NRSG 225 Exam #1 Questions With
Complete Answers
types of vital signs - ANSWER temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure,
oxygenation, and pain
why do we take vitals? - ANSWER -to determine a person's baseline status
-to determine if a person is sick, in pain, or "abnormal"
when do we take vitals? - ANSWER -usually every 4 hours
-upon admission
-loss of consciousness
-change in patient condition
-before/during/after invasive surgeries
- before/after activities that may result in a change (ex: epidural)
-before/during/after administration of meds that could affect vitals (ex: opioids)
to get accurate vital readings, the patient must __________ - ANSWER sit to relax
normal temperature for adults - ANSWER 96.4-99.5 degrees F; 35.8-37.5 C
methods to assess temperature - ANSWER electronic or digital thermometers -
tympanic, temporal artery, axillary, oral, rectal
most and least common ways to assess temperature - ANSWER most common - oral and
infrared
least common - rectal
,the most accurate method for assessing temperature - ANSWER Oral and rectal
what affects temperature? - ANSWER circadian rhythm, age, sex, physical activity, state
of health, environmental temperature
hypothermia - ANSWER death can occur when temperature is below 95 degrees F
hyperthermia - ANSWER death can occur when temperature is above 106 degrees F
normal pulse rates for adults - ANSWER 60-100 bpm
methods to assess pulse rate - ANSWER palpation of peripheral arteries, carotid,
brachial, radial
-radial is most common
what affects pulse rate? - ANSWER age, sex, physical activity (fit people have a lower
HR), fever, stress, medication, disease
most common ways to assess pulse - ANSWER in general - radial
in adults and children - carotid
in infants - brachial
how to take apical pulse - ANSWER place stethoscope over the apex of the heart and
listen for 1 minute; very accurate
characteristics of a pulse - ANSWER rate - beats per minute (bpm)
rhythm - regular or irregular
amplitude - strength (1+ = weak, 2+ = normal, 3+ = strong)
, quality - same as amplitude
bradycardia - ANSWER decreased pulse rate, < 60 bpm
tachycardia - ANSWER elevated pulse rate, > 100 bpm
normal respiratory rate in adults - ANSWER 12-20 breaths per minute; known as eupnea
methods to assess respiratory rate - ANSWER one breath = one inhale and one exhale;
assess while obtaining the pulse rate
what affects respiratory rate? - ANSWER exercise, disease, fluid/electrolyte/acid-base
balance alterations, medication, trauma, infection, pain, emotions
characteristics of respiration - ANSWER rate - breaths per min
rhythm - regular or irregular
depth - shallow or deep
bradypnea - ANSWER decreased respiratory rate; < 12 breaths per min
tachypnea - ANSWER increased respiratory rate; < 20 breaths per min; usually an
increased in pulse means and increase in respiration
normal blood pressure in adults - ANSWER 100-120/60-80 mmHg; systolic/diastolic;
known as normotensive
methods to assess blood pressure - ANSWER allow patient to rest for at least 5 minutes
before assessing; allow 30 minutes of rest before assessing if the patient has smoked or
had caffeine
Complete Answers
types of vital signs - ANSWER temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure,
oxygenation, and pain
why do we take vitals? - ANSWER -to determine a person's baseline status
-to determine if a person is sick, in pain, or "abnormal"
when do we take vitals? - ANSWER -usually every 4 hours
-upon admission
-loss of consciousness
-change in patient condition
-before/during/after invasive surgeries
- before/after activities that may result in a change (ex: epidural)
-before/during/after administration of meds that could affect vitals (ex: opioids)
to get accurate vital readings, the patient must __________ - ANSWER sit to relax
normal temperature for adults - ANSWER 96.4-99.5 degrees F; 35.8-37.5 C
methods to assess temperature - ANSWER electronic or digital thermometers -
tympanic, temporal artery, axillary, oral, rectal
most and least common ways to assess temperature - ANSWER most common - oral and
infrared
least common - rectal
,the most accurate method for assessing temperature - ANSWER Oral and rectal
what affects temperature? - ANSWER circadian rhythm, age, sex, physical activity, state
of health, environmental temperature
hypothermia - ANSWER death can occur when temperature is below 95 degrees F
hyperthermia - ANSWER death can occur when temperature is above 106 degrees F
normal pulse rates for adults - ANSWER 60-100 bpm
methods to assess pulse rate - ANSWER palpation of peripheral arteries, carotid,
brachial, radial
-radial is most common
what affects pulse rate? - ANSWER age, sex, physical activity (fit people have a lower
HR), fever, stress, medication, disease
most common ways to assess pulse - ANSWER in general - radial
in adults and children - carotid
in infants - brachial
how to take apical pulse - ANSWER place stethoscope over the apex of the heart and
listen for 1 minute; very accurate
characteristics of a pulse - ANSWER rate - beats per minute (bpm)
rhythm - regular or irregular
amplitude - strength (1+ = weak, 2+ = normal, 3+ = strong)
, quality - same as amplitude
bradycardia - ANSWER decreased pulse rate, < 60 bpm
tachycardia - ANSWER elevated pulse rate, > 100 bpm
normal respiratory rate in adults - ANSWER 12-20 breaths per minute; known as eupnea
methods to assess respiratory rate - ANSWER one breath = one inhale and one exhale;
assess while obtaining the pulse rate
what affects respiratory rate? - ANSWER exercise, disease, fluid/electrolyte/acid-base
balance alterations, medication, trauma, infection, pain, emotions
characteristics of respiration - ANSWER rate - breaths per min
rhythm - regular or irregular
depth - shallow or deep
bradypnea - ANSWER decreased respiratory rate; < 12 breaths per min
tachypnea - ANSWER increased respiratory rate; < 20 breaths per min; usually an
increased in pulse means and increase in respiration
normal blood pressure in adults - ANSWER 100-120/60-80 mmHg; systolic/diastolic;
known as normotensive
methods to assess blood pressure - ANSWER allow patient to rest for at least 5 minutes
before assessing; allow 30 minutes of rest before assessing if the patient has smoked or
had caffeine
