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. Pulse above 100 beats per minute
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Eupnea
tachycardia
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.

2. Weak and regular (even beats wit poor force)
+1
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.
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.

3. Top of left foot
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
the lungs
Dorsalis pedis
oximetry

4. Irregular pulse - a period of normal rhythm broken by periods of irregularity or skipped beats.
arrhythmia
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
Evaporation

5. Inside ankle
raises BP.
oximetry
Posterior tibial
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

6. A sudden change or muffling of the sound. (indicates diastolic pressure in children and some adults)
Tachypnea
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
Stertor
Kussmaul's respiration

7. Stage 1 hypertension
12-20
30-80
140-159/90-99
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.

8. What should you do if you cannot determine BP by ausculation?
Kussmaul's respiration
bradypnea
20-30
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.

9. Head injury BP?
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
raises BP.
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.

10. How do drugs affect pulse?
Stroke Volume
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.

11. Symptoms of hypoxia
+2
+3
+1
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds

12. A normal - relaxed breathing pattern
Biot's respirations
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Eupnea
16-20

13. 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.
bradypnea
Hypothermia
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)

14. High oxygen
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
+3
hyperoxia
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.

15. Slow and shallow breathing - leads to hypoxemia.
popliteal
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
absent
bradypnea

16. An example of a nursing diagnoses
Diastolic pressure
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
the lungs

17. What happens to the blood if overhydration occurs?
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
^160/^100
crackles
raises BP.

18. The temperature of the deep tissues of the body
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.
Hypothermia
+3
Core Temperature

19. respirations become faster and deeper - then slower and shallower wit a period of apnea - called the death rattle.
arrhythmia
intermittent
Cheyenne-Stokes
Feeble

20. 2nd stage of fever is?
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.
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.

21. What affects does aging do to the blood pressure?
16-20
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.

22. Sex BP?
Radial
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.

23. How does physical exercise raise the body's temperature?
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
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.
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
Radial

24. The maximum pressure exerted on the artery during left ventricular contraction.
Apical
hypertension
Systolic pressure
97.5 to 99.5

25. Barely palpable
Feeble
thready
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons
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

26. Difficult and labored breathing - can often be accompanied by flared nostrils - anxious appearance - and statements such as I cant get enough air.
dyspnea
Core Temperature
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
carotid

27. Korotkoff sounds Ausculatatory gap:
Respiration
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
120/70
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients

28. Murmur or swishing sounds that increase as the cuff is deflated
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
120/70
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
hypertension

29. Normal body temperature ranges?
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
97.5 to 99.5
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.

30. Average pulse rate for an adult
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
stridor
72 bpm
arrhythmia

31. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
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.
raises BP.
It will also fall

32. 3rd stage of fever?
Apical
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
Axillary.

33. Korotkoff sounds Phase I: Tapping
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
Dorsalis pedis
Core Temperature
BMR

34. This affects the character of the pulse.
Temporal
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
Stroke Volume
left Sims position

35. Disappearance of sound. (marks diastolic pressure in adults)
30-80
Relapsing
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
oximeter

36. right arm vs. left arm/ arm vs. leg BP?
Irregular
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
thready
Radial

37. What patients should not use a glass thermometer orally?
Hypothermia
Pulse pressure
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia

38. How does age affect pulse?
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
oximetry
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
16-20

39. Diurnal variation BP?
It will also fall
+1
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.

40. Groin area
Diastolic pressure
Femoral
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.
Relapsing

41. Gas exchange in the blood occurs where?
the lungs
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
^160/^100
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs

42. Side of forehead
Biot's
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.
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Temporal

43. Hearing
fever
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
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
ausculatation

44. 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
shallow or slow breathing
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
97.5 to 99.5
Nursing interventions to reduce fever

45. Taking axillary temperature
Tachypnea
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
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.
Korotkoff sounds

46. Why would patients experience orthostatic hypotenstion?
97.5 to 99.5
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
hypoxia
wheeze

47. The difference between the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure
Feeble
Pulse pressure
Apical
Dorsalis pedis

48. How should respirations be counted?
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.
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
orthostatic hypertension
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.

49. Absence of breathing
Stertor
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
apnea
lysis

50. Louder knocking sound that occurs wit each heartbeat
72 bpm
120-139/80-89
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
thready