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. The average temperature in the older adult
dyspnea
96.5 to 97.5
+2
wheeze

2. Top of left foot
Dorsalis pedis
72 bpm
arrhythmia
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.

3. How do emotions increase the pulse rate?
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
+3
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
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

4. A pattern of breathing in which there is an increase in the rate and the depth of breaths and carbon dioxide is expelled - causing te blood level of carbon dioxide to fall. this condition is seen after sever exertion - during high levels of anxiety o
Hyperventilation
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
low
20-30

5. Side of neck
Posterior tibial
fever
carotid
+2

6. Drop in blood pressure when arising to a standing position.
orthostatic hypertension
120-139/80-89
Feeble
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.

7. Feel
palpate
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
Respiration
Feeble

8. Gas exchange in the blood occurs where?
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
apnea
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.

9. Hearing
96.5 to 97.5
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
ausculatation
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood

10. Pulse lower than 60 beats per minute
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
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
16-20
bradycardia

11. What patients should not use a glass thermometer orally?
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
+2
Diastolic pressure
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia

12. Difficult and labored breathing - can often be accompanied by flared nostrils - anxious appearance - and statements such as I cant get enough air.
Rhonchi
intermittent
Pedal pulse
dyspnea

13. When should rectal temperatures be used?
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
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
low BP
Dorsalis pedis

14. Measurement of oxygen
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
hypoxia
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
oximetry

15. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
Radial
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
96.5 to 97.5
BMR

16. 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.
30-80
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Tachypnea
120/70

17. State of insufficient oxygen
hypoxia
16-20
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.
carotid

18. Korotkoff sounds Ausculatatory gap:
carotid
constant
16-20
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients

19. What should you do if you cannot determine BP by ausculation?
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.
30-80
left Sims position
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.

20. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
lysis
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
Pulse

21. Barely palpable
pyrogens
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
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.
Feeble

22. What will happen in febrile stage if temperature is very high or temperature stays for a long amount of time?
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.
120/80
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.
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese

23. How does disease increase the body's temperature?
dyspnea
Apical
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.
low BP

24. How does physical exercise raise the body's temperature?
Crisis
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
Core Temperature
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.

25. 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?
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
remittent
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
Stertor

26. High oxygen
Posterior tibial
hyperoxia
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
12-20

27. Alternating rise and fall of the temperature.
intermittent
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
ausculatation
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.

28. What affects does aging do to the heart rate?

29. What affects does aging do to the respiratory rate?
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
ausculatation
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
Temporal

30. 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.
hypoxemia
Conduction
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.
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.

31. No pulse palpable or heard on ausculation
absent
+2
140-159/90-99
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.

32. Inside ankle
Posterior tibial
Cardiac Output
hyperoxia
97.5 to 99.5

33. Are infants blood pressure low or high?
low
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.
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.

34. Both strong and weak beats occur within 1 minute
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
Eupnea
Irregular
120/70

35. The pressure wave causing te arterial walls in the vascular system each time the heart contracts to force blood into an already full aorta.
Diaphoresis
Pulse
Radial
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.

36. Carbon dioxide is carried as bicarbonate ion in the blood until it reaches where?
the lungs
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
low BP
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.

37. When should rectal temperatures NOT be used?
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
120/80
tachycardia
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.

38. How do drugs affect pulse?
thready
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
low
absent

39. Substances tat cause fever
pyrogens
oximeter
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
low BP

40. The temperature falls to normal and then rises again in a repeating pattern.
Rhonchi
60 to 70 mL
Relapsing
carotid

41. By measuring the blood pressure you obtain vital info about what?
dyspnea
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
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
bradypnea

42. 3rd stage of fever?
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
pyrogens
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem

43. Symptoms of hypoxia
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
dyspnea
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
Eupnea

44. 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.
120/70
It will also fall
Cardiac Output
20-30

45. BP at or lower 90/60.
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
hypotension
96.5 to 97.5
hyperoxia

46. Whisting sound of air forced past a partial obstruction - as found in asthma or emphysema.
wheeze
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
20-30
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left

47. 3 yr old
orthostatic hypertension
20-30
Pedal pulse
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.

48. Fever above 100.2 F
pyrexia
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.
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
apnea

49. Increased rate and depth with panting and long grunting exhalation. Often seen with patients with acidosis and renal failure.

50. Signs and symptoms of shock
Core Temperature
popliteal
Relapsing
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.