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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. Absence of breathing
^160/^100
lysis
apnea
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.

2. 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.
Pulse pressure
Dorsalis pedis
crackles
arrhythmia

3. Head injury or any increased intracranial pressure will depress the respiratory center and result in?
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
Apical
shallow or slow breathing

4. Difficult and labored breathing - can often be accompanied by flared nostrils - anxious appearance - and statements such as I cant get enough air.
dyspnea
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
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
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

5. Abrupt decline in fever
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons
lysis
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
Crisis

6. What affects does aging do to the blood pressure?
raises BP.
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
palpate

7. By measuring the blood pressure you obtain vital info about what?
12-20
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
Cardiac Output
Stroke volume

8. What will happen in febrile stage if temperature is very high or temperature stays for a long amount of time?
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.
Eupnea
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.
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

9. Newborn
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.
30-80
Eupnea
Tachypnea

10. The lower pressure exerted on the artery when the heart is at rest inbetween contractions.
Respiration
Diastolic pressure
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
Cheyenne-Stokes

11. When should rectal temperatures be used?
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
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
Biot's respirations
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling

12. Continuous dry - rattling sounds heard on ausculation of the lungs caused by partial obstruction.
Rhonchi
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Evaporation
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.

13. No pulse palpable or heard on ausculation
Pulse pressure
absent
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.

14. Side of forehead
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
Tachypnea
Temporal

15. Those at risk for hypothermia include
ausculatation
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.
low BP
120-139/80-89

16. 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?
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.
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
Biot's
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.

17. 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.
apnea
absent
Tachypnea
Axillary.

18. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs and tissues and is initiated by the act of breathing.
Respiration
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
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

19. Side of wrist
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
Crisis
Hyperventilation
Radial

20. When is apicial pulse used?
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
remittent
Hyperventilation
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.

21. Adolescent
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
16-20
pyrexia
Biot's respirations

22. How do you measure the apical pulse?
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
bradypnea
+1

23. Lobes in the lungs?
^160/^100
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
remittent

24. How does emotional stress raise the body's temperature?
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
Tachypnea
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem

25. Normal body temperature ranges?
thready
97.5 to 99.5
120/70
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.

26. How does age affect pulse?
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
Pulse
Posterior tibial
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood

27. Fever above 100.2 F
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.
raises BP.
apnea
pyrexia

28. Symptoms of hypoxia
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
60 to 70 mL
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
the lungs

29. When the vascular walls lose elasticity - as with arteriosclerosis and aging what happens to BP?
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
Systolic pressure
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.

30. High oxygen
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
Cardiac Output
Tachypnea
hyperoxia

31. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
Systolic pressure
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
Rhonchi
97.5 to 99.5

32. How is pulse best found?
Pedal pulse
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.
Cheyenne-Stokes
bradypnea

33. What affects does aging do to the respiratory rate?
96.5 to 97.5
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
wheeze
120/70

34. Murmur or swishing sounds that increase as the cuff is deflated
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
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.

35. While measuring the BP certain sounds may be heard that relate to the effect of the blood pressure cuff on the arterial wall.
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.
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
Korotkoff sounds
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.

36. Taking axillary 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.
pyrogens
Diaphoresis
Pulse

37. Air movemtn causes heat to be transferred from the skin to the air molecules.
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
120/80
Convection
hypoxia

38. Elevated temperature
fever
the lungs
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
hypotension

39. right arm vs. left arm/ arm vs. leg BP?
Eupnea
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
palpate

40. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
BMR
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
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
pyrogens

41. Low oxygen
intermittent
hypoxia
arrhythmia
Feeble

42. 3rd stage of fever?
Cheyenne-Stokes
Axillary.
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.

43. Stress & emotions. BP?
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.
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
higher

44. Healthly adult
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of 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.
12-20
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.

45. 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.
Hyperventilation
hypoxemia
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.
Biot's respirations

46. Korotkoff sounds Phase I: Tapping
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
+2
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
Pulse

47. Prehypertension
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 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
120-139/80-89

48. A normal - relaxed breathing pattern
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
Eupnea
Axillary.
Convection

49. Average blood pressure should be
pyrogens
120/70
tachycardia
Stertor

50. Risk for prolonged hypertension
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
hypertension
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes