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Measuring Vital Signs

Subjects : health-sciences, emergency-medicine

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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Match each statement with the correct term.
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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. This affects the character of the pulse.
Stroke Volume
the lungs
12-20
Axillary.

2. right arm vs. left arm/ arm vs. leg BP?
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
It may rise slightly as decreases in vital capacity and respiratory reserve occur.
bradycardia
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.

3. 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.
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
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling

4. What characteristics should be noted when checking the pulse?
arrhythmia
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
Cardiac Output
the rate - the rhythm - and volume

5. When the vascular walls lose elasticity - as with arteriosclerosis and aging what happens to BP?
It increases to push the blood through more rigid pathways.
140-159/90-99
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
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

6. Absence of breathing
fever
apnea
constant
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.

7. Obtaining the correct size for a cuff for BP?
bradycardia
absent
Wash hands - don gloves - lubricate probe - Insert .5 to 1.5 inches. Hold in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
the proper cuff is 21% bigger than the diameter of the arm. the inflatable bladder should go around 3/4 of the arm.

8. How is pulse best found?
hypertension
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
Core Temperature
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.

9. Whats the best position to take a rectal temperature?
left Sims position
Pulse
+3
the blood pressure will rise in order to push the blood along.

10. Excessive sweat production
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
carotid
Diaphoresis
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.

11. Signs and symptoms of shock
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
wheeze
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.
Brachial

12. Substances tat cause fever
Core Temperature
pyrogens
males have higher bp - until menopause then they are the same
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature

13. State of insufficient oxygen
orthostatic hypertension
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone
60 to 70 mL
hypoxia

14. Gradual return to a normal temperature
crackles
silence as cuff deflates for 30 to 40 mm Hg; common with hypertension and elderly patients
Tall - slender people mayy ave a slower pulse rate than short - stout persons
lysis

15. Why would patients experience orthostatic hypotenstion?
hypertension
thready
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
72 bpm

16. How should respirations be counted?
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
30 seconds and multiplied by 2. unless the person is very sick or has resp. problems you should count for one full minute.
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.
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling

17. How cardiac contractions are normally initiated by the electrical impules emerging from what?
Axillary.
Sinoatrial node (SA NODE)
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
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.

18. Feel
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
palpate
Acute anxiety stimulate the nervous system - raising the pulse.
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures

19. Elderly respiration
hypoxia
16-20
decrease BP - increase pulse rate - cold and clammy skin - dizziness - blurred vision - and apprehension.
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.

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

21. Low oxygen
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
pyrexia
hypoxia
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia

22. How is shock caused?
hemorrhage - vomiting - diarrhea - burns - and myocardial infarctions.
96.5 to 97.5
bradycardia
intermittent

23. Drop in blood pressure when arising to a standing position.
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
pyrexia
low
orthostatic hypertension

24. How does emotional stress raise the body's temperature?
hypoxia
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
The emotions increase hormone secretion - and the body activities required for this increase heat production.

25. Groin area
Femoral
120-139/80-89
higher
Temporal

26. Murmur or swishing sounds that increase as the cuff is deflated
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
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
Korotkoff sounds
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing

27. 3 yr old
20-30
Brachial
systolic pressure indicated by faint - clear sound that gradually grow louder.
pulse deficit - the radial pulse subtracted from the apical pulse equals the pulse deficit.

28. Blood pressure for any adult should be no higher than
The pulse rate increases at the rate of 7-10 beats for each degree of temperature
120/80
Korotkoff sounds Phase II Swishing
apnea

29. Enviromental temperature BP?
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
if its hot bp can lower because of vasodilation. if its cold it can rise because of vasoconstriction.
hypertension
Pulse

30. People most at risk for hypertension
men - African Americans - under a lot of stress - obese
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
Dorsalis pedis

31. Elevated temperature
30-80
fever
crackles
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.

32. Hearing
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 doesn't change in a healthy elderly patient but the pattern rhythm may be slightly irregular.
12-20
ausculatation

33. What affects does aging do to the blood pressure?
The systolic blood pressure rises slightly because the arota and major arteries tend to harden with age. The diastolic pressure rises also.
Pons and Medulla of the brainstem
hypoxia
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.

34. Side of forehead
Temporal
120/70
Increases as body tries to remove excess heat
Apical

35. How does external respiration occur?
Pulse pressure
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
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
pyrogens

36. Gas exchange in the blood occurs where?
in the alveoli - tiny thin-walled sacs
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.
about 1 degree higher than oral temperatures
Biot's

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

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38. How does menstrual cycle and pregnancy raise the body's temperature?
Body temperature drops before ovulation and rises 1 degree above normal during ovulation. During pregnancy the body temperature is slightly higher.
hypertension
Stertor
+2

39. respirations become faster and deeper - then slower and shallower wit a period of apnea - called the death rattle.
pyrogens
Cheyenne-Stokes
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.
97.5 to 99.5

40. A sudden change or muffling of the sound. (indicates diastolic pressure in children and some adults)
Korotkoff sounds Phase IV: Muffling
constant
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
thready

41. When warm skin touches a cool object - heat is lost to the object.
remittent
Conduction
cardiac patients or patients who have had rectal surgery.
Convection

42. Shock - hemorrhage - low cardiac output - inadequate volume of blood?
low BP
Tachypnea
Apical
oximeter

43. Stress & emotions. BP?
higher
Pulse pressure
Crisis
Cheyenne-Stokes

44. 2nd stage of fever is?
intermittent
the BP goes up because more pressure is needed to push the thicker fluid through 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.
blood pressure is lowest in the morning. and higher in the afternoone

45. Crowing sound on inspiration caused by obstruction of the upper air passages - as occurs in croup or laryngitis
20-30
thready
stridor
Stroke volume

46. The temperature falls to normal and then rises again in a repeating pattern.
+1
Relapsing
Pulse pressure
thready

47. What happens to the blood if overhydration occurs?
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
Blood pressure increases because there is more volume of blood in the vascular system.
from drug therapy - a neurologic problem or dehydration.
uncooperative patient - children - combative patients - dementia

48. While measuring the BP certain sounds may be heard that relate to the effect of the blood pressure cuff on the arterial wall.
Kussmaul's respiration
Korotkoff sounds
about 1 degree lower than oral temperatures
Korotkoff sounds Phase III: Knocking

49. Pulse above 100 beats per minute
variation of about 5-10 between arms. and a 10-40 difference in systolic pressure with leg & arm.
Biot's respirations
Crisis
tachycardia

50. Alternating rise and fall of the temperature.
Vascular resistance drops and the blood pressure decreases
16-20
Radial
intermittent