Vital Signs - Health Science

Front 1

List the four (4) main vital signs

Back 1

temperature
pulse
blood pressure
respiration

Front 2

Identify four (4) common sites in the body where temperature can be measured

Back 2

oral - mouth
rectal - butt
axillary - under arm
aural - ear

Front 3

Define pulse.

Back 3

the pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart contracts and relaxes, or beats

Front 4

List 3 factors recorded about a pulse.

Back 4

rate
rhythm
volume

Front 5

What 3 factors are noted about respirations?

Back 5

respiration count
rhythm
character

Front 6

Identify the 2 readings noted on a blood pressure.

Back 6

systolic
diastolic

Front 7

Measure of the balance between heat lost and heat produced

Back 7

temperature

Front 8

Strength of the pulse

Back 8

volume

Front 9

Pulse taken at the apex of the heart with a stethoscope

Back 9

apical pulse

Front 10

Measurement of breaths taken by a patient

Back 10

respirations

Front 11

Instrument used to take apical pulse.

Back 11

stethoscope

Front 12

Pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery

Back 12

pulse

Front 13

Regularity of the pulse or respirations

Back 13

rhythm

Front 14

Number of beats per minute

Back 14

rate

Front 15

Measurement of the force exerted by the heart against arterial walls

Back 15

blood pressure

Front 16

Various determinations that provide information about body conditions

Back 16

vital signs

Front 17

Define temperature.

Back 17

Measurement of the balance between heat loss and heat gain produced by the body.

Front 18

List 3 reasons why temperature may vary.

Back 18

Smoking
Drink something hot or cold
Eating or Exercise

Front 19

The normal range for body temperature is

Back 19

97 to 100 degrees.

Front 20

A normal oral temperature is
The clinical thermometer is left in place for _____ minutes.

Back 20

98.6

3 to 5 minutes

Front 21

A normal rectal temperature is _____ degrees.

The clinical thermometer is left in place for _____ minutes.

Back 21

99.6

3 to 5 minutes

Front 22

A normal axillary temperature is ____ degrees.

The clinical thermometer is left in place for ____ minutes.

Back 22

97.6

10 minutes

Front 23

What is the most accurate method for taking a temperature? Why?

Back 23

rectal temperature is the most accurate because it is an internal temperature

Front 24

What is the least accurate method for taking a temperature? Why?

Back 24

The axillary is the least accurate because it is a external temperature.

Front 25

What is the difference between hyperthermia and hypothermia?

Back 25

hypothermia - is low blood pressure

hyperthermia - is high blood pressure

Front 26

How can you prevent cross-contamination while using the probe of an electronic thermometer?

Back 26

A disposable cover is placed over the thermometer probe before temperature is taken.

Front 27

Whys is it important to ask patients if they have had anything to eat or drink or if they have smoked before taking an oral temperature?

Back 27

Because if they did, you would not get an accurate reading on their temperature.

Front 28

List 3 factors that could cause an increase in pulse rate.

Back 28

overweight, smoking, illness

Front 29

List 3 factors that could cause a decrease in a pulse rate.

Back 29

fasting, sleep, decreased muscle activity

Front 30

In an adult, a pulse rate under 60 beats per minute is called

Back 30

bradycardia

Front 31

A pulse rate above 100 beats per minute is called

Back 31

tachycardia

Front 32

An irregular or abnormal rhythm is a

Back 32

arrhythmia

Front 33

Normal pulse for Adults

Back 33

60 to 90

Front 34

Normal pulse for children over 7 yrs

Back 34

70 to 90

Front 35

Children from 1 to 7 years

Back 35

80 to 110

Front 36

Infants

Back 36

100 to 160

Front 37

Define respiration

Back 37

Process of taking in oxygen (O) and expelling carbon dioxide (Co2) from the lungs and respiratory tract.

Front 38

One respiration consists of one ______ and one _________.

Back 38

inspiration & expiration

Front 39

What is the normal rate for respiration in adults?

Back 39

14 to 18

Front 40

What is the normal rate for children?

Back 40

16 to 25

Front 41

What is the normal rate for infants?

Back 41

30 to 50

Front 42

List 4 words to describe the character or volume of respirations.

Back 42

deep

shallow

labored

difficult

Front 43

List 2 words to describe the rhythm of respirations.

Back 43

regular and irregular

Front 44

define dyspnea

Back 44

difficult breathing

Front 45

define apnea

Back 45

absence of respirations

Front 46

define Cheyne-Stokes

Back 46

respirations - periods of dyspnea followed by periods of apnea

Front 47

define rales

Back 47

bubbling caused by fluids

Front 48

define tachypnea

Back 48

respiration rate above 25 minutes

Front 49

define bradypnea

Back 49

slow breathing

Front 50

define wheezing

Back 50

the breath with difficulty usualy with a whistling sound

Front 51

Why is it important that the patient is not aware that you are counting respiration?

Back 51

So that the patient's breathing is normal, and they are not holding their breath.

Front 52

TPR means

Back 52

Temperature, Pulse and Respiration