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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.
16-20
wheeze
Stroke volume
thready

2. 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.
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
Relapsing
remittent
hypoxia

3. If blood becomes thicker - like when excessive blood cells are manufactured what happens to BP?
hypoxemia
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through the vascular system.
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
16-20

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

5. Pulse lower than 60 beats per minute
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
Nursing interventions to reduce fever
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.

6. A sudden change or muffling of the sound. (indicates diastolic pressure in children and some adults)
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
120/80
Biot's respirations
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

7. Adolescent
hypoxia
16-20
intermittent
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.

8. Alternating rise and fall of the temperature.
restlessness & apprehension - confusion - dizziness - and change in level of consciousness - cyanosis or skin color changes - particularly around the mouth and in the nail beds
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.
low BP
intermittent

9. What are the 5 vital signs?
+2
stridor
Diaphoresis
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.

10. The temperature is continuously elevated with less than 1 degree of variation within a 24-hour period.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
constant
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

11. A normal - relaxed breathing pattern
Eupnea
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
pyrexia

12. Average blood pressure should be
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.
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.
120/70
Stroke volume

13. Korotkoff sounds Phase I: Tapping
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
shallow or slow breathing
orthostatic hypertension
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.

14. While measuring the BP certain sounds may be heard that relate to the effect of the blood pressure cuff on the arterial wall.
fever
Korotkoff sounds
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
Diastolic pressure

15. Stage 1 hypertension
tachycardia
140-159/90-99
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.
lysis

16. Gas exchange in the blood occurs where?
thready
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
crackles
ausculatation

17. 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.
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Cardiac Output
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
12-20

18. Weak and may be irregular
thready
lysis
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
Feeble

19. Korotkoff sounds Ausculatatory gap:
hypoxia
carotid
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
hypertension

20. How should respirations be counted?
carotid
arrhythmia
temperature - pulse - respiration - blood pressure - and pain level.
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.

21. The average temperature in the older adult
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
Irregular
96.5 to 97.5
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing

22. When the vascular walls lose elasticity - as with arteriosclerosis and aging what happens to BP?
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Stimulants increase the pulse rate. Depressants decrease the pulse rate.
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
140-159/90-99

23. 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
Pedal pulse
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.
left Sims position
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese

24. How is shock caused?
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
lysis
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases

25. This affects the character of the pulse.
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
palpate
Stroke Volume
permanent damage to the heart - the brain - the kidneys - and the retina of the eye - may cause strokes

26. Why would patients experience orthostatic hypotenstion?
Korotkoff sounds Phase V: Silence
popliteal
+2
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.

27. Heat is lost from the body by evaporation. resulting in a daily loss of 800mL of water from skin and lungs.
Evaporation
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
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.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.

28. Heart
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
low
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.
Apical

29. BP at or lower 90/60.
hypotension
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
Stroke volume
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.

30. How do emotions increase the pulse rate?
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
120/80
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
hypoxemia

31. How does emotional stress raise the body's temperature?
Irregular
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
16-20

32. Groin area
Femoral
low BP
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
Kussmaul's respiration

33. Breathing is an involuntary automatic function controlled by the respiratory center located where?
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem
The pulse rate gradually diminishes from birth to adulthood
Cardiac Output
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures

34. Excessive sweat production
shallow or slow breathing
Diaphoresis
Radial
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)

35. Bend of elbow
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.
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia
12-20
Brachial

36. Absence of breathing
30-80
apnea
popliteal
absent

37. By measuring the blood pressure you obtain vital info about what?
lysis
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.
remittent
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

38. What happens when vasodilation occurs?
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
Stertor
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
Axillary.

39. How does physical exercise raise the body's temperature?
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
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.
pyrexia
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.

40. Head injury BP?
+2
Core Temperature
raises BP.
hypotension

41. Air movemtn causes heat to be transferred from the skin to the air molecules.
the lungs
96.5 to 97.5
constant
Convection

42. Elderly respiration
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons
16-20
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.

43. Gradual return to a normal temperature
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
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
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
lysis

44. Strong and regular ( even beats wit moderate force)
+2
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.
12-20

45. High BP
Temperature will remain below 102 degrees with use of hypothermia blanket
hypertension
140-159/90-99
Pulse

46. When should rectal temperatures NOT be used?
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
Temporal
Defervescence - lowering of the body temperature to normal. The person feels warm and the skin may be moist.

47. The lower pressure exerted on the artery when the heart is at rest inbetween contractions.
+1
higher
Diastolic pressure
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese

48. Top of left foot
Convection
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.
low BP
Dorsalis pedis

49. 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.
constant
It doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
hypoxemia
carotid

50. Macine that measures oxygen in the blood by determining the percentage of hemoglobin that is bound with oxygen.
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
oximeter
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
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.