NRSG 225 Exam #1 Questions and Correct Answers.
temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygenation, and pain - >types of
vital signs
-to determine a person's baseline status
-to determine if a person is sick, in pain, or "abnormal" - >why do we take vitals?
-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) - >when do
we take vitals?
sit to relax - >to get accurate vital readings, the patient must __________
96.4-99.5 degrees F; 35.8-37.5 C - >normal temperature for adults
electronic or digital thermometers - tympanic, temporal artery, axillary, oral, rectal -
>methods to assess temperature
most common - oral and infrared
least common - rectal - >most and least common ways to assess temperature
Oral and rectal - >the most accurate method for assessing temperature
circadian rhythm, age, sex, physical activity, state of health, environmental temperature -
>what affects temperature?
death can occur when temperature is below 95 degrees F - >hypothermia
death can occur when temperature is above 106 degrees F - >hyperthermia
60-100 bpm - >normal pulse rates for adults
palpation of peripheral arteries, carotid, brachial, radial
-radial is most common - >methods to assess pulse rate
age, sex, physical activity (fit people have a lower HR), fever, stress, medication, disease -
>what affects pulse rate?
in general - radial
in adults and children - carotid
, in infants - brachial - >most common ways to assess pulse
place stethoscope over the apex of the heart and listen for 1 minute; very accurate - >how
to take apical pulse
rate - beats per minute (bpm)
rhythm - regular or irregular
amplitude - strength (1+ = weak, 2+ = normal, 3+ = strong)
quality - same as amplitude - >characteristics of a pulse
decreased pulse rate, < 60 bpm - >bradycardia
elevated pulse rate, > 100 bpm - >tachycardia
12-20 breaths per minute; known as eupnea - >normal respiratory rate in adults
one breath = one inhale and one exhale; assess while obtaining the pulse rate - >methods
to assess respiratory rate
exercise, disease, fluid/electrolyte/acid-base balance alterations, medication, trauma,
infection, pain, emotions - >what affects respiratory rate?
rate - breaths per min
rhythm - regular or irregular
depth - shallow or deep - >characteristics of respiration
decreased respiratory rate; < 12 breaths per min - >bradypnea
increased respiratory rate; < 20 breaths per min; usually an increased in pulse means and
increase in respiration - >tachypnea
100-120/60-80 mmHg; systolic/diastolic; known as normotensive - >normal blood
pressure in adults
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 - >methods to assess blood pressure
circadian rhythm, age, sex, food intake, exercise (fit people have a lower BP), weight,
emotional state, body position, race, medications/drugs - >what affects blood pressure
decreased blood pressure; < 90/60 mmHg - >hypotension
elevated blood pressure; > 130/80 mmHg; there are various stages of hypertension -
>hypertension
temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygenation, and pain - >types of
vital signs
-to determine a person's baseline status
-to determine if a person is sick, in pain, or "abnormal" - >why do we take vitals?
-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) - >when do
we take vitals?
sit to relax - >to get accurate vital readings, the patient must __________
96.4-99.5 degrees F; 35.8-37.5 C - >normal temperature for adults
electronic or digital thermometers - tympanic, temporal artery, axillary, oral, rectal -
>methods to assess temperature
most common - oral and infrared
least common - rectal - >most and least common ways to assess temperature
Oral and rectal - >the most accurate method for assessing temperature
circadian rhythm, age, sex, physical activity, state of health, environmental temperature -
>what affects temperature?
death can occur when temperature is below 95 degrees F - >hypothermia
death can occur when temperature is above 106 degrees F - >hyperthermia
60-100 bpm - >normal pulse rates for adults
palpation of peripheral arteries, carotid, brachial, radial
-radial is most common - >methods to assess pulse rate
age, sex, physical activity (fit people have a lower HR), fever, stress, medication, disease -
>what affects pulse rate?
in general - radial
in adults and children - carotid
, in infants - brachial - >most common ways to assess pulse
place stethoscope over the apex of the heart and listen for 1 minute; very accurate - >how
to take apical pulse
rate - beats per minute (bpm)
rhythm - regular or irregular
amplitude - strength (1+ = weak, 2+ = normal, 3+ = strong)
quality - same as amplitude - >characteristics of a pulse
decreased pulse rate, < 60 bpm - >bradycardia
elevated pulse rate, > 100 bpm - >tachycardia
12-20 breaths per minute; known as eupnea - >normal respiratory rate in adults
one breath = one inhale and one exhale; assess while obtaining the pulse rate - >methods
to assess respiratory rate
exercise, disease, fluid/electrolyte/acid-base balance alterations, medication, trauma,
infection, pain, emotions - >what affects respiratory rate?
rate - breaths per min
rhythm - regular or irregular
depth - shallow or deep - >characteristics of respiration
decreased respiratory rate; < 12 breaths per min - >bradypnea
increased respiratory rate; < 20 breaths per min; usually an increased in pulse means and
increase in respiration - >tachypnea
100-120/60-80 mmHg; systolic/diastolic; known as normotensive - >normal blood
pressure in adults
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 - >methods to assess blood pressure
circadian rhythm, age, sex, food intake, exercise (fit people have a lower BP), weight,
emotional state, body position, race, medications/drugs - >what affects blood pressure
decreased blood pressure; < 90/60 mmHg - >hypotension
elevated blood pressure; > 130/80 mmHg; there are various stages of hypertension -
>hypertension
