VITAL SIGNS – STUDY GUIDE – Flashcards
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What are the vital signs?
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Temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure
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What does temperature measures?
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Interior body heat. The heat balance betwen the amount of heat produce and amount of heat loss for the body
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List factors that affect temperature
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Age, outside temperature, exercise, emotions, medications,gender,illness, pregnancy, mestrual cycle
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Named the 5 methods of taking temperature
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Oral, rectal, axillary, tympanic (aural), temporal artery
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What is the normal temperature of each method?
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Oral = 98.6F Rectal = 99.6F Axillary = 97.6F Tympanic = 99.6F Temporal = 99.6F
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How long does each method take?
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Aprox. 10 seconds
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What is the main difference between a rectal and oral thermometer?
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Rectal is RED Oral is BLUE
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List situation in wich a rectal temperature is preferred over the oral method:
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Infants and young children, unconscious patients, mouth breathing patientesnand when required the most accurate temperature in the body
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List situation in which an axillary temperature should be taken:
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In childrens younger than 6 years, uncooperative patients, and patients who are unable to have their temperatures taken orally or rectal.
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A temperature should be reported
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Higher than 101F and lower than 97F
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What does the pulse measure?
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The beat of the heart beat felt at the artery. "Pulsating waves that travels from the aorta through the walls of the arterial system.
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What is reported when taking a pulse?
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The heart rate
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Name the pulse point and name give their locations
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Radial=Wrist Brachial= Elbow Carotid= Neck Temporal= Side of the head Femoral= Groin Popliteal= back of the knee Posterior Tibial= In the back of the ankle Dorsalis Pedis= upper surface of foot
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List factors that affect the pulse
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Age Emotion Stress Fever Medication Pain
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What is pulse deficit
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The difference between the Apical and Radial or another pulse point.
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Decribe how to take a Apical pulse and list reasons for using it
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Stethoscope place over heart over chest. Loistening and counting the heart beat for one full minute
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Define Tachycardia
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A fast heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute
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Define Bradycardia
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Slow heart beat. Less than 60 beats/ min
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A pulse should be reported
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higher than 100 beats and less than 60 beats/ per min
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Define respiration
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Movement of air in and out of the lungs. It's a change of oxygen and CO2
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List and explain five abnormal types of respiration
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Tachypnea > 20 repirations per min Bradypena= Less than 12 resp/min Hypernea= increase in rate in depth Hyperventilation= fast and deep. Hypopnea= abnoral decrease in rate and depth
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Define Dyspnea
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(SOB) Shortness of breath
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Define Apnea
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Absence of breath "Apneotic Episode"
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What does the blood pressure measure?
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Measurement of the forces exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries.
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What does the Systolic preasure?
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Contration phrase of the heart beat. That is the maxium force out 100-120 (140)
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what does the diastolic pressure measure
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The relaxation phrase of the heart beat minium force 60-80 (90)
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Name the instruments used to measure blood pressure
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Stethoscope, Sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)
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Name and explain the two types of BP Cuffs
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Anaeroid- Portable easliy attached to the Pt and The Mercury Bar. Which attached to the Pt wall
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What is the most common artery to measure the BP?
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The Brachial
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What postion should the Pt arm be when taking BP?
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Palms up and relaxed and no higher than the heart.
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What is the normal range for the BP reading?
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Systolic 100-120 (140) Diastolic 60-80 (90)
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How fast is the pressure release from the cuff when meassuring BP?
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2 mm/ sec
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What happens if the Pt's arm cannot used to take the BP?
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Use the cuff on Popliteal
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What determines if a blood pressure should be reported to the doctor?
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If too high or too low
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Describe how to take a blood pressure
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xxxx
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Why would vital sighs be taken every 15 minutes on a Patient?
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Post Operative , Post Child Birth, and Trama
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If you must repeat BP procedure, how long do you wait in between?
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Two minutes to allow arteral blood flow to return to normal
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Define Hypotention
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Low BP reduces blood pressure on the walls of the arteries
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Define Hypertention
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High BP excessive pressure on the walls of the arteries
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Define the word Palpate
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To fell for something ( Veins and gut)
