Vital Signs - ANSWER:Includes pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature
measurements to determine how healthy a person is.
(T,P,R,BP)
When do you take Vital Signs? - ANSWER:On admission to a health care facility
Based on facility policy
Any change into the patients condition
ANY TIME THERE IS A LOSS IN CONCIOUSNESS
Before and After Surgery
Before administering Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medications
What is a normal Temperature - ANSWER:96.4- 99.3 F
36.5-37.7 C
Factors that Affect Body Temperature - ANSWER:Time of day- normally 1-2 degrees lower in the early
morning
Age- older patients have a lower temperature because of impaired thermoregulation
Sex- Women tend to experience fluctuations due to progesterone
Physical activity
Environmental Temperature- hypothermia or hyperthermia
Fever or Pyrexia - ANSWER:elevated body temperature caused by bacteria, tissue injury, trauma, etc.
Types of fevers - ANSWER:intermittent- returns to normal once q24hrs
remittent- does not become normal goes up or down
constant- above normal limits constantly
relapsing- here and there
symptoms of fever - ANSWER:loss of appetite, headache, hot skin, fatigue, INCREASED RESPIRATIONS &
PULSE RATE
Hypothermia - ANSWER:poor coordination, slurred speech, poor judgement,
, DECREASED RESPIRATION
WEAK PULSE
DECREASED BP
Treatment for Hypothermia - ANSWER:Rewarming the patient
-new clothes and blankets
-use heat blankets and pad
-warm IV fluids
Contraindications of Oral Temperature - ANSWER:Diseases of the Oral Cavity
People with Mouth Surgery
Risks of seizure
Contraindications of Tympanic Temperature - ANSWER:ear drainage
ear infection
ear pain
scars on the tympanic membrane
When taking a Tympanic Temperature: - ANSWER:A covered probe is gently inserted into the ear canal
and temperature is measured with seconds
Pull the pina up and back
have the probe towards the jawline
Contraindications of a Temporal Temperature - ANSWER:not over lesions or abrasions
not over scar tissue
Which temperature is the least accurate? - ANSWER:Axillary- you want to avoid taking it because it is not
accurate and affected by a variety of factors
Contraindications of a Rectal Temperature - ANSWER:-neutropenic patients due to weak immune system
-immunocompromised people- low WBCs
-low platelet count because of bleeding
-No recent diarrhea
-NO NEWBORNS