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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. Diurnal variation BP?
the lungs
Rhonchi
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
Apical

2. 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.
Biot's respirations
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
16-20

3. Pulse lower than 60 beats per minute
Systolic pressure
bradycardia
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence

4. The pressure wave causing te arterial walls in the vascular system each time the heart contracts to force blood into an already full aorta.
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.
Core Temperature
Pulse

5. 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.
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
oximetry
Tachypnea
hypoxia

6. Whisting sound of air forced past a partial obstruction - as found in asthma or emphysema.
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
low
16-20
wheeze

7. When should rectal temperatures NOT be used?
hyperoxia
20-30
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.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.

8. Signs and symptoms of shock
Biot's respirations
dyspnea
+1
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.

9. The volume of blood pushed into the aorta per heartbeat.
raises BP.
Biot's
Stroke volume
Brachial

10. The temperature falls to normal and then rises again in a repeating pattern.
stridor
pyrogens
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
Relapsing

11. Substances tat cause fever
pyrogens
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.
Radial
Rhonchi

12. Breathing is an involuntary automatic function controlled by the respiratory center located where?
+1
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
12-20
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem

13. Side of wrist
Radial
Eupnea
hypertension
120-139/80-89

14. How do drugs affect pulse?
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.
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
Systolic pressure
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.

15. How does disease increase the body's temperature?
absent
hypotension
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures

16. What affects does aging do to the respiratory rate?
absent
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence

17. Bend of elbow
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
hypoxia
Brachial
Pulse pressure

18. When is apicial pulse used?
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.
lysis
It will also fall
96.5 to 97.5

19. Average pulse rate for an adult
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
72 bpm
20-30
palpate

20. Barely palpable
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
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
Feeble

21. Full and bounding (even beats wit strong force)
+3
Systolic pressure
hypertension
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.

22. Crowing sound on inspiration caused by obstruction of the upper air passages - as occurs in croup or laryngitis
wheeze
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
stridor
120/80

23. 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
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
pyrexia
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.
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes

24. How is pulse best found?
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
Eupnea
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.

25. When should rectal temperatures be used?
Feeble
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
72 bpm
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

26. No pulse palpable or heard on ausculation
absent
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.
Brachial
Stroke volume

27. Air movemtn causes heat to be transferred from the skin to the air molecules.
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
Systolic pressure
Core Temperature
Convection

28. 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.
crackles
Biot's respirations
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
Radial

29. Groin area
bradycardia
Femoral
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
12-20

30. 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.
Cardiac Output
dyspnea
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
crackles

31. How should respirations be counted?
Stroke volume
pyrexia
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.

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

33. What happens to the blood if overhydration occurs?
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
remittent

34. Elevated temperature
fever
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.
orthostatic hypertension
higher

35. Hearing
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
Hypothermia
+3
ausculatation

36. Strong and regular ( even beats wit moderate force)
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
+2
hyperoxia
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.

37. Weak and may be irregular
thready
Pulse
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
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.

38. Feel
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
arrhythmia
palpate
Pulse

39. How do emotions increase the pulse rate?
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
hypotension
Axillary.
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket

40. Korotkoff sounds Phase I: Tapping
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
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.
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
hypoxia

41. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs and tissues and is initiated by the act of breathing.
Respiration
shallow or slow breathing
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
Biot's

42. The difference between the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure
left Sims position
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
Pulse pressure
Hyperventilation

43. This affects the character of the pulse.
Stroke Volume
hypoxia
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.
Pedal pulse

44. Irregular pulse - a period of normal rhythm broken by periods of irregularity or skipped beats.
hypoxemia
arrhythmia
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
hypotension

45. Why would patients experience orthostatic hypotenstion?
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
Respiration
Hypothermia
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.

46. Pulse above 100 beats per minute
tachycardia
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
Apical
remittent

47. What patients should not use a glass thermometer orally?
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
Core Temperature

48. Blood pressure for any adult should be no higher than
Temporal
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
120/80
lysis

49. Head injury BP?
wheeze
oximetry
Temporal
raises BP.

50. The average temperature in the older adult
ausculatation
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
96.5 to 97.5
Evaporation