Test your basic knowledge |

Measuring Vital Signs

Subjects : health-sciences, emergency-medicine

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Carbon dioxide is carried as bicarbonate ion in the blood until it reaches where?
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
the lungs
It will also fall
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.

2. Both strong and weak beats occur within 1 minute
+2
Irregular
Convection
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures

3. If the cardiac output falls what will happen to the BP?
It will also fall
hypoxia
Core Temperature
Irregular

4. What happens when vasodilation occurs?
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
Rhonchi
Core Temperature
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases

5. Lobes in the lungs?
hypoxia
popliteal
Pedal pulse
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left

6. Subnormal body temperature the regulating center in the hypothalamus is greatly impaired when the temperature of the body falls below 94 degrees - at that point? sleepiness and coma are apt to develop.
postoperative patients wo have been cooled during surgery - newborn infants whose skin is exposed to cool room temperatures - elderly or debiliated patients - and those exposed to cold temperatures for prolonged periods.
Apical
Hypothermia
Cheyenne-Stokes

7. The temperature falls to normal and then rises again in a repeating pattern.
1) ventilation - Which is the movement of air in and out of the lung. 2) dispersion of air throughout the bronchial tree of the lungs; 3) diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules across the alveolar membranes; 4) perfusion - the movement of b
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
Stertor
Relapsing

8. How does external respiration occur?
place the thermometer in the center of the patients dry axilla. Ask patient to hold the arm tightly against the chest. Leave in place 3-8 minutes.
fever
1) ventilation - Which is the movement of air in and out of the lung. 2) dispersion of air throughout the bronchial tree of the lungs; 3) diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules across the alveolar membranes; 4) perfusion - the movement of b
Pedal pulse

9. Abnormal - nonmusical sound heard on ausculation of the lungs during inspiration; also called rales. Sound like hair rubbed between the fingers next to the ears.
wheeze
palpate
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
crackles

10. What should you do if you cannot determine BP by ausculation?
when it is difficult to find or to count the radial pulse - or for patients with heart conditions for one full minute by placing stethoscope on the heart to count for a full minute.
intermittent
the palpation method is used. put cuff over arm - feel the radial point to get the systolic pressure you cant get the diastolic this way.
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.

11. Whats the best position to take a rectal temperature?
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
left Sims position
ausculatation
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.

12. Side of neck
place the thermometer in the center of the patients dry axilla. Ask patient to hold the arm tightly against the chest. Leave in place 3-8 minutes.
carotid
dehydration - delirium - and convulsons may occur. Dehydration will occur because of lost with perspiration and more rapid breathing. Delirium and convulsions may occur because neurologic function is affected when the temperature in the brain rises.
It will also fall

13. Encourage a large fluid intake - lower room temperature - increase air circulation - remove items of clothes - control or reduce the amount of body activity - carry out physicians orders
Eupnea
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
Pulse
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.

14. Continuous dry - rattling sounds heard on ausculation of the lungs caused by partial obstruction.
determine if the patient has a known heart arrhythmia - perform hand hygiene - expose the left chest - warm the stethoscope in hand for a min or 2 - locate the apex of the heart by palpating for the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line. li
Dorsalis pedis
Rhonchi
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same

15. Strong and regular ( even beats wit moderate force)
Hypothermia
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
fever
+2

16. 2nd stage of fever is?
Onset - which may occur gradually or suddenly. the body responds to a pyrogen by trying to conserve and manufacture heat to raise the set point for core temperature. The person will feel cold - and will add clothes or covers - curl up in a ball - and
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
Febrile stage - the body temperature rises to a new set point established by the hypothalamus and remains there until there is a resolution to the cause of fever.

17. Does the respiration rate increase or decrease during fever?
Increases as body tries to remove excess heat
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
Conduction

18. Low oxygen
Dorsalis pedis
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
constant
hypoxia

19. When should rectal temperatures NOT be used?
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
Pulse pressure
Relapsing

20. Side of forehead
Temporal
Tachypnea
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
higher

21. What affects does aging do to the blood pressure?
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.

22. Risk for prolonged hypertension
Conduction
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
bradycardia

23. Snoring sound produced when patients are unable to cough up secretions from the trachea or bronchi
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
left Sims position
Stertor
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left

24. Why would patients experience orthostatic hypotenstion?
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
It uses large muscles in the body - which create body heat by burning up the glucose and fat in the tissues - muscle action generates heat and core temperature rises.
Pulse pressure
low BP

25. 3rd stage of fever?
Cardiac Output
120/80
It uses large muscles in the body - which create body heat by burning up the glucose and fat in the tissues - muscle action generates heat and core temperature rises.
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.

26. Enviromental temperature BP?
16-20
crackles
+2
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.

27. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
Hyperventilation
hypoxemia
Diastolic pressure
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.

28. Gradual return to a normal temperature
lysis
Diastolic pressure
stridor
higher

29. Average pulse rate for an adult
Crisis
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
72 bpm
oximetry

30. Blood pressure for any adult should be no higher than
120/80
Hypothermia
Cheyenne-Stokes
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.

31. What characteristics should be noted when checking the pulse?
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
pyrogens
Increases as body tries to remove excess heat

32. Increased rate and depth with panting and long grunting exhalation. Often seen with patients with acidosis and renal failure.

33. The volume of blood pushed into the aorta per heartbeat.
Stroke volume
intermittent
the lungs
Femoral

34. Irregular pulse - a period of normal rhythm broken by periods of irregularity or skipped beats.
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
arrhythmia
remittent
Systolic pressure

35. When should rectal temperatures be used?
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
When an accurate temperature cant be obtained orally and a tympanic or temporal artery thermometer are not available. It may be used when there is nasal congestion or there has been nasal or oral surgery - the patient is unable to keep their mouth cl
Biot's

36. By measuring the blood pressure you obtain vital info about what?
the effectiveness of the heart contractions - the amount of blood in the system - and the presence of any obstruction or interference of blood to the blood vessels
oximetry
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
carotid

37. Whisting sound of air forced past a partial obstruction - as found in asthma or emphysema.
wheeze
Dorsalis pedis
Biot's
Hypothermia

38. How do emotions increase the pulse rate?
tachycardia
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
orthostatic hypertension
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.

39. How is shock caused?
Stroke Volume
bradypnea
carotid
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.

40. People most at risk for hypertension
carotid
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.

41. Groin area
Femoral
Rhonchi
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
hypertension

42. How should respirations be counted?
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
fever
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.

43. Diurnal variation BP?
pyrexia
orthostatic hypertension
palpate
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone

44. What are the 5 vital signs?
Apical
absent
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
constant

45. Abrupt decline in fever
Crisis
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
Diastolic pressure
120/80

46. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
Eupnea
BMR
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.
thready

47. Difference between the apical and radial pulse - this requires two people to count the radial and apicial pulses at the same time to determine whether there is a what?
shallow or slow breathing
Korotkoff sounds
Cardiac Output
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.

48. Absence of breathing
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
bradypnea
apnea

49. The average temperature in the older adult
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
Axillary.
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
96.5 to 97.5

50. Taking a rectal temperature
determine if the patient has a known heart arrhythmia - perform hand hygiene - expose the left chest - warm the stethoscope in hand for a min or 2 - locate the apex of the heart by palpating for the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line. li
Conduction
72 bpm
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.