Patient Care Vital Signs/Diabetes Quiz

vital signs

Measurements that are an essential part of modern medical care

importance of vital signs

Provides the doctor with information about the patient’s overall condition; enables medical staff to make new diagnoses or to track changes to monitor conditions.

mouth/oral

most common temperature measurement location

15 minutes

Wait _____ after patient has been eating, drinking or smoking before taking their temperature orally

tympanic

temperature measured at the ear

rectum

most accurate temperature measurement; usually 1 degree higher than oral

axillary

temperature measured at the armpit; least accurate

temporal

temperature measured at the temporal artery on the forehead

4 AM, 4 PM - 6 PM

temperature is lowest at _____ and highest between ______

97-99

normal temperature range in degrees Fahrenheit

97.8

typical default temperature on thermometers

febrile

high body temperature above 99

afebrile

close to normal range of body temperature

onset

time when fever begins

continuous

fever that remains above baseline

lysis

A gradual return or normal temperature after a period of fever

diaphoresis

profuse sweating; also known as crisis

intermittent

fluctuating fever

blood pressure

The force at which blood is pumped against the walls of the arteries.

normal BP

a systolic of less than 120 mmHg and a diastolic of less than 80 mmHg

prehypertension

120-129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic

hypertension stage 1

130-139 systolic and 80-89 diastolic

hypertension stage 2

140 or higher systolic and 90 or higher diastolic

hypertensive crisis

higher than 180 systolic and higher than 120 diastolic

high blood pressure

_____ increases risk of stroke or pulmonary edema

hypertension

blood pressure reading greater than 120/80

hypotension

systolic less than 90

low blood pressure

____ can cause loss of consciousness, brain injury and organ failure

stethoscope, sphygmomanometer

supplies needed to check blood pressure

sphygmomanometer

blood pressure cuff

stethoscope

instrument used to listen to patient’s breathing and heart rhythms

1 inch, antecubital

The lower edge of the cuff should be _____ above the _____ space.

brachial artery

where the sphygmomanometer is placed above when checking blood pressure

180-200 mmHg

Place stethoscope over brachial artery pulse point and inflate cuff to approximately ______.

systolic pressure

The first tapping you hear

diastolic pressure

The point at which sound disappears represents

white coat syndrome

when you get a high blood pressure reading in a doctor’s office and a normal reading at home; the anxiety of being around doctors in white coats can make your blood pressure rise.

60 to 100 bpm

normal adult heart rate

70 to 120 bpm

normal child (6-12) heart rate

80 to 150 bpm

normal child (1-5) heart rate

100 to 160 bpm

normal infant (less than 1) heart rate

heart rate

Gives information about the amount of blood the heart is able to pump in one minute.

tachycardia

abnormally fast; can be caused by anxiety or distress

bradycardia

abnormally slow; can be LESS with certain medications or in athletes

thumb, radial pulse

Place 2 or 3 fingers (not ____) on the _____ site

15 seconds, 30 seconds

Count pulse for _____ and multiply that number by 4 or _____ and multiply that number by 2

apical pulse

If abnormal, assess rate using radial or ______ (apex of heart) for a full minute.

12 to 20/min

normal adult respiratory rate

18 to 30/min

normal child (6-12) respiratory rate

24 to 34/min

normal child (1-5) respiratory rate

30 to 60/min

normal infant (less than 1) respiratory rate

respiratory rate

The number of breaths a person takes per minute. This measurement can indicate how well a patient’s body is providing oxygen to the tissues.

Tachypnea

(>20 - rapid breathing) can be caused by anxiety or respiratory distress

Bradypnea

(<10 - slow respiratory rate) can be a side effect of certain drugs

Hyperventilation

Excessively fast and deep breathing

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing

Rales

Noisy breathing caused by constricted bronchial passageway

Apnea

Absence of breath

Cheyne-Stokes

Breathing patterns usually comes right before death; death rattle

95-100%

normal oxygen levels (pulse oximetry) in all age levels

pulse oximetry

Measures oxygen levels in the blood.

nail polish, carbon monoxide poisoning

pulse oximetry is unreliable if the patient has cold hands, colored _____ or acrylic nails, edema, or _______

warm skin, 2 seconds

If pulse oximetry is abnormally low check for signs of adequate perfusion: _____, pink mucous membranes, strong pulses, and capillary refill < _____.

anthropometric measurements

Measurements of the proportions of the human body and provide a baseline which can help determine the extent of an illness or injury; not needed as often as the main vital signs

yes

should weight be taken at each office visit?

at every visit

height is measured ________ for children

initial visit

height is measured at ________ when performing complete physical exam

BMI

Used as an indicator of a healthy weight; calculated using weight and height, then plugging those numbers into a BMI chart or use the CDC BMI calculator

<18.5

BMI underweight

18.5-24.9

healthy BMI

25-29.9

overweight BMI

>30

obese BMI

glucose

“sugar” that the body needs to survive; it fuels ALL the cells in your body but it cannot enter cells without the help of insulin to process it

insulin

helps with high blood sugar levels; it is a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate the amount of glucose in the body

diabetes

the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin is damaged; causing an abnormal metabolism or processing of carbohydrates

urine testing, glucometer

elevated glucose levels in the blood can be detected through _____ or a blood drop test with a ______

type 1 diabetes

a type of autoimmune disease where the immune system destroys insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas

cannot

if the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, the body ______ access the glucose you are eating

risk factors for type 1 diabetes

family history, environmental factors, autoantibodies that damage immune proteins

type 2 diabetes

most common type of diabetes; develops when cells become insulin resistant and the pancreas cannot make enough to overcome the resistance

risk factors for type 2 diabetes

age/family history, overweight (increased visceral fat), lack of exercise, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels

true

true or false: type 2 diabetes can be prevented and reverses, unlike type 1

prediabetes

beginning signs of insulin resistance; diagnosed by measuring blood sugar with glucometer before eating breakfast (fasting blood sugar)

gestational diabetes

occurs during pregnancy; glucose levels usually return to normal after birth but higher risk of getting diabetes in future

hyperglycemia

high blood glucose that needs insulin; the body will try to get rid of the glucose that doesn’t have insulin by sending it to other body parts and increasing thirst (pee out)

symptoms of hyperglycemia

excessive thirst, frequent urination, excess hunger, fatigue, blurry vision, injuries heal slower

200

hyperglycemia is when blood glucose levels are _____ or higher

hypoglycemia

low blood glucose that needs glucose and is treated by fast acting sugar like candy or apple juice or dextrose medications (makes hangry feeling)

symptoms of hypoglycemia

shaky, excessive sweating, dizziness and confusion, hungry, fatigue, headache, nervous/upset

70

hypoglycemia is caused by blood glucose levels _____ or under

diabetic ketoacidosis

build up of ketones in the urine; can occur due to missed insulin doses for Type 1 or can occur with glucose levels above 600 (emergency!)

ketones

present when the body breaks down fats and muscle tissue for energy instead of the necessary glucose

damage, blood flow

excess glucose in the bloodstream will ______ blood vessels and nerves over time, leading to a compromised ______

feet, toenails, lukewarm

people with diabetes should inspect their _____ daily to catch abnormalities early; don’t cut _____ unless directed by a podiatrist and wash in _____ water