Allied Health Test

vital signs

various determinations that provide information about basic body conditions of a pattern

temperature

measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced by the body

oral temperatures

temperature taken in the mouth

oral

what type of method for taking temperature is most common and convienient?

rectal temperatures

temperature taken in the rectum

rectal

what method for taking temperature is the most accurate?

infants, small children, and patients with hypothermia

what kinds of patients are rectal temperatures taken on?

axillary temperatures

temperature taken in the armpit

axillary

what method of taking temperature is the least accutate?

aural temperatures

temperature taken in the ear (special tympanic thermometer)

blood vessels

Aural temperatures are used by measuring infrared radiation from ____; provides core temperature reading

temporal temperatures

temperatures taken with special temporal thermometer across forehead

-measures temperature in temporal artery

97-99

what is the normal range for body temperature?

individual differences

people's accelerated body processes have higher temperatures, slower body processes have lower temperature

time of day

temperature lower in the morning and higher temperature in the evening

body sites

parts of the body (where the temperature is taken)

illness, infection, exercise, excitement

what are 4 things that increase temperatures?

starvation, sleep, decreased muscle activity

what are 3 reasons that decrease temperature?

fever

elevated body temperature usually above 100

-symptoms caused by infection or injury

fever

Sweating, chills, headache, loss of appetite are all symptoms of a _____.

hypothermia

low body temperature, below 95

93F

During hypothermia, death occurs below ____

hypothermia

Slurred speech, confusion, memory loss, and bright red skin are all symptoms of _____

hyperthermia

body temperature above 104F

106

During hyperthermia, ____F can cause brain damage, convulsions, and death

electronic thermometers

uses heat sensor to record temperature and displays in electronic viewer

health care facilities; axillary

Electronic thermometers:

-Most common in _____

-can be used to take oral, rectal, or _____ temperature

two-tenths

Temperature is always recorded to ______ of a degree

(R), (Ax), (A), (TA), none

State the correct abbreviations for where the temperature is being recorded:

-Rectal

-Axillary

-Aural

-Temporal

-Oral

pulse

pressure of blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart contracts and relaxes (or beats)

temporal

pulse taken on either side of forehead

carotid

pulse taken at the neck on either side of trachea

Brachial

pulse taken on the inner aspect of forearm in crease of elbow

radial

pulse taken on inner aspect of wrist above thumb

femoral

pulse taken on inner aspect of upper thigh where it joins the groin

popliteal

pulse taken behind the knee

Dorsalis pedis

pulse taken on the top of the foot arch

posterior tibial

pulse taken just below and behind bony part of ankle on the inner side

rate, rhythm, and volume

what are the 3 factors noted when measuring pulse?

rate

number of beats per minute

60-100, 60-70, 65-80, 70-100, 80-110, 100-160

Pulse Rates:

-Adults: _____ bpm

-Adult men: _____ bpm

-Adult women: _____ bpm

-Children over 7 years: _____ bpm

-Children 1-7: _____ bpm

-Infants: _____ bpm

bradycardia

a pulse rate under 60 bpm (can be due to electrical issues in the heart, metabolic problems, medications, or heart disease

trachycardia

a pulse rate 100 bpm (can be due to fever, stress, medications, metabolic problems, or heart disease

rhythm

regularity of pulse, spacing of beats

rhythm

_____ is described as regular or irregular

arrhythmia

irregular or abnormal rhythm usually caused by a defect in the electrical conduction pattern of the heart

volume

strength, force, intensity, or quality of pulse

strong, bounding, weak, thready

How is the volume of pulse described?

apical pulse

pulse taken with stethoscope at apex of heart

when arteries are weak, rapid pulse, hardening of arteries, ect

When are apical pulses taken?

pulse deficit

heart does not pump enough blood to produce a beat, indicates issue with heart function or effciency

radial pulse - apical pulse

How do you calculate a pulse deficit?

respirations

process of taking in oxygen and expelling CO2 from respiratory system, reflects breathing rate of patient

rate, character, and rhythm

what are three different factors noted when measuring pulse?

rate

number of respirations per minute

12-20, 16-30, 30-50

Average rate of respirations:

-Adults: _____breaths/min

-Children: _____breaths/min

-Infants: _____breaths/min

character

depth and quality of the respirations

deep, shallow, labored/difficult, strenuous

how is character of pulse described?

rhythm

regularity and spacing of respirations

regular or irregular

How do you describe rhythm of a pulse?

dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing

apnea

absence of respirations, usually a temporary period of no respirations

tachypnea

rapid, shallow respiratory rate above 25 respirations per minute

bradypnea

slow respiratory rate, usually below 10 respirations per minute

orthopnea

severe dyspnea in which breathing is very difficult in any position other than sitting erect or standing

cheyne-stokes

abnormal breathing pattern characterized by periods of dyspnea followed by periods of apnea; frequently noted in the dying patient

rales

bubbling, crackling, or noisy sounds caused by fluids or mucus in the air passages

wheezing

difficulty breathing with a high pitched whistling or sighing sound during expiration, caused by narrowing bronchitis

cyanosis

bluish discoloration of skin, lips, and/or nail beds as a result of decreased oxygen and increased CO2 in the blood

blood pressure

measurement of the pressure that the blood exerts on the walls of arteries during various stages of heart cavity

mmHg

what is the unit that blood pressure is measured in?

systolic pressure

pressure in the walls of arteries when the heart contracts

diastolic pressure

pressure in the walls of the arteries when the heart is relaxed, between contractions

100-120, 60-80

what is the normal blood pressure of an adult?

hypertension

high blood pressure that could lead to stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease

hypotension

low blood pressure, less than 90 mmHg systolic and 60mmHg diastolic

eating, stimulant drugs, smoking, excitement

what are four things that increase blood pressure?

sleep, depressant drugs, dehydration, fasting

what are four things that decrease blood pressure?

pain

unpleasant sensation perceived by the nervous system when illness or injury occurs

nociception

the process by which a painful stimulus is transmitted to the central nervous system and perceived as pain

Transduction (stimulus) --> Nociceptors (receptors in the skin, organs, etc)

--> Transmission (nerve impulses transmitted to spinal cords and brain) --> Perception (Awareness of Pain)

described the process of pain

pain tolerance

the amount of pain one is able to endure, varies greatly among individuals; psychosocial, cultural factors, past experiences, and perception

acute pain

pain that lasts the expected recovery time

surgery, trauma, acute disease, labor

what are 4 examples of acute pain?

chronic pain

pain enduring for 6 moths or longer, pain beyond expected recovery time

cancer/malignant pain

pain associated with underlying malignancy, disease, or disease treatment

chronic non-cancer pain

pain with no discernable cause, pain becomes the disease

visceral pain

pain in internal organs caused by inflammation, spasms or overdistention; ex: appendicitis