Basic Vital Signs Flashcards by Sara Ambrose

Fatigue (define)

A sense of extreme tiredness from mental or physical exertion or illness; subjective (symptom)

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Weakness (define)

A state of losing muscle power from medical or psychosocial cause; objective (sign)

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Alert/conscious (description)

Patient responds fully and appropriately to stimuli

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Confused (description)

Disoriented/impaired thinking and responses but still responds to stimuli

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Delirious (description)

Disoriented, restless, hallucinations, delusions; marked deficit in attention

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Somnolent/lethargic (description)

Sleepy; excessive drowsiness; responds to stimuli with incoherent mumbles or disorganized movements

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Obtunded (description)

Decreased alertness; slowed psychomotor responses; quickly falls asleep

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Stupor (description)

Sleep-like state; responds by grimacing or drawing away from painful stimuli; the patient will immediately lapse back to the unresponsive state

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Comatose (description)

Cannot be aroused; eyes closed; no response to stimuli

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Halitosis (Define)

Bad breath

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BP (Width size)

Cuff bladder width should be 40% of upper arm circumference

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BP (Length size)

Cuff bladder length should be 80% of upper arm circumference

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BP (Cuff positioning)

Artery mark positioned directly over the brachial artery with the bottom edge approximately one inch (2-3 cm) above the AC fold

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Korotkoff Sounds

K-sounds; beats heard as cuff is deflated; 5 phases

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K1 (first phase)

Systolic pressure, first clear “tapping” sound; a sharp “thud”

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K5 (fifth phase)

Diastolic pressure; sounds disappear completely, last sound is the diastolic pressure

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K2 (second phase)

Softer, longer sounds characterized by a blowing or swishing sound

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K3 (third phase)

Sounds become crisper and louder, similar to sounds heard in K1

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K4 (fourth phase)

Softer, muffled sounds due to less turbulent flow; soft blowing sound that disappears; diastolic often mistakenly recorded

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Rate of BP cuff release

No greater than 5 mmHg per second; recommended 2-3 mmHg per second

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Pulse pressure (define)

The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure

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Widened pulse pressure (define)

Difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is greater than 40mmHg

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Pulse pressure (Indication)

Above 30-40mmHg is often indicative of cardiac issues

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Normal temperature

37 C / 98.6 F

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Fever temperature

38 C / 100.4 F

Celsius to Fahrenheit formula

T (F) = ( T (C) * 1.8) + 32

Hypothermia temperature

35 C / 95

Bradypnea

Rate below 12

Tachypnea

Rate above 20, rates above 30 indicate impending critical illness

Cheyne-Stokes breathing (characteristics)

Characterized by progressively deeper and sometimes faster breathing, followed by a gradual decrease that results in temporary apnea

Cheyne-Stokes breathing (conditions)

Seen in elderly, after stokes, trauma, and sometimes CHF

Ataxic breathing (characteristics)

Characterized by unpredictable irregularity with irregular pauses and increasing periods of apnea

Obstructive breathing (characteristics)

Characterized by narrowing of the smaller bronchi and larger bronchioles; problems exhaling

Obstructive breathing (conditions)

Seen in asthma, emphysema, bronchitis

Paradoxical breathing (characteristics)

Characterized by diaphragm moving opposite to the normal directions

Asymmetrical rise and fall (Characteristics)

Characterized by decreased movement of chest wall

Asymmetrical rise and fall (conditions)

Seen in fail chest, myasthenia gravis, etc.

Kussmal breathing (characteristics)

Characterized by deep and labored breathing patterns; a form of hyperventilation

Kussmal breathing (conditions)

Seen in diabetic ketoacidosis and kidney failure

Biot's (characteristics)

Characterized by rapid, short breathing with pauses of several seconds

Biot's (conditions)

Seen with increased intracranial pressure

Agonal breathing (characteristics)

Characterized by gasping, labored breathing accompanied by strange vocalizations

Apneustic (characteristics)

Characterized by prolonged inspiratory phases with each breath, followed by a prolonged expiratory phase that is often mistaken for a apneic period

Orthostatics (time to take supine BP)

Have patient rest up to 10 min

Orthostatics (time to take standing BP)

Measure within 2-5 minutes of standing

Orthostatics (indication of positive)

Systolic drop of 20mmHg or more; diastolic drop of 10mmHg or more; heart rate increase of >20 bpm from supine to standing

Postprandial (define)

After eating

Hypotension (define)

<90/60

Hypertension (diagnosis)

mean of two or more BPs taken after two or more office visits in the seated position

Normotensive

systolic: 90-120 diastolic: 60-80

Pre-HTN

Systolic: 120-139 Diastolic: 80-89

Stage 1 HTN

Systolic: 140-159 Diastolic: 90-99

Stage 2 HTN

Systolic: >/= 160 Diastolic: >/= 100

Pulsus paradoxus (define)

A fall of systolic blood pressure of >10mmHg (UTD states 20mmHg) during inspiratory phase

Pulsus paradoxus (causes)

``` Severe acute asthma Exacerbations of COPD Cardiac tamponade Tension pneumothorax Hypovolemic shock Pulmonary embolism ```

HR variability (description)

Changes in HR in response to stress, time of day, activity levels, emotions; higher HRV is healthier

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 0

Pulse is absent

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 1+

Pulse is diminished/faint (decreased stroke volume)

Causes of 1+ Pulse Rating

Heart failure, hypovolemia, aortic stenosis

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 2+

Pulse is normal

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 3+

Pulse is full

Pulse Amplitude Rating = 4+

Pulse is bounding (increased stroke volume)

Causes of 4+ Pulse Rating

Anemia, hyperthyroidism; calcified blood vessels

BMI formula

``` BMI = Weight (kg)/height (m2) BMI = [Weight (lbs)/height (inches2)] x 703 ```

Most accurate temp method

Rectal

Least accurate temp method

Axillary

Ventilation (define)

The mechanical movement of gas in and out of the lungs

Respiration (define)

Gas exchange - the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

CAGE

Type of alcohol screening

Turgor (description)

Referes to the skin's elasticity. It is the ability of skin to change shape and return to normal.

At what level should the arm be that the BP is taken in?

The heart

Three attributes of HR

Rate, rhythm and amplitude

Seven attributes of symptoms

Location, quality, quantity or severity, timing, setting, provocation factors, and associated manifestations

Three attributes of HR

Rate, rhythm and amplitude

General survey of PE components

Appearance, state of health, demeanor, facial expression, grooming, hygiene, obvious skin lesions, distress, pain, height and weight, behavior, posture and gait

Basic Vital Signs Flashcards

(75 cards)