the left ventricle of the heart
• Generally represents the stroke volume or the amount of blood that enter the arteries with each ventricular contraction

Question 3

What is Cardiac Output

Answer 3

• The volume of blood pumped into the arteries by the heart and equals the result of the stroke volume times the heart rate per minute

Question 4

Factors affecting the pulse rate

Answer 4

• Age: As age increases, the pule gradually decreases overall
• Gender: Following puberty, the pulse rate of a male is slightly lower than a female
• Exercise: Pulse rate increases with activity
• Pyrexia: Increases in response to lowered blood pressure as a result of peripheral vasodilation associated with elevated body temperature or because of increased metabolic rate

Question 5

Sites for assessing pulse

Answer 5

• Temporal: Temporal bone of the head
• Carotid
• Brachial
• Radial
• Femoral
• Radial
• Apical

Question 6

What is pulse rhythm

Answer 6

The pattern of the beats and intervals between the beats. Irregular is referred to as dysthymia or arrhythmia

Question 7

What is body temperature?

Answer 7

• Reflects the balance between the heat production and heat lost from the body and is measured in degrees celsius