Vital Signs Flashcards
(21 cards)
What are the vital or cardinal signs?
Body temperature Pulse Respirations Blood Pressure (Arguments are being made for pain).
Why are vital signs important in patient care?
Changes can occur quickly or slowly.
May indicate a change in your patient’s condition (immediate or progressive).
True or False. A patient’s normal baseline may be abnormal vital signs.
True.
Consider patient history.
What are the six purposes of a vital sign assessment?
- Provide a health status of patient.
- Help you create a care plan for patient.
- Determine if treatments are effective.
- Assist in modifying or changing treatment plans accordingly.
- Routine part of a physical assessment of patient.
- Help problem solve/understand situation patient is facing.
When should you take vital signs?
- Initial patient admission.
- Before and after an invasive or surgical procedure.
- When there is a change in a patient’s condition, e.g. increase in pain.
- Standards of Practice or institutional policy.
- Before and after medication administration or therapy that may affect cardiovascular, respiratory and temperature control functions.
- Patient complains of physical distress.
What are the guidelines for measuring vital signs prior to starting the assessment?
- Equipment used works & appropriate for size & age of patient.
- Have an idea of patient’s baseline vital signs.
- Medical history and history of present illness of patient**.
- Control and minimize environment conditions that may affect patients vital signs if possible.
What are the guidelines for measuring vital signs for how you do the assessment?
- Organized and systematic approach.
- Introduce yourself and approach in calm and caring manner.
- Demonstrate proficiency and confidence in handling equipment to be used.
- Communicate with patient and explain the techniques and procedures to be utilized during the assessment.
What are the guidelines for measuring vital signs for immediately after you do the assessment?
- Record all data accurately and appropriately.
9. Compare vital signs to previous records if possible and look for any outliers.
What is body temperature?
Body temperature reflects the balance between the heat produced and the heat lost by the body.
What is the normal body temperature range?
Normal body temperature ranges from 36.1C to 37.2C.
Above what temperature is hyperthermia or fever?
Above 37.2C
Below what temperature is hypothermia?
Below 36.1C
What two kinds of body temperature can be measured?
Core temperature: Refers to the temperature of the deep tissue of the body, such as the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.
Surface temperature: refers to the temperature of the skin, subcutaneous tissue and fat.
What is the body’s normal core temperature? Stable?
Normal Core Temperature is ~37C. Typically relatively constant unless exposed to extreme heat and cold.
How does the body’s surface temperature behave?
Rises and falls in response to the environment.
Body continually creates heat as a by product of metabolism.
What factors affect the body’s heat production?
Basal Metabolic Rate Muscle Activity Throxine Output Strong Emotions Fever/Disease Condition Changes in atmospheric temperature
What factors affect the body’s heat loss?
Radiation Conduction Convection Evaporation Respiration through the lungs Through the Kidneys Through the Bowels Sleep Fasting Prolonged exposure to cold
What three main parts in the body regulate its temperature?
Three Main parts in the body system that regulates body temperature:
Temperature sensors in the skin and core.
Most sensors are in the skin. There are more cold receptors than warm. As such the body detects cold more efficiently.
The hypothalamus (located in the brain) which interprets the signals from the sensors and sends out the appropriate instructions to the body.
Effector system that adjusts the production and loss of heat
What three main physiological processes does the body use to increase its temperature?
Shivering – increase heat production through muscle activity.
Sweating – is inhibited to decrease heat loss.
Vasoconstriction – decreases heat loss.
What role does the hypothalamus play in control of body temperature?
Centre of temperature control in the body
When heat is detected by the body the hypothalamus sends out signals to the body to decrease its overall temperature.
When cold is detected by the body, the hypothalamus sends out signals to the body to increase its overall temperature.
What factors affects the body’s temperature?
Age Diurnal Variations Exercise Stress Hormones Environment
