Vital signs Flashcards
Name 5 locations for TEMPERATURE measurement
oral rectal axillary tympanic forehead
Average ORAL temp
98.6 F
Average RECTAL temp
99.6 F
Average AXILLARY temp
97.6 F
Average TYMPANIC temp
99.6 F
What is the normal range for TEMPERATURE (per Seidel, v8, p. 52)
97.2 - 99.9 F
Does this patient have a fever? Adult, oral temp 100.1 F
Yes because its above 100 F (or 37.8 C)
Does this patient have a fever? Adult, inpatient, temp 100.1 F
No because 100.1 F is lower than 38 C
100.1 F = 37.8 C, 100.4 F = 38 C
A mother calls the clinic reporting her child’s rectal temperature is 100.5 - does the child have a fever?
Yes because the temperature is greater than/equal to 100.4 F (or 38 C)
A 55 yo male reports a tympanic temperature of 100.4 F - does this patient have a fever?
No, for adults tympanic temp (and rectal temp) must be > 101 F (or 38.3 C)
Normal RESPIRATION range for ADULTS
12 - 20 breaths per minute
How do you know the BP cuff is the right size?
cuff bladder is 80% circumference of the arm
cuff width is 1/3 - 1/2 length of upper arm
Name 4 mechanisms for heat loss
radiation, vaporization (sweat), conduction (loss via contact - cool rag on forehead), respiration (convection & evaporation)
(I’m adding convection - vasodilation)
not described in book or lecture - info from the internet
Name 3 physiologic factors affecting blood pressure
stroke volume (amount of blood pumped by the LEFT ventricle) heart rate (beats/min) peripheral vascular resistance (can the artery walls expand)
how do you calculate CARDIAC OUTPUT?
stroke volume x heart rate
