Health Assessment: Vital Signs

Flashcards based on the NUR 3065 Health Assessment lecture transcript on Vital Signs by Instructor Sotos G. Djiovanis.

Vital Signs

Objective measures of a patient's status and/or change, comprising temperature, pulse, respirations, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and pain.

Pyrexia

A raised body temperature.

Febrile

A raised body temperature accompanied by symptoms such as chills, sweating, clamminess, flushing, dehydration, lethargy, confusion, delirium, or seizures.

Afebrile

Being without a fever.

Hypothermia

A body temperature of less than $96.8^\frac{\text{o}}{\text{F}}$, caused by exposure to prolonged cold, malnutrition, or medical induction, which lowers heart rate and respiratory rate.

Hyperthermia

An alteration in body temperature resulting in a reading greater than $100.4^\frac{\text{o}}{\text{F}}$, caused by infections, neurologic disorders, inflammation, dehydration, medications, or heat exposure.

Rectal Temperature Route

The most accurate temperature assessment route, indicated for patients in shock, comatose patients, and infants, which reads $1^\frac{\text{o}}{\text{F}}$ higher than oral temperature.

Temporal Temperature Route

A non-invasive temperature measurement route for small children that is less traumatic and less likely to skew other vital signs.

Tachycardia

A resting heart rate greater than $100\text{ bpm}$.

Bradycardia

A resting heart rate less than $60\text{ bpm}$.

Pulse Amplitude Grade 3+

A pulse assessment grade defined as full and bounding.

Pulse Amplitude Grade 1+

A pulse assessment grade defined as weak and thready.

Sinus Arrhythmia

A pulse rhythm variation common in children and young adults where the heart rate speeds up with inspiration and slows with expiration.

Apnea

The absence of breaths for several seconds.

Eupnea

Normal, unlabored breathing.

Tachypnea

An increased respiratory rate.

Bradypnea

A decreased respiratory rate.

Seesaw Breathing

An ominous respiratory pattern in infants and children indicating an increased work of breathing (WOB).

Pulse Oximeter

A noninvasive device attached to a finger, toe, earlobe, or forehead that measures light absorption by $\text{HbO}_2$ to assess arterial oxygen saturation.

Hypoxia

An arterial oxygen saturation below normal levels ($<92\text{\%}$).

Systolic Blood Pressure

The maximal force exerted against arterial walls during ventricular contraction, identified as Phase 1 of the Korotkoff sounds.

Diastolic Blood Pressure

The minimal force exerted against arterial walls when the ventricles are relaxed, identified as Phase 5 of the Korotkoff sounds.

Pulse Pressure

The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, representing the amount of blood pumped out during systole, with a normal range of $30\text{--}40\text{ mmHg}$.

Stroke Volume

The volume of blood in milliliters ejected from the ventricle during contraction.

Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)

The constant pressure forcing blood into tissues averaged over a cardiac cycle, requiring a value $>60\text{ mmHg}$ for adequate tissue and organ perfusion.

Essential (Primary) Hypertension

High blood pressure (\text{Systolic } \begin{cases} \text{140 or above} \text{ OR} \text{Diastolic 90 or above} \text{ \text{without a direct single underlying disease process, influenced by stressors, pain, dietary factors, or genetics.} \right.) occurring without a specific direct cause, influenced by stressors, pain, dietary factors, or genetics.

Secondary Hypertension

High blood pressure caused by specific underlying anatomical or systemic conditions, such as renal disease, adrenal disorders, or pituitary tumors.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A drop in blood pressure evaluated by comparing BP between recumbent and standing postures, used when volume depletion or syncope is suspected.

Pediatric Vital Signs Sequence

The specific order required when checking pediatric vital signs: 1) Respirations, 2) Pulse, 3) Temperature, 4) Oxygen saturation, 5) Blood pressure.

Acute Pain

Short-term discomfort resulting from causes such as injuries, surgeries, kidney stones, or labor and delivery.

Chronic Pain

Discomfort lasting $6\text{ months}$ or longer that may not be congruent with physical findings, seen in conditions like tumors, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

PAINAD Scale

A specialized pain assessment tool used for patients with dementia.

FACES Pain Scale

A visual pain assessment tool used for preverbal children or pediatric patients.