Vitals Flashcards

Learning abbreviations related to vital signs, and understanding the structure and meaning of acronyms.

1
Q

Artery

A

Blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body.

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2
Q

Axilla

armpit

A

A cavity below the connection between the arm and shoulder

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3
Q

Intracranial Pressure

ICP

A

Pressure inside the brain/skull.

Normal value = 7-15mmHg.

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4
Q

Non-invasive

A
  1. not requiring the introduction of instruments into the body
  2. (of a cancerous disease) not tending to spread.
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5
Q

Pallor

A

Decreased oxygenation or reduced redness in skin appearance (Pale skin)

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6
Q

Palpable

A

Able to be touched or felt, usually with the hand

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7
Q

What is being measured for vs?

vitals or vital signs

A

temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure (T, P, R, BP).

Ex: A nurse would write {99-87-16 167/110}.

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8
Q

Pulse Rate

A

number of heart beats per minute.

normal range = 60-100

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9
Q

Respiration Rate

RPM or rr

A

number of breaths a patient takes per minute

normal range = 16-20

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10
Q

Where can body temperature be measured?

A

measured in the mouth, ear, axilla, or rectum

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11
Q

What is considered normal body temperature?

temp or t

A

98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

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12
Q

Febrile

A

an elevation of body temperature above the normal temperature

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13
Q

Hypothermia

A

body temperature below normal range due to an exposure to cold, failure of body mechanisms to control heat loss, or treatment that purposefully lower body temp to decrease metabolism.

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14
Q

Hyperthermia

A

**prolonged **elevation of body temperature to above normal range due to prolonged exposure to heat (heat exhaustion or heat stroke) with the inability to dissipate (or release) heat.

Different than fever which is caused by your body’s normal response to fighting an infection or illness.

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15
Q

Difference between thready or bounding pulse?

pulse amplitude refers to how strong, forceful, or full the pulse is.

A
  • Thready pulse is typically weak or quick and a perceptible pulse is difficult.
  • Bounding pulse is full or stronger than normal.
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16
Q

Tachycardia

A

pulse rate is faster than normal

17
Q

Bradycardia

A

pulse rate is too slow

18
Q

Where are pulse sites

A

radial (wrist), carotid (neck), brachial (arm), apical (chest), femoral, popliteal (under knee), posterior tibial (ankle), and dorsalis pedis arteries (foot)

19
Q

Dyspnea

shortness of breath (SOB)

A

difficulty or unable to breathe well or breathe in enough air or oxygen

20
Q

Apnea

A

periods of breathing temporially stopping

common in sleep aka sleep apnea

21
Q

Pulse Oximetry

5th vital sign (pulse ox)

A

testing method for monitoring oxygen level (peripheral capillary oxygen saturation or saturation of peripheral oxygen) of the blood

written and verbal: Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen (stats) = SpO2.

22
Q

Blood pressure

BP

A

measures the pressure of blood flow on the walls of the arteries.

23
Q

What are the types of blood pressure?

A
  1. Systolic (top number): measures the pressure when your heart beats (left ventricle contracts) and blood moves out
  2. Diastolic (bottom number): measures the pressure when your heart rest in between beats and blood is fills the heart.

Ex: 90-140 (systolic) / 60-90 (diastolic) = normal range

24
Q

Orthostatic hypotension

postural hypotension

A

a condition in which your blood pressure suddenly drops when you stand up from a seated or lying position.

Orthostatic means an upright posture. Hypotension is low blood pressure.