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Vital Signs
- AKA Cardinal Signs
- Body Temperature
- Pulse
- Respiration
- Blood Pressure (BP)
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Body temperature is controlled by a small structure in the basal region of the brain
Hypothalamus
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Adult (14 years plus) Normal Body Temp
97.8 to 99.00 degrees F
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Child (5-13 years) Normal Body Temp
97.8 to 98.6 degees F
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Infant (3 mo. to 3 years)
99.0 to 99.7 degrees F
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As the body temp increases
The body demands for oxygen increase.
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If a person body temp is below normal limits, they are said to have
hypothermia: may be medically induced to reduce a patient's need for oxygen.
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A person can die with temp above
105.8 F to 111.2 F
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Oral, mouth under tongue temp
98.6 degrees F
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Tympanic (ear) temp
97.6 degrees F
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Rectum/Rectal (anal opening) Temp
- 99.6 degrees F
- Most accurate (pelvic viscera) core temp of the body.
- Should not be used if the patient is restless or has rectal bleeding or hemorrhoids.
- Rarely done on adults, mostly performed on infants.
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Axillary (armpit)
97.6 F to 98 F
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Nine Locations to Measure a Pulse
- Apical: Apex of the heart (heard with stethoscope). Is the most accurate for infant and children for cardiovascular assessment.
- Radial: At the wrist at the base of the thumb. Easiest and strongest site to take a pulse.
- Carotid: Neck.
- Femoral: Groin.
- Popliteal: Posterior knee.
- Temporal: Front of ear.
- Dorsalis Pedis: Top of foot.
- Posterior Tibial: Inner side of ankle.
- Brachial: Groove of elbow.
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Average Adult Pulse Rate
60 to 90 bpm
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Average Child Pulse Rate
90 to 100 bpm
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Average Infant Pulse Rate
120 bpm
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Tachycardia
Is an abnormally rapid heart rate (over 100 bpm).
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Bradycardia
Is an abnormally slow heart rate (below 60 bpm).
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Pulse Count
Use a watch for one full minute.
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Adult Average Respiration
15 to 20 R
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Child (1 to 10 years) Average Respiration
20 to 30 R
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Infant (under 1 year) Average Respiration
30 to 60 R
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Respiration (R)
should be quiet, effortless and uniform
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Dyspnea
When a patient is using more than the normal effort to breathe.
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Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
Is the highest point reached during contraction of the left ventricle.
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Adult Normal BP Range
- Systolic: 110 to 120 mm Hg
- Diastolic: 60 to 80 mm Hg
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Adolescent Normal BP Range
- Systolic: 85 to 130 mm Hg
- Diastolic: 45 to 85 mm Hg
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Child Normal BP Range
- Systolic: 90 to 120 mm Hg
- Diastolic: 50 to 70 mm Hg
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Abnormal BP in Adults
Patients who have a dip lower than 20%, notify the doctor immediately.
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Systolic Pressure (top number)
The highest point reached during contraction of the left ventricle of the heart as it pumps blood into the aorta.
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Diastolic Pressure (bottom number)
The lowest point in which the pressure drops using relaxation of the ventricles.
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Hypoxemia
When the level of oxygen in the arterial blood becomes inadequate to meet the patient's physiological needs.
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Normal SaO2 values
- 95% to 100%
- Less then 85% indicates that tissues are not receiving adequate oxygen.
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COPD
Excessive amounts of oxygen to patients who have COPD may depress the respiratory drive, and the patient may stop breathing.
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Parts of initial assessment of a patient in the diagnostic imaging department for an invasive procedure?
- Taking blood pressure.
- Taking a pulse.
- Taking a respiration rate.
- Taking a temperature.
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Why is the initial assessment so important to perform?
This will provide a baseline that can be used as a comparison for mid-procedure and end procedure assessments.
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Systolic blood pressure
The lowest point to which the blood pressure drops during relaxation of the ventricles.
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What range of breaths per minute is the normal adult respiratory rate?
15 to 20 R
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An adult patient is considered to be hypertensive or to have hypertension if the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are consistently greater than:
140 systolic and 90 diastolic
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Oxygen can be toxic to patients if it is incorrectly used. Two reasons.
Oxygen can create reversible tracheobranchitis or irreversible parenchymal lung injury, especially in patients with COPS.
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Which of the following items must be in the diagnostic imaging department and in working order?
Blood pressure monitoring equipment.
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What is the normal oral body temperature of an adult?
97.8 to 99 degrees F
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Sphygmomanometer
Measure blood pressure
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Clinical thermometer
Measure body temperature
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Brachial artery
Point where the blood pressure is most often measured.
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Radial artery
Pulse is most often measured.
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Name the two most commonly used oxygen delivery systems.
Nasal cannula and face mask
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List the hazards of oxygen administration.
Oxygen is highly combustible. It is considered a medication and must be prescribed. It can be toxic to patients with current lung disease.
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Explain why the pulse rate goes up when the blood pressure drops.
As the blood pressure drops, the heart beats harder to get blood to the body, thus creating a higher pulse rate.
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