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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. Abrupt decline in fever
Biot's
apnea
120/80
Crisis

2. Normal body temperature ranges?
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
97.5 to 99.5
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.

3. Whisting sound of air forced past a partial obstruction - as found in asthma or emphysema.
shallow or slow breathing
wheeze
Korotkoff sounds
Diaphoresis

4. The lower pressure exerted on the artery when the heart is at rest inbetween contractions.
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.
Diastolic pressure
60 to 70 mL
Stroke Volume

5. Both strong and weak beats occur within 1 minute
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
Irregular
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
hyperoxia

6. What characteristics should be noted when checking the pulse?
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
the rate - the rhythm - and volume
Femoral
Posterior tibial

7. High oxygen
Diastolic pressure
hyperoxia
72 bpm
Systolic pressure

8. Adolescent
16-20
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
Pulse pressure
120/80

9. A sudden change or muffling of the sound. (indicates diastolic pressure in children and some adults)
the lungs
oximeter
It will also fall
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling

10. Feel
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
thready
palpate

11. How does age affect pulse?
oximeter
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
fever

12. Does the respiration rate increase or decrease during fever?
+3
30-80
Increases as body tries to remove excess heat
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes

13. An example of a nursing diagnoses
Axillary.
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure
^160/^100
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.

14. What are the 5 vital signs?
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
+3
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
Cheyenne-Stokes

15. The average temperature in the older adult
96.5 to 97.5
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
hypoxia
bradypnea

16. Korotkoff sounds Ausculatatory gap:
Stroke Volume
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Evaporation
fever

17. Side of wrist
the lungs
Kussmaul's respiration
Radial
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.

18. An example of nursing planning
Korotkoff sounds
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
Eupnea

19. This affects the character of the pulse.
Stroke Volume
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
Crisis
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures

20. 2nd stage of fever is?
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
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.

21. No pulse palpable or heard on ausculation
absent
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
120/70
intermittent

22. Absence of breathing
apnea
Axillary.
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
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.

23. 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.
Pedal pulse
pyrogens
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.

24. The rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest.
ausculatation
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
BMR
orthostatic hypertension

25. How do drugs affect pulse?
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.
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.
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
fever

26. Newborn
60 to 70 mL
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
30-80
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature

27. Groin area
stridor
Femoral
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.
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

28. Average pulse rate for an adult
Posterior tibial
bradycardia
72 bpm
low

29. Side of neck
carotid
Posterior tibial
Pulse pressure
20-30

30. Side of forehead
tachycardia
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
Temporal
Radial

31. Pulse above 100 beats per minute
pyrogens
tachycardia
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.
Hyperthermia related to infection or excessive heat exposure

32. Air movemtn causes heat to be transferred from the skin to the air molecules.
96.5 to 97.5
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
Convection
120/70

33. 1st stage of fever is?
Hypothermia
Tachypnea
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
hypoxia

34. Slow and shallow breathing - leads to hypoxemia.
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
bradypnea
Kussmaul's respiration
constant

35. By measuring the blood pressure you obtain vital info about what?
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
Axillary.
Stroke Volume

36. While measuring the BP certain sounds may be heard that relate to the effect of the blood pressure cuff on the arterial wall.
Korotkoff sounds
tachycardia
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
Brachial

37. How is shock caused?
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
absent

38. 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
remittent
Pulse pressure
bradypnea

39. right arm vs. left arm/ arm vs. leg BP?
the lungs
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
Axillary.
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone

40. Sex BP?
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
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.
Crisis
arrhythmia

41. 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
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
120/80
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
Korotkoff sounds

42. Why would patients experience orthostatic hypotenstion?
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
Posterior tibial
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
Stertor

43. Irregular pulse - a period of normal rhythm broken by periods of irregularity or skipped beats.
arrhythmia
Korotkoff sounds
140-159/90-99
Crisis

44. How should respirations be counted?
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
Diastolic pressure
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling

45. Stage 2 hypertension
^160/^100
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
Temporal
absent

46. Healthly adult
12-20
Diaphoresis
Relapsing
hypoxia

47. Continuous dry - rattling sounds heard on ausculation of the lungs caused by partial obstruction.
Rhonchi
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
Because fever is a protective defense mechanisms that the body uses to fight pathogens and their toxins the inflammatory response produces fevers.
Posterior tibial

48. BP at or lower 90/60.
hypotension
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
bradypnea
popliteal

49. Top of left foot
+2
Dorsalis pedis
Stertor
the lungs

50. Stress & emotions. BP?
pyrexia
hyperoxia
shallow or slow breathing
higher