Vital Signs UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What are the different vital signs? BP, heart rate, respiratory rate, temp, Pain??, Pulse oximetry
What do vital signs influence? tempo and direction of exam
What should you do if any vital signs are abnormal? retake
What does BP determine? indirect method of determining cardiovascular function
What should be done if blood pressure readings are Retake the measurement to confirm accuracy
abnormal?
Where is pressure exerted when taking BP? pressure exerted by the circulating blood against the blood vessel walls as a
result of the heart pumping
How should the environment be when taking BP? Relaxed and peaceful environment, Seated or lying flat, Bare arm if possible, Arm
at level of the heart horizontal, Legs should not be crossed
What areas should be avoided when measuring BP? Injury, fistula, IV, arterial line, and ipsilateral to breast or axilla surgery
What equipment is used to measure blood pressure? Sphygmomanometer and stethoscope
What factors are consider when selecting BP cuff? Cuff length, Cuff width, Alternate placement, Pediatric Cuffs
What steps should you take when positioning a BP cuff? ensure appropriateness, palpate brachial pulse, position arm comfortably at heart
level, center inflatable bladder over brachial artery, lower border of cuff should
be about 2.5 cm above AC crease, secure snugly
What is palpated radial pulse obliteration? - Palpate the radial pulse with one hand
- Inflate the BP cuff with the other
- Note pressure at which pulse is no longer palpable
- Add 30mm Hg - this is the TARGET LEVEL
Why should you palpate radial pulse? - Minimize patient discomfort and/or tissue damage
- Avoid errors caused by ausculatory gap
Describe rate of cuff inflation vs deflation. rapid inflation, slow deflation
What is the significance of the brachial artery in blood It is the location where the stethoscope is placed to listen for Korotkoff sounds
pressure measurement?
Answers
What are the different vital signs? BP, heart rate, respiratory rate, temp, Pain??, Pulse oximetry
What do vital signs influence? tempo and direction of exam
What should you do if any vital signs are abnormal? retake
What does BP determine? indirect method of determining cardiovascular function
What should be done if blood pressure readings are Retake the measurement to confirm accuracy
abnormal?
Where is pressure exerted when taking BP? pressure exerted by the circulating blood against the blood vessel walls as a
result of the heart pumping
How should the environment be when taking BP? Relaxed and peaceful environment, Seated or lying flat, Bare arm if possible, Arm
at level of the heart horizontal, Legs should not be crossed
What areas should be avoided when measuring BP? Injury, fistula, IV, arterial line, and ipsilateral to breast or axilla surgery
What equipment is used to measure blood pressure? Sphygmomanometer and stethoscope
What factors are consider when selecting BP cuff? Cuff length, Cuff width, Alternate placement, Pediatric Cuffs
What steps should you take when positioning a BP cuff? ensure appropriateness, palpate brachial pulse, position arm comfortably at heart
level, center inflatable bladder over brachial artery, lower border of cuff should
be about 2.5 cm above AC crease, secure snugly
What is palpated radial pulse obliteration? - Palpate the radial pulse with one hand
- Inflate the BP cuff with the other
- Note pressure at which pulse is no longer palpable
- Add 30mm Hg - this is the TARGET LEVEL
Why should you palpate radial pulse? - Minimize patient discomfort and/or tissue damage
- Avoid errors caused by ausculatory gap
Describe rate of cuff inflation vs deflation. rapid inflation, slow deflation
What is the significance of the brachial artery in blood It is the location where the stethoscope is placed to listen for Korotkoff sounds
pressure measurement?
