Vital Signs
Which vital signs are routinely monitored by most healthcare professionals?
Temperature
Pulse
Respirations
Blood Pressure
(Pain is fifth vital sign)
At what temperature does the risk of death increase?
93.2 F.
What is a pulse rate above 100 beats per minute called?
Tachycardia
If you find an abnormality feeling the radial pulse, what would you do next?
Take the apical pulse
What type of medications may cause orthostatis hypotension?
Antiseizure medications
Antipsychotics
Antihypertensives
Pain medicatioin
Antidepressants
Diuretics
When a patient smokes, how many minutes should we wait to take their vital signs after their last cigarette?
20 minutes
Which method of taking a temperature is safe in most situations?
Temporal artery
What pulse is found in the neck?
Carotid
What breathing pattern often accompanies diabetic ketoacidosis?
Kussmaul's breathing
What would be modifiable risk factors for hypertension that a patient can change?
Salt intake
Smoking
Exercise
What is a normal heart rate for an adult?
60-100 beats per minute
What part of the body regulates temperature?
Hypothalamus
Where do we listen to the apical pulse?
Midclavicular line fifth intercostal space
What breathing pattern often accompanies end of life?
Cheyne-Stokes breathing
What is the relative consistency within the body that is naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival called?
Homeostasis
When taking vital signs and you find abnormal readings, what do you, as the nurse, do?
Report it to your nursing supervisor or to the physician.
When does the body temperature rise?
During the evening
During physical or emotional stress
After exercise
Where in the lungs does gas exchange?
In the alveoli
What blood pressure defines hypertension?
Diastolic pressure readings greater than 90 mm Hg and systolic pressure readings greater than 140 mm Hg indicate hypertension.
What is known as the fifth vital sign?
Pain
What is the normal body temperature reading?
98.6 F.
What are the four physical assessment skills?
Inspection
Auscultation
Percussion
Palpation
What is a normal respiratory rate?
12-20 breaths per minute
What is it called when an elderly patient has a sudden drop in blood pressure with position change?
Orthostatic Hypotension
What is providing direct action to the patient that allows the nurse to carry out the nursing process called?
Implementation