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. 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.
BMR
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
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
Hypothermia

2. Whats the best position to take a rectal temperature?
higher
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
Feeble
left Sims position

3. Bend of knee
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
popliteal
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
12-20

4. When the vascular walls lose elasticity - as with arteriosclerosis and aging what happens to BP?
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Korotkoff sounds
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.

5. Hearing
30-80
Hyperventilation
96.5 to 97.5
ausculatation

6. When should rectal temperatures be used?
Stroke Volume
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
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
20-30

7. Korotkoff sounds Ausculatatory gap:
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
BMR
Core Temperature
shallow or slow breathing

8. A normal - relaxed breathing pattern
Eupnea
Respiration
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
Nursing interventions to reduce fever

9. Bend of elbow
low BP
wheeze
Brachial
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood

10. State of insufficient oxygen
Korotkoff sounds
60 to 70 mL
hypoxia
120/80

11. How does emotional stress raise the body's temperature?
20-30
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.

12. Elevated temperature
fever
BMR
Kussmaul's respiration
Biot's

13. What affects does aging do to the blood pressure?
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
120-139/80-89
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.

14. Those at risk for hypothermia include
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.
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
+3

15. Blood pressure for any adult should be no higher than
Apical
hyperoxia
120/80
120-139/80-89

16. Stage 2 hypertension
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
^160/^100
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.

17. Fast - deep respirations with abrupt pauses

18. Disappearance of sound. (marks diastolic pressure in adults)
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
Hyperventilation
120-139/80-89
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.

19. When the heart contracts How many mLs of blood is propelled into the aorta?
60 to 70 mL
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
ausculatation
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.

20. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
BMR
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking

21. High oxygen
hyperoxia
bradycardia
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.
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.

22. Side of forehead
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
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
Temporal
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.

23. Normal body temperature ranges?
20-30
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
97.5 to 99.5
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.

24. Newborn
30-80
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
raises BP.
intermittent

25. Prehypertension
120-139/80-89
Stroke volume
bradycardia
Core Temperature

26. What patients should not use a glass thermometer orally?
Pulse pressure
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.
Dorsalis pedis
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia

27. Crowing sound on inspiration caused by obstruction of the upper air passages - as occurs in croup or laryngitis
stridor
hypoxia
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.
hypertension

28. Substances tat cause fever
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
16-20
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
pyrogens

29. How do drugs affect pulse?
bradycardia
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
Kussmaul's respiration
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.

30. An example of a nursing diagnoses
low
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
Increases as body tries to remove excess heat
^160/^100

31. Macine that measures oxygen in the blood by determining the percentage of hemoglobin that is bound with oxygen.
Rhonchi
Posterior tibial
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
oximeter

32. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
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
bradypnea
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
Hypothermia

33. Inside ankle
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
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
hypoxemia
Posterior tibial

34. Top of left foot
16-20
Dorsalis pedis
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
96.5 to 97.5

35. respirations become faster and deeper - then slower and shallower wit a period of apnea - called the death rattle.
hypotension
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem
Cheyenne-Stokes
Femoral

36. 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
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
Crisis

37. A high temperature falls - usually in the morning - and again rises later in the day. The temperature never fails to normal in this type of fever until recovery occurs.
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
remittent

38. What happens when vasodilation occurs?
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.
Increases as body tries to remove excess heat
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases

39. How should baby's temperature be taken?
Axillary.
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.
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.
Systolic pressure

40. 2nd stage of fever is?
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
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.
Pulse pressure
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.

41. The pressure wave causing te arterial walls in the vascular system each time the heart contracts to force blood into an already full aorta.
+2
hypoxia
raises BP.
Pulse

42. Axillary temperature are
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
Apical
shallow or slow breathing

43. When warm skin touches a cool object - heat is lost to the object.
Conduction
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
Rhonchi
+2

44. Air movemtn causes heat to be transferred from the skin to the air molecules.
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
Convection
Apical
60 to 70 mL

45. How does increased body temperature increase the pulse?
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
Dorsalis pedis
constant

46. The temperature is continuously elevated with less than 1 degree of variation within a 24-hour period.
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Pulse
bradycardia
constant

47. Side of wrist
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.
Radial
Stroke Volume
left Sims position

48. The difference between the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure
Pulse pressure
ausculatation
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.
higher

49. right arm vs. left arm/ arm vs. leg BP?
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
+3
Biot's respirations
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.

50. If the cardiac output falls what will happen to the BP?
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
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
It will also fall
Crisis