Lab Exam- Vital Signs

What is the characteristic for pulse?

Week, threading, normal, full, bounding, regular, irregular

List 4 factor that influence pulse

• Smoking

• Caffeine

• Exercise

• Meds

• Stress

High Heartbeat

Tachycardia

Normal BPM

60~100 bpm

What is Respiration?

One inhalation and one exhalation

When is respiration usually counted

At the same time we take the pulse

3 quantities of respiration

• Rate

• Rhythm

• Depth

Excessively Rapid Respiration

Tachypnea

Normal Respiratory Rate- ADULT

12~20 Breaths/min

Slow Breathing

Bradypnea

Difficulty Breathing

Dyspnea

Normal Breathing

Eupnea

Absence Of Breathing (NONE)

Apena

what kind of respiration rate will Children and Infants have?

Faster or Higher

What is NOT a factor that influences body temperature

Gender

Describe how to prevent patient cross contamination when using an electronic thermometer

Put a plastic sheath

How should the thermometer be inserted when using an electronic thermometer to take an oral temperature?

Under the tongue to the side of the mouth

What should the MA ask the patient when taking an oral temperature using a disposable oral strip thermometer?

Have you been smoking?

What is the most important action when taking an oral thermometer using a digital thermometer?

Cover the thermometer with a sheath

Which temperature measurement is the least accurate?

Axillary (Armpit)

Which of the following may result in inaccurate reading when using a tympanic thermometer?

Impacted Cerumen (ear wax)

What is the most important action when obtaining an aural temperature using a tympanic thermometer?

Place the probe in the ear canal to seal the area

Tympanic- average temperature

98.6~99.6 degree F

Axillary- average temperature

97.9 degree F

Oral- average temperature

98.6 degree F

Rectal- average temperature

99.6 degree F

4 different ways body produce heat

• Walking

• Chewing gum

• Exercise

• Talking

Situations when a tympanic temperature measurements is contraindicated?

• Build of earwax

• Ear infection

• Ear jewelry

Excessively Low Body Temperature

Hypothermia

Excessively High Body Temperature

Hyperthermia

2 Terms for Fever

Pyrexia & Fibrile

Define Temperature

Heat lost and produced within the body

Name this Pulse Site:

(Behind your knees)

Popliteal

Name this Pulse Site:

(On top of the foot-elderly)

Dorsalis Pedis

Name this Pulse Site:

(Wrist)

Radial

Name this Pulse Site:

(Groin)

Femoral

Name this Pulse Site:

(Neck)

Carotid

Name this Pulse Site:

(Ankle)

Posterior Tibial

Name this Pulse Site:

(Arm)

Brachial

Name this Pulse Site:

(Chest)

Apical

Name this Pulse Site:

(Side forehead)

Temporal