General Assessment and Vital Signs Flashcards
(50 cards)
what is the traditional examination position?
patients right side
-for JVD assessment, PMI, and hidden left kidney
PMI
point of maximal impulse of the heart
two types of exams?
comprehensive and problem-focused
comprehensive exam?
new patient, annual PE, general exam of all alreas
problem-focused exam?
established patients, specific concerns, routine or urgent exam
subjective
what the patient tells you
-history, from chief complaint through ROS
objective
what you collect during your physical exam of the patient
-inspect, palpate, auscultate, percuss
core vitals?
blood pressure
heart rate and rhythm
respiratory rate and rhythm
temperature
additional vitals
height and weight
BMI
SaO2
Pain Level
BMI?
body mass index
weight (kg) / height (m*2)
what does the bell of the stethoscope hear?
low frequency
what does the diaphragm of the stethoscope hear?
high frequency
size of BP cuff?
width 40% of upper arm
length 80% of upper arm circumference
where to take blood pressure?
left arm at heart level
-patient sits at least 5 minutes
**patient should avoid smoking and caffeine (30 minutes)
exception for changing side of BP?
history of axillary node dissection on left side
where should the blood pressure cuff be?
one inch above antecubital crease
two types of blood pressures?
palpatory and ausculatory
palpatory blood pressure?
brachial or radial artery
palpatory pressure is when inflate cuff and pulse disappears
-can also deflate and return pulse return
add 30 to the number and use as future inflation target**
-avoids pain and auscultatory gap
auscultatory gap
silent episode between systolic and diastolic endpoints
might get a silent systolic
auscultory blood pressure
can use bell or diaphragm
kortokoff sounds
low pitched and are the turbulent flow during BP measure
average BP?
two measurements and 2 minutes between readings
more than 10mm difference - check again
pathology in bilateral BP?
difference greater than 10-15 mmHg
normal BP?
less than 120 / less than 80
