Vital Signs

Question 1

Vital Signs include

Answer 1

Temp
Pulse/ Pulse Ox
Respiration
Blood Pressure

Question 2

Who orders the frequency of vitals?
Can a nurse take vital signs at any time?

Answer 2

MD orders frequency of vitals
Yes, a nurse can take vital signs at any time

Question 3

Normal Oral Temperature

Answer 3

97 to 100 degrees

Question 4

Most accurate body temperature

Answer 4

Rectal

Question 5

Neutropenic

Answer 5

Low WBC

Question 6

How does body temperature maintain normal/ core temp?

Answer 6

Heat production has to equal heat loss to maintain normal temp

Question 7

How does body lose heat?

Answer 7

Through skin and lungs
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Evaporation (Sweat and Fever)

Question 8

What happens to the core temperature the older you get?

Answer 8

Core temperature gets lower

Question 9

Factors that affect body temp

Answer 9

Age
Environment
Time of Day
Exercise
Stress
Hormones

Question 10

Normal Temp Ranges
Oral
Axillary
Rectal
Tympanic

Answer 10

Oral -97-100 F
Rectal- 98-101 F
Tympanic- 97-100 F
Axillary- 96-99 F

Question 11

How long should an apical pulse be listened to?

Answer 11

One full minute

Question 12

What do pulses check for?

Answer 12

Circulation

Question 13

What can happen to your heart rate the older you get?

Answer 13

Heart rate can increase

Question 14

Bradycardia

Answer 14

< 60 BPM

Question 15

Tachycardia

Answer 15

> 100 BPM

Question 16

Apical Radial Rate

Answer 16

where 2 nurses check pulse for 1 min at the same time
One nurse checks apical
One nurse checks radial
If pulse deficit is greater than 10 BPM, it indicates a problem

Question 17

Person should be lie flat w/ respiratory distress. T or F

Answer 17

Person should never be lied flat

Question 18

Normal adult respiration rate

Answer 18

12-20/ min

Question 19

tachypnea

Answer 19

rapid respiratory rate, more than 20 breaths per min

Question 20

bradypnea

Answer 20

slow respiratory rate, less than 12 breaths per min

Question 21

normal respiratory rate and depth

Answer 21

Eupnea

Question 22

Abnormal breathing patterns

Answer 22

BIOTs ( random periods of shallow breath and apnea) NEURO PROBS
Cheyne- Stokes (cyclic periods of increased shallow breaths and apnea) HEART FAILURE, OD
Kussmal (deep, rapid respirations (acidosis/ renal failure)

Question 23

A harsh inspiratory sound due to obstruction that may be compared to crowing/ upper respiratory

Answer 23

Stridor

Question 24

wheezing is an

Answer 24

Adventitious breath sound

Question 25

Dyspnea

Answer 25

Difficulty breathing

Question 26

What can happen to blood pressure as you age?

Answer 26

Arteries become less elastic and extra fluid volume can increase BP

Question 27

Normal systolic BP

Answer 27

Below 130

Question 28

Normal Diastolic BP

Answer 28

Below 85

Question 29

High Normal BPs

Answer 29

Systolic- 130-139 Diastolic - 85- 89

Question 30

Orthostatic Hypotension

Answer 30

a condition that causes a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up or sitting down

Question 31

Doppler ultrasounds will only get which BP reading

Answer 31

Systolic readings

Question 32

Important things for taking BP

Answer 32

Feet on floor/ uncross feet Arm supported by pillow Proper Cuff size

Question 33

Are pain assessments subjective?

Answer 33

YES; Pain can be assessd at any time

Question 34

Can nurses delegate vital signs?

Answer 34

Yes