Ch.4 Patient vitals

inspection

To see (inspect a rash)

Palpation

To feel (palpating the appendix)

Percussion

To tap (medical hammer to reflexes)

Auscultation

To hear (stethoscope to lungs)

Hypertension

Slow blood pressure

Hypotension

Low blood pressure

Systolic

Top number, heart contracts

Diastolic

Bottom number, heart relaxes

Pulse Pressure

(Systolic)-(Diastolic) = Pulse pressure

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate, over 100 bpm

Bradycardia

slow heart rate, under 60 bpm

glycemia

blood sugar

tension

blood pressure

oxygen

oxia

hyper

high

hypo

low

Oral (Po) [Temp}

patient is npo (nothing by mouth) for 10 minutes

axillary (Temp)

least accurate, under arm

rectal (Temp)

most accurate, lubricant, bbp (blood borne pathogen), 100.6= febrile

dermal (Temp)

skin, temporal artery/ forehead

Aural/ Tympanic (Temp.)

Ear, adult= pull the ear up and back, infants= pull the ear down and back

Temperature, Febrile

100.4 and up

continuous (Temp)

all day

intermittent (temp)

half day

Septic (temp)

all day/ does not improve

antipyretics (temp)

against heat

analgesics (temp)

reduce pain

Pulse reference ranges

adult= 60-100 bpm, infant-180bpm

apical (pulse points)

infants/ critical ill, stethoscope at the 5th intercostal space, left side

radial (Pulse)

thumb side of the wrist

brachial (Pulse)

Ac (antecubital fossa)= inner aspect

Carotid (Pulse)

either side of the neck

rate (Pulse)

60-100

Rhythm (Pulse)

consistant, skip?

quality (Pulse)

strong, weak?

Oxygen Saturation

95% and up, check for nail polish or if the fingers are cold

Pulse oximeter

includes both oxygen % and pulse (bpm/HR)

Cyanotic (O2)

Below 95%

Blood pressure

Check for cuff size, arm is at heart level, rest for a few minutes

Respirations

1 inhale + 1 exhale= 1 respirations

Reference range for respirations

12-20

Anatomical (Position)

standing, height and weight

Sims (Position)

on their side with leg lifted to their chest, sleeping position, rectal

Trendelenburg (Position)

laying flat on their back with feet elevated, hypotensive, dizzy, lightheaded,

Fowlers (Position)

90 or 45 degree angle, breathing problems

Supine (Position)

laying face up on their back, palpations on internal organs

Prone (Position)

laying face down on their stomach, allergy testing

Sitting (Position)

inspection, percussion, auscultation

Lithotomy

Patients feet are on stirrups, vaginal exams