Vital Signs
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| Define temperature. | Measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced.
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| Define volume. | Strength of the pulse.
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| Define apical pulse. | Pulse taken at the apex of the heart with a stethoscope.
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| Define respirations. | Measurement of breaths taken by a patient.
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| Define stethoscope. | Instrument used to take apical pulse.
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| Define pulse. | Pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery.
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| Define rhythm. | Regularity of the pulse or respirations.
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| Define rate. | Number of beats per minute.
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| Define blood pressure. | Measurement of the force exerted by the heart against arterial walls.
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| Define vital signs. | Various determinations that provide information about body conditions.
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| List the four main vital signs. | Temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.
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| Why is it essential that vital signs are measured accurately? | Because they are often the first indication of a disease or abnormality in a patient.
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| Identify four common sites in the body where temperature can be measured. | Mouth (oral), rectum (rectal), armpit (axillary), and ear (aural).
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| List three factors recorded about a pulse. | Rate, rhythm, and volume.
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| What three factors are noted about a pulse? | Respiration count, the rhythm (regularity), the character (type) of respirations are noted.
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| Identify the two readings noted on a blood pressure. | Systolic and diastolic.
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| List three times you may have to take an apical pulse. | Because of illness, hardening of the arteries, and a weak or rapid radial pulse.
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| What should you do if you note any abnormality or change in any vital sign? | Report this immediately to your supervisor.
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| What should you do if you are not able to obtain a correct reading for vital sign? | Ask another individual to check the patient.
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| What formula do you use to convert Fahrenheit temperatures to Celsius temperatures? | C = (F - 32) x 0.5556
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| What formula do you use to convert Celsius temperatures to Fahrenheit temperatures? | F = (C x 1.8) + 32
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| List three main reasons why temperature may vary. | Individual differences, time of day, and body sites.
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| The normal range for body temperature is __ to __ degrees. | 97 to 100
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| A normal oral temperature is __ degrees. The clinical thermometer is left in place for __ minutes. | 97.6 - 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit, 3 - 5 minutes.
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| A normal rectal temperature is __ degrees. The clinical thermometer is left in place for __ minutes. | 98.6 - 100.6 degrees Fahrenheit, 3 - 5 minutes.
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| A normal axillary temperature is __ degrees. The clinical thermometer is left in place for __ minutes. | 96.6 - 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, 10 minutes.
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| What is the most accurate method for taking a temperature? Why? | Rectal temperatures, because this is an internal measurement.
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| What is the least accurate method for taking a temperature? Why? | Axillary temperatures, because this is an external measurement.
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| What is an aural temperature? | A temperature taken with a special tympanic thermometer that is placed in the ear or auditory canal.
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| How does an aural thermometer measure temperature? | The thermometer detects and measures the thermal, infrared energy radiating from blood vessels in the tympanic membrane, or eardrum.
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| What is the difference between hyperthermia and hypothermia? | Hypothermia is a low body temperature, below 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 degrees Celsius. Hyperthermia occurs when the body temperature exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius measured rectally.
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| List two ways you can tell a rectal clinical thermometer from an oral clinical thermometer. | A clinical thermometer consists of a slender glass tube containing mercury or alcohol with red dye, which expands when exposed to heat. The oral clinical thermometer has a long, slender bulb or a blue tip.
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| How can you prevent cross contamination while using the probe of an electronic thermometer? | A person should change the disposable cover on the electronic thermometer after each use.
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| How do plastic or paper thermometers register body temperature? | They have chemical dots that change color to register body temperature.
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| Why is it important to ask patients if they have had anything to eat or drink or if they have smoked before taking an oral temperature? | Because if they did any one of these things could alter the temperature in the mouth.
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| How long should a thermometer soak in a disinfectant (after cleaning) before it is safe to rinse in cold water and use on a patient? | A minimum of thirty minutes.
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| The three factors that must be noted about each and every pulse are. | Rate, rhythm, and volume of the pulse.
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| What is the normal pulse range for adults? | 60 - 100 beats per minute.
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| What is the normal pulse range for children over 7 years old? | 70 - 100 beats per minute.
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| What is the normal pulse range for children from 1 to 7 years old? | 80 - 110 beats per minute.
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| What is the normal pulse range for infants? | 100 - 160 beats per minute.
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| List three factors that could cause an increase in a pulse rate. | Exercise, stimulant drugs, and excitement.
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| List three factors that could cause a decrease in a pulse rate. | Sleep, depressant drugs, and coma.
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| In an adult, a pulse rate under 60 beats per minute is called __. A pulse rate above 100 beats per minute is called __. An irregular or abnormal rhythm is a __. | bradycardia, tachycardia, arrhythmia
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| Define respiration. | Process of taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide from the lungs and respiratory tract.
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| One respiration consists of one __ and one __. | inspiration (breathing in) and expiration (breathing out)
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| What is the normal rate for respirations in adults? | 12 - 20 breaths per minute.
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| What is the normal rate for respirations in children? | 16 - 30 breaths per minute.
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| What is the normal rate for respirations in infants? | 30 - 50 breaths per minute.
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| List four words to describe the character or volume of respirations. | Deep, shallow, labored, and difficult.
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| List two words to describe the rhythm of respirations. | Regular and irregular.
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| Define dyspnea. | Difficult or labored breathing.
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| Define apnea. | Absence of respirations, usually a temporary period of no respirations.
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| Define Cheyne Stokes. | Abnormal breathing pattern characterized by periods of dyspnea followed by periods of apnea; frequently noted in the dying patient.
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| Define rales. | Bubbling or noisy sounds caused by fluids or mucus in the air passages.
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| Define tachypnea | Rapid, shallow respiratory rate above 25 respirations per minute.
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| Define bradypnea | Slow respiratory rate, usually below 10 respirations per minute.
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| Define wheezing. | Difficult breathing with a high pitched whistling or sighing sound during expiration.
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| Why is it important that the patient is not aware that you are counting respirations? | Because respirations are partially under voluntary control, patients may breathe more quickly or more slowly when they become aware of the fact that respirations are being counted.
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| If you are taking a TPR, how can you count respirations without letting the patient know that you are doing it? | Leave your hand on the pulse site while counting respirations.
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