Mod 7 Vitals

Question 1

physical examination

Answer 1

• quantifiable, objective info is obtained from a patient

- caring, empathetic approach will yield better results

Question 2

two elements

Answer 2

• obtaining vital signs

- head to toe survey

Question 3

inspection

Answer 3

• look at patient

- general/specific areas

Question 4

palpation

Answer 4

• physical touching for purpose of gaining info
• tenderness, deformity, crepitance (sound of bone on bone) , mass effect (palpating a mass), pulse quality, and abnormal organ enlargement

Question 5

percussion

Answer 5

• gently striking the surface of the body
• typically where it overlies various body cavities
• detects change in the densities of the underlying structures
• normal lung sounds
• muscle and bone sounds
• hollow organs
• compare both sides of the chest

Question 6

auscultation

Answer 6

• listening with a stethoscope
• body generates a variety of high and low frequency sounds
• both normal and abnormal

Question 7

vital sign measurements

Answer 7

• pulse (RRQ)
• respiratory (RRQ)
• BP
• temperature
• pulse oximetry 95-100%(measurement of oxygen)
• capnography (measuring exhaled gases) 35-45mmHg

Question 8

blood pressure

Answer 8

• measurement of the force exerted against the walls of the blood vessels
• commonly measured in the peripheral artery
• product of CO and peripheral vascular resistance
• SP
• DP

Question 9

BP cuff

Answer 9

• must be appropriate size and habitus
• to small or tight
• to large or loose

Question 10

pulse measurement

Answer 10

• rate, presence, location, quality, rhythm of the pulse
• to palpate gently compress an artery against a bony prominence
• can be obtained at several points in the body
• radial, brachial, femoral, carotid arteries
• basic way to evaluate perfusion and CO
• compare proximal and distal pulses during patient evaluations

Question 11

respiratory rate

Answer 11

• typically measured by inspection of the patients chest
• can also be accessed by visualizing portions of the abdominal wall, neck, face and overall accessory muscle use
• quality of respiratory effort should be evaluated as well
• pathological respiratory patterns or rhythms

Question 12

temperature

Answer 12

• tympanic device

- be aware of extrinsic factors that may increase or decrease the temperature reading

Question 13

pulse oximetry

Answer 13

• arterial oxygen saturation
• determination made via pulse oximetry
• should never be used as an absolute indicator
• measures the % of hemoglobin saturation
• inaccurate readings may be obtained for a variety of reasons

Question 14

stethoscope

Answer 14

-2 forms acoustic and electronic stethoscope

Question 15

sphygmomanometer

Answer 15

• blood pressure cuff
• inflatable
• manometer
• cuff should be 2 thirds the size of the upper arm
• mmHg