Vital signs

Question 1

What are the 6 vitals signs

Answer 1

temperature
pulse rate
respiratory rate
oxygen saturation
blood pressure
ACVPU

Question 2

why are the vital signs important

Answer 2

can be used to assess and monitor a patients condition

Question 3

what is NEWS

Answer 3

national early warning socre

scoring system used to aid recognition of acutely ill patients

higher socre=worse condition

Question 4

what is normal body temp

Answer 4

36-37.5

Question 5

what is pyrexia
what is it caused by

Answer 5

fever, over 37.5

Infections, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, medications,
environment, malignancy, metabolic

Question 6

what is hypothermia
what is it caused by

Answer 6

less than 35
* Primary hypothermia secondary to
environment
* Secondary hypothermia secondary to
abnormal event/disease process .eg
sepsis, trauma, MI

Question 7

what is normal resting pulse rate

how can this differ in athletes

Answer 7

60-100bpm

commonly lower

Question 8

what is tachycardia

what is it caused by

Answer 8

more than 100bpm

Anxiety, exercise, fever,
medication, hypovolaemia,
cardiac conditions, metabolic/endocrine condition

Question 9

what is bradycardia

what is it caused by

Answer 9

less than 60bpm

Athletes, medication, heart
block, raised intracranial
pressure

Question 10

how is pulse rate measured

Question 11

what 4 things do you look for when measuring pulse

Answer 11

• rate
• rhythm
• volume
• character

Question 12

what is normal respiratory rate

Answer 12

12-20 breaths/min

Question 13

what is tachypnoea
what is it caused by

Answer 13

rate higher than normal limit
Primary respiratory
conditions, Acute illness, Cardiac conditions, Pain,
Anxiety, Exercise, Fever

Question 14

what is bradypnoea
what is it caused by

Answer 14

Rate lower than normal limit
Head injury/CNS
depression,
Sedation, Opioids

Question 15

how is respiratory rate measured

Question 16

what is the normal pattern of respiration

Question 17

what is peak flow and why do we measure it

Question 18

how is peak flow measured

Question 19

how do you measure oxygen saturation

Answer 19

pulse oximetry probe

Question 20

how does a pulse oximetry probe work

Answer 20

monitors the % of haemoglobin in arterial blood that is oxygen saturated

Question 21

what is normal oxygen saturation

Answer 21

more than or equal to 96%

Question 22

patients at risk of hypercapnia have oxygen saturations of what

which patients are at riks of hypercapnia

Answer 22

88-92%

COPD, some neuromuscular disorders, morbid obesity

Question 23

what is normal blood pressure

Answer 23

120/80mmHg

Question 24

how do we measure blood pressure

Question 25

how might you act on an abnormal blood pressure reading

Question 26

explain how you measure blood pressure

Answer 26

1. Explain procedure and obtain consent 2. Apply correct size cuff 3. Palpate radial or brachial pulse 4. Inflate cuff til pulse disappears- this is estimated systolic pressure 5. Deflate cuff fully. Re-inflate cuff to 20-30mmHg above estimated pressure 6. Place diaphragm of stethoscope over brachial pulse. Deflate cuff at 2mmHg/second listening for first sounds (systolic pressure) 7. Continue to slowly deflate til sounds disappear (diastolic pressure)

Question 27

what is the capillary refill test used for

Answer 27

to assess the amount of blood flow to tissues

Question 28

explain the capillary refill time test

Answer 28

* Apply pressure to the nail bed for 5 secs * As blood is forced from the tissue it turns white (blanches) * Release the pressure and count how long in seconds it take for the tissue to turn pink. * Delayed return is an indication dehydration/shock

Question 29

what is ACVPU

Answer 29

scale used to assess a patient's consciousness level

Question 30

what does ACVPU stand for

Answer 30

Alert- pt fully awake, eyes open and orientated to time person and place, able to follow commands Confusion- pt awake but signs of acute/new confusion, may not be orientated to time person or place Voice - eyes don't open spontaneously but open to verbal stimuli Pain- pt doesn't respond to voice but responds to physical stimulus, by opening their eyes or calling out - first shake and shout then use painful stimulus e.g. squeeze shoulder Unresponsive- pt doesn't respond to any stimuli