Vital Signs Test

Question 1

List the “vital signs” (in order)

Answer 1

1. Temperature (T)
2. Heart Rate / Pulse (HR)
3. Respiratory Rate (RR)
4. Blood Pressure (BP)

Question 2

What is the abbreviation for “vital signs”?

Answer 2

VS

Question 3

What are the temperature ranges for the following sites:
* Oral (under tongue)
* Axillary (armpit)
* Rectal (rectum)
* Tympanic (ear)
* Temporal (forehead)

Answer 3

• Oral: 97.6 - 99.6
• Axillary: 96.6 - 98.6
• Rectal: 98.6 - 100.6
• Tympanic: 96.6 - 99.7
• Temporal: 97.2 - 100.1

Question 4

Why should you NOT take an oral temperature?

Answer 4

You should NOT take an oral temperature if the patient:
* is unconscious
* is under 5 yrs old
* has had recent facial or oral surgery
* is confused or disoriented
* is heavily sedated
* is likely to have a seizure
* is coughing
* is using oxygen
* has facial paralysis
* has a nasogastric tube (feeding tube)
* has sores, redness, swelling, or pain in the mouth
* has an injury to the face or neck
* trouble breathing through nose

Question 5

When should you NOT take a rectal temperature?

Answer 5

• if patient refuses
• resident is uncooperative
• resident has dementia

Question 6

how deep should a rectal thermometer be inserted?

Answer 6

only 1/2 - 1 inch

Question 7

What is a “fever”?

Answer 7

Temperature above normal range

Question 8

What is a temperature above normal range?

Answer 8

fever

Question 9

What is the term for without fever?

Answer 9

afebrile

Question 10

You should wait 10-20 minutes to take an oral temperature if a patient has done what things?

Answer 10

…just eaten, smoked, or chewed gum.

Question 11

What is the definition of “pulse” ?

Answer 11

the number of heartbeats per minute

Question 12

What is the pulse site used most often?

Answer 12

radial artery

Question 13

Where is the radial artery located?

Answer 13

inside the wrist, below the thumb

Question 14

List 3 common pulse sites (other than the radial artery)

Answer 14

Common Pulse Sites:
* temporal pulse (artery)
* carotid pulse
* apical pulse
* brachial pulse
* (radial pulse)
* femoral pulse
* popliteal pulse
* pedal pulse (Dorsalis pedis pulse)

Question 15

What is the normal pulse rate for adults?

Answer 15

60-100 bpm

Question 16

What is the term for a rapid heart rate (pulse)?

Answer 16

tachycardia

Question 17

What is the term for a slow heart rate (pulse)?

Answer 17

bradycardia

Question 18

List three terms to describe a difficult to feel pulse.

Answer 18

• weak
• thready
• feeble

Question 19

List three terms to describe a pulse that is easy to feel.

Answer 19

• strong
• bounding
• prominent

Question 20

How long should you take a pulse for (as required for state testing)?

Answer 20

1 full minute (60 seconds)

Question 21

Two reasons you would be expected to take an apical pulse

Answer 21

• to listen for regularity
• to compare to another site

Question 22

What is one respiration?

Answer 22

A breath in and out. One respiration consists of one inspiration (breath in) and one expiration (breath out).

Question 23

What is the normal range for respiratory rate?

Answer 23

12-20 breaths per minute

Question 24

Describe what normal respirations look like.

Answer 24

unlabored

Question 25

Describe what normal respirations sound like.

Answer 25

quiet

Question 26

What does the root word "pnea" mean?

Answer 26

breathing

Question 27

What does "tachypnea" mean?

Answer 27

rapid breathing

Question 28

What does "bradypnea" mean?

Answer 28

slow breathing

Question 29

What does the prefix "dys" mean?

Answer 29

difficult

Question 30

What does "dyspnea" mean?

Answer 30

difficulty breathing

Question 31

What does the prefix "a" mean?

Answer 31

without

Question 32

What does "apnea" mean?

Answer 32

a period of not breathing

Question 33

What is the word for a period of not breathing?

Answer 33

apnea

Question 34

What is the term for blue skin or lips?

Answer 34

cyanotic

Question 35

What is the definition of blood pressure?

Answer 35

It is the measurement that shows how well the heart is working. It consists of the two readings of pressure in the arteries -- systolic and diastolic.

Question 36

What do systolic and diastolic readings indicate?

Answer 36

**Systolic** indicates contraction of the left ventricle and highest pressure in the arteries. **Diastolic** indication relaxation of the heart and the lowest pressure in the arteries.

Question 37

Classify this BP 119 — 79

Answer 37

Normal BP

Question 38

What is the range for **normal** blood pressure?

Answer 38

Systolic less than 120 AND Diastolic less than 80

Question 39

What is the range for **elevated** blood pressure?

Answer 39

Systolic between 120-129 AND Diastolic less than 80

Question 40

Classify this blood pressure 120 — 79

Answer 40

Elevated BP

Question 41

Classify this blood pressure 129 — 61

Answer 41

Elevated BP

Question 42

What is the range for hypotensive (low) blood pressure?

Answer 42

Systolic less than 90 or Diastolic less than 60