Vital Signs and Clinical Procedures in Radiography

Practice flashcards covering vital signs, laboratory tests for kidney function, oxygen therapy, and venipuncture procedures based on lecture notes.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

The conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

5 Domains of SDOH

Economic stability, Education access and quality, Health care access and quality, Neighborhood and built environment, and Social and Community context.

Homeostasis

Relative constancy in the internal environment of the body naturally maintained by adaptive responses.

Naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival (vital signs)

Regulated by Homeostasis

Heartbeat, Blood Pressure, Body temperature, Respiratory rate, and Electrolyte balance.

Objective and noninvasive information concerning the patient's condition

Indicate a patient's response to therapy/treatment
•Indicate adverse reaction, change of status

RT Assessment of Vital Signs

Performed on an as-needed basis, such as during a change in condition, suspected dye reaction, or following a fall.

Body Temperature

Measurement of the degree of heat of the deep tissues of the body.

Average Body Temperature Range

$(97.6^{\circ}\text{F} - 100^{\circ}\text{F})$.

Thermoregulation

The body's maintenance of heat production and heat loss.

Hypothalamus

The part of the brain that controls thermoregulation.

Shivering

A mechanism used by the body for the preservation of heat.

Sweating

A mechanism used by the body for the regulation of heat loss.

Normal Oral Temperature

$98.6^{\circ}\text{F}$ ($37^{\circ}\text{C}$).

Normal Axillary Temperature

$97.6^{\circ}\text{F}$.

Normal Tympanic Temperature

$97.6^{\circ}\text{F}$.

Normal Temporal Temperature

$100^{\circ}\text{F}$.

Normal Rectal Temperature

$99.6^{\circ}\text{F}$.

Most Accurate Temperature Reflection

Rectal temperature provides the most accurate reflection of core body temperature.

Hyperthermia

An oral temperature higher than $99.5^{\circ}\text{F}$; also known as fever, febrile, or pyrexia.

Hypothermia

A condition where the body temperature falls below the normal range.

Medically Induced Hypothermia

Therapeutically decreasing the body's need for oxygen.

Respiration

The action of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide while breathing.

Ventilation

The mechanical process of moving air; the diaphragm is the major muscle involved.

Diaphragm on Inspiration

The muscle contracts during this phase.

Diaphragm on Expiration

The muscle relaxes during this phase.

Single Respiration

A combination of one inspiratory phase and one expiratory phase of breathing.

Respiration Assessment Technique

Observing the rise and fall of the chest or placing a hand on the chest for a minimum of $1$ minute.

Healthy Adult Normal Respirations

Silent, effortless, and automatically occurring at regular intervals.

Adult Normal Respiration Rate

$12-20$ breaths per minute.

Children ($1-8$ years) Respiration Rate

$15-30$ breaths per minute.

Infants ($1-12$ months) Respiration Rate

$25-50$ breaths per minute.

Neonates ($1-28$ days) Respiration Rate

$40-60$ breaths per minute.

BPM (Respiration)

Breaths per minute.

Respiratory Depth and Pattern

Additional characteristics assessed alongside the respiration rate (BPM).

Tachypnea

Respiratory rates greater than $20$ breaths per minute in an adult.

Common Causes of Tachypnea

Exercise, fever, anxiety, pain, and infection.

Bradypnea

A decrease in the respiratory rate.

Bradypnea Frequency

Occurs less frequently than tachypnea.

Causes of Bradypnea

Depression of the respiratory center of the brain due to drug overdose, head trauma, or hypothermia.

Cellular Metabolism and Respiration

Increased metabolism increases $O_2$ demand and $CO_2$ production, resulting in an increased respiratory rate.

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing.

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing unless the patient is sitting up or standing erect.

Apnea

The absence of spontaneous ventilation.

Pulse

The rate of contractions of the heart.

Pulse Measurement Technique

Palpating superficially located arteries using the $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ digits.

Radial Artery

Pulse site located on the thumb side of the wrist.

Brachial Artery

Pulse site located in the antecubital fossa of adults or the upper arm of infants.

Carotid Artery

Pulse site located in the neck.

Apical Pulse

Heartbeats counted by placing a stethoscope over the heart.

Common Pulse Locations

Apical, Brachial, Radial, Carotid, Femoral, Popliteal, Temporal, Dorsalis pedis, and Posterior tibial.

Purpose of Taking a Pulse

Evaluate heart function, check blood flow after injury/blockage, assess health/fitness, find cause of symptoms, or check medication effects.

Pulse Counting Duration

Counted for $60$ seconds to assess strength and regularity.

Normal Adult Resting Pulse Rate

$60-100\,\text{bpm}$ (beats per min).

Babies (to age $1$) Pulse Rate

$100-160\,\text{bpm}$.

Children ($1-10$ years) Pulse Rate

$60-140\,\text{bpm}$.

Children ($11-17$ years) Pulse Rate

$60-90\,\text{bpm}$.

Well-Conditioned Athletes Pulse Rate

$40-60\,\text{bpm}$.

Adult CPR Pulse Site

The carotid artery is assessed to determine the effectiveness of chest compressions.

Infant CPR Pulse Site

The brachial artery is assessed.

SaO2

Arterial oxygen saturation obtained through blood gas analyses.

SpO2

Hemoglobin oxygen saturation measured via a pulse oximeter.

Arterial Line

Used in critical care to measure heart rate and blood pressure on a monitor.

Pulse Oximeter

Device used to assess SpO2 of arterial blood and pulse rate via a light-emitting probe.

Pulse Oximeter Probe Sites

Finger, foot, toe, earlobe, temple, nose, or forehead.

Normal SpO2 Value

$90\%-100\%$.

Accuracy Factors for SpO2

Movement, misplaced/loose lines, and nail polish.

Tachycardia

An increase in heart rate of more than $20\,\text{bpm}$ or a rate greater than $100\,\text{bpm}$.

Pathological Causes of Tachycardia

Exercise, fever, respiratory disorders, congestive heart failure (CHF), and shock.

Nervous System Tachycardia Stimuli

Pain, anger, and fear (stimulus is not from a need for oxygen).

Bradycardia

A decrease in heart rate, often caused by unrelieved pain, severe pain, or hypothermia.

Cardiac Arrest Assessment

If no pulse is felt at the wrist, assess the carotid artery for $5$ seconds while summoning emergency help.

Life-Threatening Pulse Symptoms

Palpitations, dizziness, or faintness accompanying pulse irregularities.

Blood Pressure

The measure of force exerted by blood on arterial walls during heart contraction and relaxation.

Diastolic Pressure

The constant pressure on arterial walls during the relaxation of the heart.

Systolic Pressure

The peak increased pressure on arterial walls during the contraction of the heart.

Sphygmomanometer

Instrument used to measure blood pressure, consisting of a cuff, tubing, valve, bulb, and manometer.

Mercury and Aneroid

The two types of manometers used in blood pressure measurement.

BP Measurement Patient Position

Patient seated with the arm at the level of the heart.

Brachial Artery Compression

The cuff is inflated above systolic pressure to collapse the artery and stop blood flow.

Measurement sounds

The first sound heard corresponds to systolic pressure; when sound is no longer heard, it corresponds to diastolic pressure.

BP Recording Unit

Millimeters of mercury ($mm\,Hg$).

Adult Normal Systolic BP

Less than $120\,mm\,Hg$.

Adult Normal Diastolic BP

Less than $80\,mm\,Hg$.

Hypertension

Persistent elevation of blood pressure greater than $140/90\,mm\,Hg$.

Characteristics of Hypertension

Common, often symptomless, increases heart workload, and can damage organs like the brain, kidneys, and lungs.

Factors contributing to Hypertension

Stress, medications, obesity, and smoking.

Demographic Prevalence of Hypertension

Higher in men than women.

Hypotension

Low blood pressure, specifically less than $95/60\,mm\,Hg$.

Hypotension Concerns

Dizziness, confusion, or blurred vision indicating inadequate circulating blood volume.

Potential Causes of Shock

Severe bleeding, burns, vomiting, diarrhea, trauma, or heat exhaustion.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A blood pressure drop of $20\,mm\,Hg$ or more when a patient sits or stands; also called postural hypotension.

Physiology of Orthostatic Hypotension

Blood leaves central organs (brain) and moves to the periphery, causing faintness.

The 5th Vital Sign

Pain.

Pain (Definition)

A highly unpleasant and personal sensation that is protective and warns of potential injury.

Consequences of Pain

Sleep loss, irritability, cognitive impairment, functional impairment, and immobility.

Pain Assessment Factors

Physiological, psychological, emotional, and sociocultural components.

Oxygen and the Brain

Absence of oxygen causes irreversible brain damage in less than $5$ minutes.

Oxygen Therapy Frequency

$\frac{1}{3}$ of all patients in acute care settings receive $O_2$ therapy.

Hypoxemia

Decreased oxygen concentration in the blood.

Tissue Hypoxia

A reduction of oxygen supply to the tissue.