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. When warm skin touches a cool object - heat is lost to the object.
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
Conduction
crackles
Posterior tibial

2. Pulse above 100 beats per minute
tachycardia
20-30
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
Biot's respirations

3. The maximum pressure exerted on the artery during left ventricular contraction.
orthostatic hypertension
the lungs
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
Systolic pressure

4. Sex BP?
120-139/80-89
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
Relapsing
Nursing interventions to reduce fever

5. When the heart contracts How many mLs of blood is propelled into the aorta?
higher
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
hyperoxia
60 to 70 mL

6. Strong and regular ( even beats wit moderate force)
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
carotid
+2
crackles

7. Why would patients experience orthostatic hypotenstion?
Posterior tibial
popliteal
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
97.5 to 99.5

8. Fast - deep respirations with abrupt pauses

9. Newborn
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
120/70
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
30-80

10. Weak and may be irregular
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
thready
lysis
the rate - the rhythm - and volume

11. How does physical exercise raise the body's temperature?
tachycardia
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.
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
left Sims position

12. Healthly adult
12-20
Crisis
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
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.

13. BP at or lower 90/60.
hypotension
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.
60 to 70 mL
absent

14. 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.
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
Cardiac Output
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
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. What happens to the blood if overhydration occurs?
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
stridor

16. Alternating rise and fall of the temperature.
intermittent
Evaporation
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
hypoxia

17. 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.
Convection
Hypothermia
higher
ausculatation

18. 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
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
20-30
Pedal pulse
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures

19. Normal body temperature ranges?
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
97.5 to 99.5

20. How do drugs affect pulse?
remittent
+3
intermittent
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.

21. The temperature is continuously elevated with less than 1 degree of variation within a 24-hour period.
Irregular
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
Apical
constant

22. Murmur or swishing sounds that increase as the cuff is deflated
Eupnea
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
absent

23. A high temperature falls - usually in the morning - and again rises later in the day. The temperature never fails to normal in this type of fever until recovery occurs.
low
Systolic pressure
remittent
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.

24. Enviromental temperature BP?
72 bpm
120/80
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.

25. State of insufficient oxygen
left Sims position
hypoxia
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
BMR

26. Risk for prolonged hypertension
thready
arrhythmia
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
palpate

27. High oxygen
Hyperventilation
hyperoxia
96.5 to 97.5
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.

28. How should baby's temperature be taken?
Axillary.
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
hypotension
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.

29. What happens whens vasoconstriction causes peripheral vascular resistance to rise?
carotid
Evaporation
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.

30. 1st 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
Feeble
lysis
Tachypnea

31. 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.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
Tachypnea

32. If the cardiac output falls what will happen to the BP?
It will also fall
Convection
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
60 to 70 mL

33. Groin area
arrhythmia
Femoral
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.

34. How does size affect pulse?
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
orthostatic hypertension
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases

35. 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?
Cheyenne-Stokes
Evaporation
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.

36. The volume of blood pushed into the aorta per heartbeat.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
Stroke volume
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
dyspnea

37. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
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.
BMR
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
absent

38. 3 yr old
20-30
Hyperventilation
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.

39. Average pulse rate for an adult
hypoxia
96.5 to 97.5
Systolic pressure
72 bpm

40. The lower pressure exerted on the artery when the heart is at rest inbetween contractions.
Diastolic pressure
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.
constant

41. Whats the best position to take a rectal temperature?
left Sims position
72 bpm
popliteal
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases

42. The difference between the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure
Pulse pressure
Feeble
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
ausculatation

43. When the vascular walls lose elasticity - as with arteriosclerosis and aging what happens to BP?
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
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
120-139/80-89
stridor

44. Pulse lower than 60 beats per minute
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.
bradycardia
Kussmaul's respiration
stridor

45. How is shock caused?
pyrogens
Relapsing
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
left Sims position

46. What characteristics should be noted when checking the pulse?
pyrogens
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
bradycardia
the rate - the rhythm - and volume

47. How does age affect pulse?
16-20
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
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.
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.

48. When is apicial pulse used?
bradycardia
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
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.

49. Excessive sweat production
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
Diaphoresis
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.

50. Stage 1 hypertension
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
140-159/90-99
oximetry
apnea