TEMPERATURE
This is the average normal body temperature in adults.
What is 37°C (98.6°F)?
The first pulse normally assessed in adults.
What is the radial pulse?
Normal adult respiratory rate.
What is 16–20 breaths per minute?
The top BP number represents this.
What is systolic pressure?
BP is not routinely measured in children under this age.
What is 3 years old?
Older adults are less likely to have fever but at greater risk for this.
What is hypothermia?
A pulse less than 50 bpm is called this.
What is bradycardia?
This happens to respirations with aging.
What is shallower breathing with slightly increased rate?
The bottom BP number represents this.
What is diastolic pressure?
This is the preferred temperature route for toddlers and preschoolers.
What is tympanic temperature?
This route is preferred for children when oral and rectal are not tolerated.
What is the tympanic route?
A pulse greater than 95 bpm is called this.
What is tachycardia?
When counting respirations, nurses should do this to avoid altering the patient’s pattern.
What is count respirations unobtrusively after pulse assessment?
MAP should be at least this to maintain organ perfusion.
What is 65 mmHg?
In older adults, systolic BP is usually this compared to younger adults.
What is higher?
A temperature below this value in an older adult may be clinically significant.
What is 36°C (96.8°F)?
This scale is used to describe pulse force.
What is the 0–3+ scale?
A respiratory rate above 25 breaths/min in adults may indicate this.
What is respiratory distress or abnormal breathing?
If systolic BP drops more than 20 mmHg when standing, this is suspected.
What is orthostatic hypotension?
In a healthy adult, thigh systolic pressure is usually this compared to arm pressure.
What is 10–40 mmHg higher?
This physiologic change makes temperature a less reliable indicator of infection in the elderly.
What is diminished sweat gland activity and thermoregulation?
A bounding pulse may reflect an increase in this.
What is stroke volume?
Aging causes a decrease in this lung capacity.
What is vital capacity?
The disappearance of Korotkoff sounds represents this pressure.
What is the diastolic pressure (Phase V)?
If arm BP is high and thigh BP is lower, this congenital condition may be present.
What is coarctation of the aorta?