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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 lower than 60 beats per minute
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
remittent
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
bradycardia

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

3. How does physical exercise raise the body's temperature?
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
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
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.
oximetry

4. How should baby's temperature be taken?
Axillary.
16-20
BMR
+1

5. Irregular pulse - a period of normal rhythm broken by periods of irregularity or skipped beats.
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.
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.
arrhythmia

6. Weak and may be irregular
thready
+1
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
72 bpm

7. How does increased body temperature increase the pulse?
Pedal pulse
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure

8. How does menstrual cycle and pregnancy raise the body's temperature?
hyperoxia
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
Evaporation
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.

9. respirations become faster and deeper - then slower and shallower wit a period of apnea - called the death rattle.
16-20
Cheyenne-Stokes
120-139/80-89
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes

10. Taking axillary temperature
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
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.
30-80
Relapsing

11. Crowing sound on inspiration caused by obstruction of the upper air passages - as occurs in croup or laryngitis
stridor
orthostatic hypertension
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same

12. Top of left foot
Dorsalis pedis
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
Radial
Cheyenne-Stokes

13. Fast - deep respirations with abrupt pauses

14. What happens whens vasoconstriction causes peripheral vascular resistance to rise?
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.
Relapsing
Stertor

15. 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.
20-30
hypoxia
crackles
ausculatation

16. What will happen in febrile stage if temperature is very high or temperature stays for a long amount of time?
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
intermittent
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
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.

17. Whats the best position to take a rectal temperature?
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.
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.
BMR
left Sims position

18. Korotkoff sounds Phase I: Tapping
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
Temporal
Feeble

19. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.

20. 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
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
Cheyenne-Stokes
left Sims position

21. By measuring the blood pressure you obtain vital info about what?
It will also fall
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.
constant
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

22. What patients should not use a glass thermometer orally?
intermittent
crackles
palpate
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia

23. Stage 1 hypertension
Pulse pressure
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
140-159/90-99
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.

24. 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
pyrexia
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.
It will also fall

25. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
BMR
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.
Rhonchi

26. An example of a nursing diagnoses
Brachial
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
72 bpm

27. A sudden change or muffling of the sound. (indicates diastolic pressure in children and some adults)
stridor
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
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling

28. Heat is lost from the body by evaporation. resulting in a daily loss of 800mL of water from skin and lungs.
Evaporation
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.
120/70
Stroke Volume

29. Decreased levels of oxygen in the blood - often seen in patients wo are under medical sedation - who are recovering from anesthesia or abdominal surgery - or who are in a weak or debiliated condition.
Posterior tibial
Pulse
Kussmaul's respiration
hypoxemia

30. Blood pressure for any adult should be no higher than
hyperoxia
Conduction
120/80
Hyperventilation

31. How does emotional stress raise the body's temperature?
Convection
16-20
constant
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.

32. Inside ankle
Irregular
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.
Stroke volume
Posterior tibial

33. 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.
popliteal
Cardiac Output
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese

34. 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
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
Apical
dyspnea
Nursing interventions to reduce fever

35. Full and bounding (even beats wit strong force)
+3
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
apnea

36. What are the 5 vital signs?
pyrogens
Core Temperature
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.
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.

37. Gas exchange in the blood occurs where?
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
hypoxia
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.

38. How do drugs affect pulse?
bradycardia
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
Pedal pulse
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.

39. Bend of knee
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
popliteal
about 1 degree lower 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.

40. The pressure wave causing te arterial walls in the vascular system each time the heart contracts to force blood into an already full aorta.
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
oximeter
Pulse
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.

41. 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.
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
Hypothermia
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
palpate

42. Breathing is an involuntary automatic function controlled by the respiratory center located where?
pyrexia
left Sims position
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem
oximeter

43. Are infants blood pressure low or high?
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
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.
+2
low

44. The temperature falls to normal and then rises again in a repeating pattern.
60 to 70 mL
Temporal
Relapsing
thready

45. Slow and shallow breathing - leads to hypoxemia.
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.
carotid
bradypnea
Apical

46. 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?
fever
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
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.

47. Newborn
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
30-80
hyperoxia

48. What affects does aging do to the respiratory rate?
120/70
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
16-20
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.

49. Average pulse rate for an adult
intermittent
120/80
72 bpm
16-20

50. Feel
72 bpm
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
palpate