Vitals

Question 1

What are the 5 vital signs?

Answer 1

1. Pulse
2. Blood pressure
3. Respirations
4. Temperature
5. Tobacco use

Question 2

How should the patient be positioned when taking vitals?

Answer 2

Upright
Eye level
Legs uncrossed
Not talking, staying still

Question 3

What are the factors that influence pulse rate?

Answer 3

-age
-medications
-stress
-exercise

Question 4

We assess the _______ artery when taking the pulse.

Answer 4

radial

Question 5

How many fingers do we use when assessing a patients pulse?

Answer 5

Two; index and middle finger

Question 6

Tachycardia

Answer 6

beats per minute >100

Question 7

Bradycardia

Answer 7

beats per minute <60

Question 8

What is the normal range of pulse for adults?

Answer 8

60-100

Question 9

Describe how we assess respirations

Answer 9

While still holding the patient wrist, count the number of times the chest rises and falls for 30 seconds X 2, or 1 minute if irregular *DO NOT INFORM PATIENT YOU ARE TAKING RESPIRATIONS

Question 10

What are the factors that influence respirations?

Answer 10

-age
-medication
-stress
-exercise
-altitude
-gender (sex)
-body position
-fever

Question 11

Tachynpnea

Answer 11

rapid, shallow breathing
respiration rate greater than 20 per minute

Question 12

Hyperpnea

Answer 12

aka hyperventilation
rapid, deep breathing
can be caused by exercise, anxiety, metabolic acidosis

Question 13

Bradynpea

Answer 13

slow breathing
decreased rate and depth
diabetic coma commonly the cause

Question 14

Which conditions may cause obstructive breathing?

Answer 14

-asthma
-COPD
-obstructive bronchitis

Question 15

What is the range of respiratory rates for newborns?

Answer 15

30-60

Question 16

What is the range of respiratory rates for children?

Answer 16

14-26

Question 17

What is the range of respiratory rates for adults?

Answer 17

12-20

Question 18

Hypotension

Answer 18

abnormally low blood pressure
systolic <90; diastolic <60

Question 19

Hypertension

Answer 19

abnormally high blood pressure
systolic >130; diastolic >80

Question 20

List the factors affecting blood pressure

Answer 20

-time of day
-position
-eating
-exercise
-stress
-tobacco
-coffee/alcohol
-pain
-temperature

Question 21

Systolic

Answer 21

peak of highest pressure; caused by ventricular contraction
normal is around 120mmHg

Question 22

Diastolic

Answer 22

lowest pressure; ventricular relaxation
normal is less than 80 mmHg

Question 23

The difference between the systolic and diastolic is the _____.

Answer 23

pulse

Question 24

When can an electronic blood pressure machine not be used?

Answer 24

-irregular heart rate
-peripheral vascular obstruction
-shivering
-excessive tremors
-inability to cooperate
-systolic less than 90 Hg

Question 25

How do we determine the MIL (maximum inflation level)

Answer 25

locate the radial pulse, pump cuff until radial pulse disappears *determining MIL prevent ausculatory gap

Question 26

We pump ____ beyond the MIL to obtain blood pressure

Answer 26

20-30 mmHg

Question 27

We dismiss patients at MCCC with a blood pressure reading of….

Answer 27

160/100 *needs a medical clearance

Question 28

What are normal blood pressure reading

Answer 28

systolic <120 diastolic <80

Question 29

What are hypertension stage 1 readings?

Answer 29

systolic 130-139 diastolic 80-89

Question 30

What are hypertension stage 2 readings

Answer 30

systolic >140 diastolic >90 *or equal to those numbers

Question 31

What are some lifestyle modifications for hypertension management?

Answer 31

-weight loss -dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) -dietary sodium intake -physical activity -moderate alcohol consumption

Question 32

What are the factors that may increase temperature?

Answer 32

-time of day -exercise -age -environment -stress -tobacco use -hot/cold liquids -infections -hormones

Question 33

A decrease in temperature may be caused by what?

Answer 33

-rapid breathing (tachypnea) -starvation -hemorrhage -physiological shock

Question 34

We dismiss patients in our clinic with a temperature reading of what?

Answer 34

100.4 degrees fahrenheit