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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. Whisting sound of air forced past a partial obstruction - as found in asthma or emphysema.
pyrogens
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
wheeze
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.

2. An example of a nursing diagnoses
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
hypertension
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
hypoxia

3. Symptoms of hypoxia
140-159/90-99
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
60 to 70 mL
120/70

4. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
12-20
lysis
Biot's respirations

5. 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.
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
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
Hypothermia
hyperoxia

6. Korotkoff sounds Ausculatatory gap:
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Systolic pressure
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
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.

7. How should respirations be counted?
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
Stroke Volume
120-139/80-89

8. 3 yr old
the lungs
120/80
20-30
thready

9. Feel
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
crackles
Respiration
palpate

10. Irregular pulse - a period of normal rhythm broken by periods of irregularity or skipped beats.
arrhythmia
Crisis
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.

11. The maximum pressure exerted on the artery during left ventricular contraction.
Systolic pressure
Feeble
Diastolic pressure
higher

12. What should you do if you cannot determine BP by ausculation?
crackles
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.
hypoxemia
120/80

13. Elevated temperature
fever
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
hypoxia
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem

14. Stage 1 hypertension
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
Eupnea
140-159/90-99
16-20

15. How does increased body temperature increase the pulse?
hyperoxia
Radial
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.

16. Risk for prolonged hypertension
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
^160/^100
wheeze
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes

17. How should baby's temperature be taken?
Axillary.
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
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.
oximetry

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

19. What pulse is checked to determine whether there is any blockage of circulation in the artery up to that point - especially in patients who have had cardiac catherization using the femoral artery for the insertion of the catheter or those who had sur
Relapsing
140-159/90-99
hypoxia
Pedal pulse

20. When should rectal temperatures NOT be used?
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
Stroke Volume
Diastolic pressure

21. While measuring the BP certain sounds may be heard that relate to the effect of the blood pressure cuff on the arterial wall.
bradycardia
raises BP.
Korotkoff sounds
Stroke Volume

22. Bend of elbow
Increases as body tries to remove excess heat
140-159/90-99
Brachial
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.

23. Breathing is an involuntary automatic function controlled by the respiratory center located where?
60 to 70 mL
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
Irregular

24. Weak and may be irregular
thready
20-30
Temporal
Crisis

25. Does the respiration rate increase or decrease during fever?
Increases as body tries to remove excess heat
hyperoxia
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
Cheyenne-Stokes

26. respirations become faster and deeper - then slower and shallower wit a period of apnea - called the death rattle.
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Cheyenne-Stokes
absent
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.

27. 3rd stage of fever?
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
Irregular
oximeter
Crisis

28. Top of left foot
Dorsalis pedis
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
Femoral
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking

29. Pulse lower than 60 beats per minute
left Sims position
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.
bradycardia
thready

30. Prehypertension
120-139/80-89
72 bpm
30-80
left Sims position

31. The pressure wave causing te arterial walls in the vascular system each time the heart contracts to force blood into an already full aorta.
Pulse
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
crackles
oximetry

32. Excessive sweat production
Dorsalis pedis
+1
60 to 70 mL
Diaphoresis

33. Shallow for two or three breaths with a period of variable apnea. occur in patients with increased intracranial pressure.

34. Substances tat cause fever
pyrogens
^160/^100
Crisis
hypoxemia

35. How do emotions increase the pulse rate?
wheeze
Korotkoff sounds
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.

36. Lobes in the lungs?
higher
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
It will also fall
3 in the right lung and 2 lobes in the left

37. Barely palpable
stridor
pyrexia
arrhythmia
Feeble

38. This affects the character of the pulse.
Axillary.
left Sims position
Stroke Volume
It will also fall

39. Hearing
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
ausculatation
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese

40. Full and bounding (even beats wit strong force)
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
16-20
+3

41. How does age affect pulse?
the lungs
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
bradypnea

42. The temperature falls to normal and then rises again in a repeating pattern.
lysis
bradycardia
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.
Relapsing

43. How does physical exercise raise the body's temperature?
Axillary.
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
Eupnea
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.

44. Blood pressure for any adult should be no higher than
hypertension
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
120/80
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood

45. Fever above 100.2 F
bradycardia
oximeter
pyrexia
lysis

46. How does disease increase the body's temperature?
the lungs
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures

47. When the vascular walls lose elasticity - as with arteriosclerosis and aging what happens to BP?
hyperoxia
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.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.

48. Taking a rectal temperature
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
Irregular
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.

49. Side of forehead
absent
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
Temporal
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.

50. Side of neck
carotid
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.
Crisis
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.