VITAL SIGNS

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture on vital signs.

Vital Signs

Measurements of physiological parameters such as body temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure, which are vital for assessing a patient's health.

Normal Body Temperature

The average adult body temperature is 98.6°F, though it can vary based on several factors.

Pyrexia

A medical term referring to an elevated body temperature, commonly known as fever.

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate, defined as over 100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia

An abnormally slow heart rate, defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute.

Sphygmomanometer

A device used to measure blood pressure.

Apical Pulse

The pulse taken by listening to the heart at the apex, it is considered the most accurate pulse measurement.

Blood Pressure (BP)

The force exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, typically measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

Orthostatic Hypotension

A form of low blood pressure that occurs when standing up from sitting or lying down, which can cause dizziness or fainting.

Respiration Rate

The number of breaths taken per minute, typically measured to assess respiratory health.

Fever Symptoms

Symptoms associated with a fever include flushed skin, increased thirst, restlessness, and elevated pulse and respiration rates.

Factors Influencing Body Temperature

age, gender, exercise, time of day, emotions, illness, and medications.

Pulse Volume

The quality of the pulse, which can be classified as absent, thready, weak, normal, or bounding.

Types of Thermometers

Different thermometer types include glass, electronic, infrared, chemical, and digital thermometers.

Cardinal Signs of Life

Vital signs that indicate the body's physiological status, including temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and pain.

Respiratory Terminology

Terms used to describe respiratory conditions include tachypnea (rapid breathing), bradypnea (slow breathing), and dyspnea (difficulty breathing).

what part of the brain is responsible for controlling temperature

hypothalamus

Febrile

Having or showing symptoms of a fever.

Afebrile

Not feverish; without fever.

Hyperthermia

The condition of having an abnormally high body temperature, often an uncontrolled rise in temperature not due to a change in the body's set point.

Hypothermia

The condition of having an abnormally low body temperature, typically below 95^{\circ}F (35^{\circ}C).

Normal Adult Pulse Rate

The normal range for an adult heart rate is typically between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm).

Normal Adult Respiration Rate

The normal respiratory rate for an adult at rest is usually between 12 and 20 breaths per minute.

Normal Adult Blood Pressure Range

Normal blood pressure for adults is generally considered to be a systolic pressure less than 120\,mmHg and a diastolic pressure less than 80\,mmHg.

Common Sites for Temperature Measurement

Common anatomical sites for measuring body temperature include oral, axillary, rectal, tympanic (ear), and temporal (forehead).

Pain Scale

A tool used to assess pain intensity, often numerical (e.g., 0-10) or visual (e.g., Wong-Baker Faces Scale).

dysrhythmia

difficult rhythm

palpitation

the patient can feel their heart beating

Pulse rating 0

absent pulse

pulse rating 1+

thready pulse, slight pressure causes it to disappear

pulse rating 2+

weak pulse, light pressure causes it to disappear

pulse rating 3 +

normal pulse, pulse is felt easily, moderate pressure causes it to disapper

pulse rating 4+

pulse is strong and does not disappear with moderate pressure

pulse sites

temporal carotid, femoral, brachial, radial, popliteal, posterior tibial, dorsalis pedis

what is the most accurate pulse site

The apical pulse

Where is the apical pulse located

At the apex of the heart, located at the left midclavicular 5th intercostal space

external exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs where

between the alveolar and capillary membranes

internal exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs where

inside the cell

Apnea

absence of breathing

dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing

orthopnea

breathing facilitated by sitting up or standing up

cheyne-stokes

the depth of respirations gradually increases, then gradually decreases, stops, and resumes the pattern

preload

how much blood fills the heart and stretches the muscle fibers when its resting. As the blood fills the heart, the muscles fill, the aorta stretches and then snaps back

cardiac output

how much the left ventricle pushes out per minute

blood viscosity

the thick or thinness of the blood

afterload

how hard the heart has to work to push the blood out

systole

working phase of the heart- the heart contracts

diastole

resting phase of the heart- the heart relaxes and refills

what does blood pressure tell us?

the ability of the arteries to stretch and fill with blood

the amount of resistance the heart must overcome when it pumps blood

the volume of circulating blood

nursing interventions for orthostatic hypotension

make these pts a fall risk

hydrate pts

increase sodium intake (unless contraindicated)

ted hose application

lay them down for 5 minutes before doing their BP, set them up for 3 minutes and recheck, stand with them for 3 minutes and check again.

what does pulse pressure indicate?

cardiac output

what is pulse deficit?

When the apical and radial pulses are different. Subtract these numbers.

Indicated a lack of peripheral perfusion