Simmers DHO Health Sciences Hcp0001: Chapter 16
Vital Signs DHO – Qs & As
Vital signs Right Ans - defined as various determinations that provide
information about the the basic body conditions of the patient.
Four main vital signs Right Ans - temperature, pulse, respirations and
blood pressure. the fifth is degree of pain. patients will rate the level of pain on
a scale of 1 to 10. other important signs are color of skin, size of pupils, and
reaction to light, level of consciousness and response to stimuli.
Temperature Right Ans - a measurement of the balance between heat lost
and heat produced. its measured by mouth, rectum,armpit or ear (oral,rectal,
axillary,aural)
Respiration Right Ans - The process of taking in oxygen and expelling
carbon dioxidereflect the breathing rate of the patient. the regularity (rhythm)
type (character) of respirations are noted.
Blood pressure Right Ans - the force exerted by the blood against the
arterial walls when the heart contracts or relaxes. two readings systolic and
diastolic are noted to show the greatest pressure and the least pressure.
Apical pulse Right Ans - this pulse is taken with a stethoscope at hte apex of
the heart. the actual heartbeat is heard and counted.at times because of
illness, hardening of the arteries, a weak or very rapid radial pulse, doctors
orders you will be required to take an apical pulse. infants and small children
have a very rapid radial pulse that is difficult to count ,apical pulses are
usually taken. always report all abnormalities in reading. if difficulty in
obtaining a correct reading and another individual to check the patient.
Variations in body temperature Right Ans - individual differences: some
people have accelerated body processes and usually have higher temps others
have slower body processes and usually have lower temperatures.
time of day: is usually lower in the morning after the body has rested and
higher in the evening after muscular activity and daily food intake have taken
place.
body sites: parts of the body where temp are taken lead to variations
, Oral temperatures Right Ans - are taken in the mouth, the most common
convenient and comfortable method of obtaining a temperature. eating,
drinking hot or cold liquids and or smoking can alter the temperature in the
mouth. it is important to make sure the patient has not had anything to eat or
drink , or has not smoked for at least 15 minutes prior to taking the patients
oral temperature.
Rectal temperatures Right Ans - are the most accurate of all
methods.Frequently taken on infants and small children and on patients with
hypothermia.
Axillary temperatures Right Ans - are in the armpit,the upper arm. are
external temp. and thus less accurate. Perspiration affects reading.
Aural temp Right Ans - are taken with a special tympanic thermometer that
is place in the ear or auditory canal. this provides a measurement of body core
temperature, the range is similar to rectal or internal body temperature most
record temp in less than 2 seconds so this is a fast and convenient method for
obtaining temperatures but will not read accurately if not inserted into the ear
correctly or if an ear infection or wax buildup is present.
Temporal temperatures Right Ans - are taken with a special temporal
scanning thermometer that is passed in a straight line across the forehead,
midway between the eyebrows and upper hairline.
Body temp can be above or below the normal range for a variety of teasons.
Right Ans - causes of increase: illness, infection, exercise, excitement, and high
temperatures in environment.
causes of decrease: starvation or fasting, sleep, devreased muscle activity,
mouth breathing, exsposure to cold temp in the environment, and certain
diseases.
Hypothermia Right Ans - a low body temp below 95 F measured rectally it
can be caused by prolonged exposure to cold. death usually occurs if body
temp drops below 93 deg.F
Fever Right Ans - is an elevated body temp usually above 101 deg F
measured rectally. Febrile fever is present. Caused by infection or injury.
Vital Signs DHO – Qs & As
Vital signs Right Ans - defined as various determinations that provide
information about the the basic body conditions of the patient.
Four main vital signs Right Ans - temperature, pulse, respirations and
blood pressure. the fifth is degree of pain. patients will rate the level of pain on
a scale of 1 to 10. other important signs are color of skin, size of pupils, and
reaction to light, level of consciousness and response to stimuli.
Temperature Right Ans - a measurement of the balance between heat lost
and heat produced. its measured by mouth, rectum,armpit or ear (oral,rectal,
axillary,aural)
Respiration Right Ans - The process of taking in oxygen and expelling
carbon dioxidereflect the breathing rate of the patient. the regularity (rhythm)
type (character) of respirations are noted.
Blood pressure Right Ans - the force exerted by the blood against the
arterial walls when the heart contracts or relaxes. two readings systolic and
diastolic are noted to show the greatest pressure and the least pressure.
Apical pulse Right Ans - this pulse is taken with a stethoscope at hte apex of
the heart. the actual heartbeat is heard and counted.at times because of
illness, hardening of the arteries, a weak or very rapid radial pulse, doctors
orders you will be required to take an apical pulse. infants and small children
have a very rapid radial pulse that is difficult to count ,apical pulses are
usually taken. always report all abnormalities in reading. if difficulty in
obtaining a correct reading and another individual to check the patient.
Variations in body temperature Right Ans - individual differences: some
people have accelerated body processes and usually have higher temps others
have slower body processes and usually have lower temperatures.
time of day: is usually lower in the morning after the body has rested and
higher in the evening after muscular activity and daily food intake have taken
place.
body sites: parts of the body where temp are taken lead to variations
, Oral temperatures Right Ans - are taken in the mouth, the most common
convenient and comfortable method of obtaining a temperature. eating,
drinking hot or cold liquids and or smoking can alter the temperature in the
mouth. it is important to make sure the patient has not had anything to eat or
drink , or has not smoked for at least 15 minutes prior to taking the patients
oral temperature.
Rectal temperatures Right Ans - are the most accurate of all
methods.Frequently taken on infants and small children and on patients with
hypothermia.
Axillary temperatures Right Ans - are in the armpit,the upper arm. are
external temp. and thus less accurate. Perspiration affects reading.
Aural temp Right Ans - are taken with a special tympanic thermometer that
is place in the ear or auditory canal. this provides a measurement of body core
temperature, the range is similar to rectal or internal body temperature most
record temp in less than 2 seconds so this is a fast and convenient method for
obtaining temperatures but will not read accurately if not inserted into the ear
correctly or if an ear infection or wax buildup is present.
Temporal temperatures Right Ans - are taken with a special temporal
scanning thermometer that is passed in a straight line across the forehead,
midway between the eyebrows and upper hairline.
Body temp can be above or below the normal range for a variety of teasons.
Right Ans - causes of increase: illness, infection, exercise, excitement, and high
temperatures in environment.
causes of decrease: starvation or fasting, sleep, devreased muscle activity,
mouth breathing, exsposure to cold temp in the environment, and certain
diseases.
Hypothermia Right Ans - a low body temp below 95 F measured rectally it
can be caused by prolonged exposure to cold. death usually occurs if body
temp drops below 93 deg.F
Fever Right Ans - is an elevated body temp usually above 101 deg F
measured rectally. Febrile fever is present. Caused by infection or injury.
