vital signs

Question 1

vital signs

Answer 1

• shows response to physical, physiological, medical, and nursing treatments
• baseline, shows changes to patient’s normal

Question 2

normal body temp range

Answer 2

96.8-100.4 F

36-38 C

Question 3

other names for fever

Answer 3

febrile

pyrexia

Question 4

what age group usually has lower temps?

Answer 4

elderly (fevers may look different)

Question 5

what regulates the body’s temperature?

Answer 5

hypothalamus

Question 6

what increases temperature in a woman?

Answer 6

ovulation

Question 7

what two age groups have less control over their temperature?

Answer 7

the old and the young

Question 8

hyperthermia

Answer 8

heat exhaustion or heat stroke (elderly are more susceptible) - vasodilation

Question 9

hypothermia

Answer 9

body temperature less than 95F or 35C - vasoconstriction

Question 10

symptoms of fever

Answer 10

• chills
• malaise
• increased metabolism (increased oxygen, fluid, and nutrition needs)

Question 11

pulse

Answer 11

reflects functioning of cardiovascular system

Question 12

pulse is an indirect measure of what?

Answer 12

cardiac output

Question 13

normal range for pulse

Answer 13

60-100 bpm

Question 14

normal strength for a pulse

Answer 14

+2/4

Question 15

bradycardia

Answer 15

pulse less than 60

Question 16

tachycardia

Answer 16

pulse greater than 100

Question 17

what do you look at a pulse for?

Answer 17

• rate
• rhythm
• strength
• equality
• elasticity

Question 18

what does bleeding do to a pulse?

Answer 18

bleeding will increase a pulse at first, the the BP will drop and the pulse will follow

Question 19

normal rate for respirations

Answer 19

12-20

Question 20

eupnea

Answer 20

normal breathing

Question 21

dyspnea

Answer 21

labored or difficulty breathing

Question 22

bradypnea

Answer 22

respiration rate less than 12

Question 23

tachypnea

Answer 23

respiration rate greater than 20

Question 24

what can affect the movements of the chest wall?

Answer 24

• pregnancy
• obesity - decrease lung volume
• ms abnormalities - kyphosis
• trauma
• chronic disease - COPD or emphysema

Question 25

is inspiration an active or passive process?

Answer 25

active

Question 26

is expiration an active or passive process?

Answer 26

passive

Question 27

surfactant

Answer 27

chemical for surface tension - absent in premature babies

Question 28

ventilation

Answer 28

amount of air inhaled per day

Question 29

perfusion

Answer 29

supply organs with oxygenated blood

Question 30

atelectasis

Answer 30

collapse alveoli prevent exchange

Question 31

what is hyperventilation?

Answer 31

more ventilation required to maintain levels of CO2

Question 32

what causes hyperventilation?

Answer 32

stress and anxiety

Question 33

what do you do for hyperventilation?

Answer 33

- slow down breathing | - breath into a bag to rebreath CO2

Question 34

cardiac output equation

Answer 34

CO = SV x HR

Question 35

what is cardiac output?

Answer 35

amount of blood the heart ejects each minute

Question 36

what is stroke volume?

Answer 36

amount of blood the heart ejects during systole

Question 37

what is hypoventilation?

Answer 37

inadequate ventilation to meet O2 demand or remove enough CO2

Question 38

what causes hypoventilation?

Answer 38

- lung disease - collapse alveoli - too much O2 to COPD pts

Question 39

what creates ventilatory drive in healthy patients?

Answer 39

increased CO2

Question 40

what creates a ventilatory drive in COPD patients?

Answer 40

decreased O2

Question 41

orthopnea

Answer 41

difficulty breathing while laying down

Question 42

hemoptysis

Answer 42

bloody sputum

Question 43

what kind of medication suppress breathing?

Answer 43

pain meds

Question 44

what is a pneumothorax?

Answer 44

air of fluid in the pleural space

Question 45

what is a hemothorax?

Answer 45

blood in the pleural space

Question 46

what are the symptoms of pneumothorax and hemothorax?

Answer 46

- pain - dyspnea - shock (expect a chest tube)

Question 47

what sounds do you hear with blood pressure?

Answer 47

korotkoff sounds

Question 48

how should the pt be positioned for blood pressure?

Answer 48

pt should be relaxed with arm at the level of the heart

Question 49

what is a direct measurement of oxygen in the blood?

Answer 49

blood gas measurement

Question 50

what is an indirect measurement of oxygen in the blood?

Answer 50

pulse oximetry

Question 51

what should a pulse ox be above

Answer 51

90

Question 52

what can interfere with a pulse ox reading?

Answer 52

- movement - jaundice - dark nail polish - outside light

Question 53

is oxygen a drug?

Answer 53

yes

Question 54

when do you suppress a cough?

Answer 54

only if it disrupts sleep

Question 55

what do you want to know about a cough?

Answer 55

- chronic or recent? | - productive or nonproductive?

Question 56

what is hypoxia?

Answer 56

decreased levels of O2 throughout the body

Question 57

what is hypoxemia?

Answer 57

decreased levels of O2 in the blood

Question 58

what is a late sign of hypoxia?

Answer 58

cyanosis