ICD-1 MIDTERM VITAL SIGNS

heart rate/pulse

assessed by palpitating radial pulse

normal range = 60-100 bpm

<60 bpm = bradycardia

>100 bpm = tachycardia

blood pressure (BP)

measurement of pressure of blood in arteries

closely related to force and rate of heartbeat and diameter and elasticity of arterial walls

systolic BP

pressure measurement in arteries when heart contracts and blood is forced from chambers into the arteries

diastolic BP

pressure measurement in arteries when heart is at rest between contractions

“constant pressure in the arteries”

pulse pressure

difference between systolic and diastolic BP

normal “textbook BP reading

120/80

normal “textbook” pulse pressure reading

40 mmHg

when recording BP

indicate position (arm at heart level; legs uncrossed)

which arm

size of cuff

right arm sitting (RAS) or left arm sitting (LAS)

when taking BP manually and not digitally

you will need to palpate the brachial artery near cubital fossa

variations of BP are normal such as

anxiety

pain

position

time of day

physically activity

full bladder

age

chemical substances (nicotine, caffeine)

disease states (cardiovascular, kidney disease)

respiratory rate

observe rise and fall of a patient’s chest

normal rate = 10-14 breaths per minute

<10 RR = bradypnea

>20 RR = tachypnea

dyspnea

shortness of breath

orthopnea

shortness of breath related to a recumbent position

normal “textbook” temperature

98.6 F

fever temperature is

> 100 F

hypothermia temperature is

< 94 F

alterations in normal body temperature

disease process

physical activity

environmental temperature

how is temperature of a individual measured in ULSD? how does it work?

measured with tempadot (blue dot) or nextemp (black dot)

1. placed under tongue for 60 seconds, but not going over 2 min

2. wait 10 seconds to read temp

3. last dot labeled/marked is individual’s temp

normal O2 saturation reading

between 95-100%

cardiac rhythm can be

regular

regularly irregular

irregularly irregular

temp alterations caused by

disease

physical activity

environmental temp

BP equation

cardiac output * peripheral vascular resistance (CO X PVR)

hypertension

elevated BP when recorded on 2 or more occasions

systolic BP > 140 mmHg

diastolic BP > 90 mmHg

initial drugs for hypertension

ACE inhibitor

angiotensin receptor blocker

thiazide diuretic

calcium channel blocker

beta blockers

vasodilators

hypotension

decreased BP below average with accompanying symptoms like dizziness

hypotension can be caused by

cardiac insufficiency

decreased blood volume (dehydration, hemorrhage)

burns

shock

severe infection