RT 207 Vital Signs and Patient Assessment

RT 207 MODULE 6 FLASHCARDS BY YJV

Vital Signs

Measurement of temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.

Temperature

o   May be obtained by the oral, rectal, axillary, tympanic, and temporal artery routes

o   Fever (pyrexia or hyperthermia) is a sign of increased body metabolism (energy use), usually in response to an infectious process

Oral Temperature

Not appropriate when the patient has recently had a hot or cold beverage, is receiving oxygen, or is breathing through the mouth

Rectal Temperature

Accurate and Faster

Axillary Temperature

Slower and least accurate

Tympanic Temperature

Reliable and Accurate

Pulse

o   The palpable rhythmic throbbing caused by the alternating expansion & contraction of an artery as a wave of blood passes through it.

o   Tachycardia (abnormally rapid pulse) occurs when the heart rate is greater than 100 BPM.

o   If the radial pulse is weak or difficult to count, you can use the carotid artery.

o   Place your fingers just below the angle of the mandible

Carotid Artery

·        Easily accessible

·        Particularly important if a patient loses consciousness

·        If the pulse is not palpable at this site, the heart is not beating effectively and emergency measures are necessary

Apical Pulse

·        A measurement taken by listening to the heartbeat through a stethoscope that is placed over the apex of the heart.

Dorsalis Pedis Pulse

·        Taken over the instep of the foot

·        This measurement is significant if the peripheral circulation is compromised

Respirations

o   When a patient shows evidence of respiratory distress, a respiratory rate will help in making an assessment.

o   To count respirations, simply note the number of inhalations per minute.

Bradypnea

slow breathing with fewer than 12 breaths per minute

Tachypnea

rapid breathing in excess of 20 breaths per minute

Blood Pressure

o   The force of circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. 

Systolic

measured when the heart beats, when blood pressure is at its highest, contraction

Diastolic

measured between heart beats, when blood pressure is at its lowest, relaxation

Hypertension

abnormally high blood pressure

Hypotension

abnormally low blood pressure results in a potentially life-threatening condition called shock

Sphygmomanometer

Stethoscope

Materials needed to get blood pressure:

Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR)

Purple Wristband

Allergy

Red Wristband

Fall Risk

Yellow Wristband

Checking The Chart

Review the requisition

Assess the patient's current physical status and determine whether the preparation for the examination has been done successfully

Physical Assessment

is an ongoing process of observation, comparison, and measurement to note & evaluate changes in a patient's condition before, during, and after procedures in the radiographic suite.

eyeballing the patient

The most important process in patient assessment is sometimes called

Skin color

one of the easiest signs to recognize is a change in __________

Cyanotic

• A bluish coloration in the skin & indicates a lack of sufficient oxygen in the tissues

• Lips / lining of the mouth & nail beds

Skin Temperature

• Contact with your hands also allows you to make physical observations about the ongoing status of your patients.

Diaphoretic

acutely ill patient in pain may be pale & cool / “cold sweat”

Hot, Dry Skin

may indicate a fever

Warm, moist skin

may only be a response to the weather or the room temperature

Acute anxiety

can cause cool, moist skin with wet palms and shaking hands.

Alert and conscious

Drowsy but responsive

Unconscious but reactive to painful stimuli

Comatose

4 levels of consciousness

Normal breathing

is quiet and calm and requires no particular attention.

Respiratory Distress

A marked increase in the depth and rate of respiration is usually the first sign of ____________

Orthopnea

Inability to breath when recumbent

Temperature (oral):

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 140

Respiration: <60

Blood Pressure (systolic): 50-60

Premature Newborn

Temperature (oral):

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 125

Respiration: <60

Blood Pressure (systolic): 70

Full-term newborn

Temperature (oral):

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 120

Respiration: 24-36

Blood Pressure (systolic): 90

6 months

Temperature (oral):

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 120

Respiration: 22-30

Blood Pressure (systolic): 96

1 year

Temperature (oral):

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 110

Respiration: 20-26

Blood Pressure (systolic): 100

3 years

Temperature (oral): 98.6 F (37 C)

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 100

Respiration: 20-24

Blood Pressure (systolic): 100

5 years and 6 years

Temperature (oral): 98.6 F (37 C)

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 90

Respiration: 18-22

Blood Pressure (systolic): 105

8 years

Temperature (oral): 98.6 F (37 C)

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 85-90

Respiration: 16-22

Blood Pressure (systolic): 115

12 years

Temperature (oral): 98.6 F (37 C)

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 75-80

Respiration: 14-20

Blood Pressure (systolic): below 120

16 years

Temperature (oral): 98.6 F (37 C)

Temperature (rectal): 99.6 F (37.5 C)

Pulse: 60-100

Respiration: 12-20

Blood Pressure (systolic): below 120

Adult female and Adult male

1. Physical activity

2. Stress and emotional state

3. Hot/cold temperature

4. Dehydration

5. Medications

6. Health conditions

7. Caffeine and stimulants

8. Alcohol and drugs

9. Age and fitness level

10. Sleep

Several Factors Can Affect Pulse Rate, Respiration, Blood Pressure, And Temperature