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. Heart
Biot's
Apical
hyperoxia
Stroke volume

2. Pulse above 100 beats per minute
96.5 to 97.5
The body's temperature in the morning is usually low from inactivity of the muscles. The afternooon body temperature may be high-normal because of the body's metabolic processes - the patient's activity - and the temperature of the environment.
tachycardia
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.

3. How do emotions increase the pulse rate?
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
orthostatic hypertension
Respiration
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.

4. Head injury or any increased intracranial pressure will depress the respiratory center and result in?
shallow or slow breathing
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
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.

5. Disappearance of sound. (marks diastolic pressure in adults)
Systolic pressure
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence

6. State of insufficient oxygen
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
hypoxia
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing

7. Bend of knee
popliteal
^160/^100
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.
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.

8. Blood pressure for any adult should be no higher than
hypoxia
140-159/90-99
120/80
72 bpm

9. Risk for prolonged hypertension
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
Respiration
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.

10. How does the time of day (circadian rhythm) affect the body's temperature?

11. How does increased body temperature increase the pulse?
Conduction
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
intermittent
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature

12. The volume of blood pushed into the aorta per heartbeat.
20-30
Stroke volume
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
Diastolic pressure

13. Abrupt decline in fever
Crisis
low BP
Diaphoresis
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs

14. Obtaining the correct size for a cuff for BP?
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
The body's temperature in the morning is usually low from inactivity of the muscles. The afternooon body temperature may be high-normal because of the body's metabolic processes - the patient's activity - and the temperature of the environment.

15. A pattern of breathing in which there is an increase in the rate and the depth of breaths and carbon dioxide is expelled - causing te blood level of carbon dioxide to fall. this condition is seen after sever exertion - during high levels of anxiety o
Core Temperature
Radial
shallow or slow breathing
Hyperventilation

16. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
BMR
Dorsalis pedis
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
Evaporation

17. Stage 2 hypertension
^160/^100
hypotension
120/70
Brachial

18. When the heart contracts How many mLs of blood is propelled into the aorta?
60 to 70 mL
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
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.
Cardiac Output

19. Side of forehead
hypoxia
Temporal
Tachypnea
+3

20. What affects does aging do to the respiratory rate?
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
lysis
absent

21. When is apicial pulse used?
Kussmaul's respiration
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.
bradypnea
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.

22. Increased or rapid breathing results from te presence of fever and a number or diseases. breathing rate increased about 4 breaths for each degree increase in temperature.
Tachypnea
Radial
thready
+1

23. No pulse palpable or heard on ausculation
+3
absent
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.
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes

24. Full and bounding (even beats wit strong force)
96.5 to 97.5
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
+3
raises BP.

25. Substances tat cause fever
Apical
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
Radial
pyrogens

26. How does physical exercise raise the body's temperature?
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.
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
+2

27. The temperature falls to normal and then rises again in a repeating pattern.
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
Relapsing
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.

28. Stress & emotions. BP?
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
hypoxia
higher
thready

29. Both strong and weak beats occur within 1 minute
Korotkoff sounds
hyperoxia
oximetry
Irregular

30. How does size affect pulse?
higher
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
120-139/80-89
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons

31. The temperature is continuously elevated with less than 1 degree of variation within a 24-hour period.
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
constant
Eupnea
bradycardia

32. How does age affect pulse?
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Dorsalis pedis
+3
pyrexia

33. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
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.
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
bradycardia
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.

34. BP at or lower 90/60.
hypotension
hypoxemia
Brachial
left Sims position

35. Air movemtn causes heat to be transferred from the skin to the air molecules.
bradycardia
Convection
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
oximetry

36. The pressure wave causing te arterial walls in the vascular system each time the heart contracts to force blood into an already full aorta.
12-20
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem
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.
Pulse

37. An example of nursing planning
Apical
wheeze
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket

38. Why would patients experience orthostatic hypotenstion?
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.
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.
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
tachycardia

39. A sudden change or muffling of the sound. (indicates diastolic pressure in children and some adults)
Cardiac Output
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.

40. Sex BP?
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
Respiration
apnea
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem

41. Feel
palpate
120-139/80-89
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.
low BP

42. Taking a rectal temperature
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
16-20
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.

43. What affects does aging do to the heart rate?

44. What should you do if you cannot determine BP by ausculation?
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.
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
absent
^160/^100

45. The temperature of the deep tissues of the body
Stroke Volume
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.
Core Temperature
hypoxia

46. What pulse is checked to determine whether there is any blockage of circulation in the artery up to that point - especially in patients who have had cardiac catherization using the femoral artery for the insertion of the catheter or those who had sur
Pedal pulse
Relapsing
stridor
120-139/80-89

47. Those at risk for hypothermia include
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
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.
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds

48. 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?
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
intermittent
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure

49. Excessive sweat production
Diaphoresis
Respiration
Feeble
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds

50. High BP
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
hypertension
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
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.