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. Excessive sweat production
bradycardia
Diaphoresis
the lungs
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same

2. Abrupt decline in fever
Stertor
thready
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
Crisis

3. A normal - relaxed breathing pattern
Eupnea
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.
Hyperventilation
Femoral

4. When the vascular walls lose elasticity - as with arteriosclerosis and aging what happens to BP?
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
by placing the flat part of the first fingers against the tendon - or cord - on the thumb inside of the inner wrist and ten rolling the fingers slightly outward into the little trough on the thumb inside the wrist.

5. Side of wrist
Radial
bradycardia
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.

6. Weak and regular (even beats wit poor force)
Diastolic pressure
+1
ausculatation
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.

7. Stage 2 hypertension
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
Rhonchi
Axillary.
^160/^100

8. The maximum pressure exerted on the artery during left ventricular contraction.
oximetry
Biot's
Axillary.
Systolic pressure

9. How is pulse best found?
by placing the flat part of the first fingers against the tendon - or cord - on the thumb inside of the inner wrist and ten rolling the fingers slightly outward into the little trough on the thumb inside the wrist.
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
120/70
hypoxia

10. What happens when vasodilation occurs?
Posterior tibial
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
fever
absent

11. Alternating rise and fall of the temperature.
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
intermittent

12. Gas exchange in the blood occurs where?
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
orthostatic hypertension
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.

13. Stage 1 hypertension
orthostatic hypertension
hypoxia
140-159/90-99
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)

14. How should baby's temperature be taken?
low BP
oximetry
Axillary.
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.

15. Inside ankle
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
Posterior tibial
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
Stertor

16. What characteristics should be noted when checking the pulse?
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
It will also fall
Axillary.
Convection

17. Murmur or swishing sounds that increase as the cuff is deflated
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
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.

18. Elderly respiration
hypertension
16-20
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.
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.

19. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.

20. When the heart contracts How many mLs of blood is propelled into the aorta?
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
+1
60 to 70 mL
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.

21. An example of a nursing diagnoses
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
bradypnea
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
+1

22. Side of forehead
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
hypotension
Temporal
Irregular

23. Barely palpable
higher
constant
thready
Feeble

24. Healthly adult
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
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
12-20

25. An example of nursing planning
remittent
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.

26. What happens whens vasoconstriction causes peripheral vascular resistance to rise?
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.
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.
Respiration

27. Taking axillary temperature
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
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.
hypoxia
Pulse pressure

28. A sudden change or muffling of the sound. (indicates diastolic pressure in children and some adults)
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
hypertension

29. Average blood pressure should be
Systolic pressure
120/70
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons
crackles

30. High BP
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
Pulse
constant
hypertension

31. Rectal temperature are
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Conduction
Stroke Volume

32. 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.
Cheyenne-Stokes
Tachypnea
Radial
oximetry

33. How does emotional stress raise the body's temperature?
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
Systolic pressure
Axillary.
It will also fall

34. How does menstrual cycle and pregnancy raise the body's temperature?
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.

35. The pulse rate multiplied by the stroke volume. This is the amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle in 1 minute. Averaging at about 5mL per minute.
30-80
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
Cardiac Output

36. How is shock caused?
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
low
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.

37. 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.
Eupnea
crackles
pyrogens
hypoxemia

38. Head injury BP?
raises BP.
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
Relapsing
bradycardia

39. Heat is lost from the body by evaporation. resulting in a daily loss of 800mL of water from skin and lungs.
Stertor
palpate
Evaporation
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.

40. What are the 5 vital signs?
Irregular
Temporal
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
constant

41. Difficult and labored breathing - can often be accompanied by flared nostrils - anxious appearance - and statements such as I cant get enough air.
pyrexia
dyspnea
Pulse
+1

42. Low oxygen
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
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.
hypoxia
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.

43. How does external respiration occur?
120/70
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
thready
raises BP.

44. Shallow for two or three breaths with a period of variable apnea. occur in patients with increased intracranial pressure.

45. How should respirations be counted?
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.
bradycardia
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
Rhonchi

46. While measuring the BP certain sounds may be heard that relate to the effect of the blood pressure cuff on the arterial wall.
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
Irregular
Korotkoff sounds
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

47. Signs and symptoms of shock
Feeble
low BP
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
Hyperventilation

48. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
tachycardia
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
hypoxia
BMR

49. Obtaining the correct size for a cuff for BP?
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
16-20
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
crackles

50. The pressure wave causing te arterial walls in the vascular system each time the heart contracts to force blood into an already full aorta.
orthostatic hypertension
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
96.5 to 97.5
Pulse