Chapter 14: Basic Nursing Skills

Vital signs

show how well vital organs are doing and working

What is included in vital signs?

temperature, blood pressure, pain, respiration, and pulse rate

Body temperature reflects what?

the balance between the heat created by the body and the heat lost to the environment

5 types of thermometers

Digital, electronic, tympanic, temporal artery, and mercury-free

What is average temperature?

98.6

A temporal thermometer is ___ and is measured by reading the heat from the skin over the temporal artery

noninvasive

a ___ temperature is known to be the most accurate

rectal

a ___ temperature is known to me the least accurate

axillary

do not take temperature if:

• exercised recently in the past 10-20 minutes

• eaten or drunk fluids

• chewed gum

• smoked

Rectal temperature can be used for patients who…

have dentures, are unconscious, have missing teeth

Normal pulse rate in adults

60-100 beats per minute

Normal pulse rate in small children

100-120 beats per minute

Normal pulse rate for a newborn baby

120-180 beats per minute

Apical pulse

heard by listening directly over the heart with a stethoscope

Normal respiration in an adult is

12 to 20 breaths per minute

Normal respiration in infants and children is

30 to 40 breaths per minute

Apena

the absence of breathing

Dyspnea

difficulty breathing

Eupnea

normal respirations

Orthopnea

shortness of breath when lying down that is relieved by sitting up

Tachypnea

rapid respirations

Bradypnea

slow respirations

Cheyne-Stokes

alternating periods of slow, irregular respirations and rapid, shallow respirations, along with short periods of apnea

Sphygmomanometer

the machine blood pressure is measured with

Pulse oximeter

a noninvasive device that uses a light to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood (measures a person’s pulse rate)

Pain is ____ and vital signs are ___

subjective experience, objective measurements

True or False: Is pain a normal part of aging?

False

____ relieves pain and muscular tension

Heat

Heat reduces____ and increases____

swelling, the blood flow

Cold applications can help _____

stop bleeding

Never add water hotter than ___ to avoid burns

105 degress

What is a Sitz bath?

heat application, perineal area warm soak, cleans perineal wounds and reduces inflammation/pain (increases the circulation to the area)

What are sterile dressings?

Cover new, open, or drainage wounds

What are non sterile dressings?

applied to dry, closed wounds, and have less chance of infection

What do elastic bandages do?

stretchy bandages that are used to hold dressings in place, secure splints, and support and protect the body parts

Elastic bandages should be check after ___ for any signs of poor circulation

10 to 15 minutes

Intravenous Therapy (IV therapy)

the delivery of medication, nutrition, or fluids through a vein

Oxygen therapy

the administration of oxygen to increase the supply of oxygen in the lungs

What is a nasal cannula?

a piece of plastic tubing that fits around the face and is secured by a strap that goes over the ears and around the back of the head

Oxygen concentrator

box-like device, changes air in the room into air with more oxygen