Vital Signs: Chapter 9 – Health Care Science Technology (page 321)
KEY TERMS:
Assess:
Auscultate:
Blood pressure:
Diastolic pressure:
Hypertension:
Hypotension:
Systolic pressure:
Sphygmomanometer:
Intercostal space:
Pulse:
Arrhythmia or Dysrhythmia:
Apical:
Anecubital:
Brachial:
Bradycardia:
Palpate:
Popliteal:
Radial:
Tachycardia:
Respiration:
Cheyne-Stokes:
Dyspnea:
Hyperventilation:
Hypoventilation:
Rhythm:
Ventilation:
Stethoscope:
Temperature:
Afebrile:
Axillary:
Febrile:
Oral:
Rectal:
Tympanic:
Vital signs:
TEMPERATURE
Temperature variation is the result of changes within the body or exposure to the environment,
such as:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
.
.
.
.
.
If client has eaten or drank any fluids wait 15 min before taking the temperature. Hot or
cold may effect the accuracy of the temperature.
Temperature sites define the following terms
1.
2.
3.
4.
Oral:
Axillary:
Tympanic:
Rectal:
Types of thermometers
1. Electronic
a. Tympanic thermometer measures temperature in the ______________________
b. Digital thermometer measures temperature in what way
i. .
ii. .
iii. .
2. Glass …no longer use mercury but a nonmercury base fluid in bulb
a. Rounded tip used for….
b. Long tip used for …
c. Security tip used for ...
Thermometer Handles
1. Colors indicates if the thermometer should be used for oral or rectal temperature.
What is the significance of the following colors?
a. Red =
b. Blue =
PULSE
Two ways to check a pulse incude:
a) .
b) .
What information is provided when taking a pulse?
Pulse Sites: on the diagram below, label the pulse sites
The most common pulse site include:
a) .
b) .
c) .
Never use your __________________ to check a pulse because it may ____________________
____________________________________.
The pulse site used for assessing the blood pressure is the _____________________________
An apical pulse is auscultated with a stethoscope placed on the chest wall. Where should the
stethoscope be placed?
Characteristics of the pulse - define
1. Pulse Rate: Expected Pulse Rates according Age Group
AGE
Newborn
1 month to 1 year
1 to 6 years
6 years to adolescence
Adulthood
Late Adulthood

Tachycardia can be caused by:

Bradycardia can be caused by:
2. Pulse Rhythm: Pattern of the heartbeats
 How long is an irregular pulse to be counted?
3. Pulse Volume: Strength of the pulse
 Define pulse volume:

Define the following pulse volume description terms:
a. Absent:
b. Thready or weak:
c. Strong or normal:
d. Bounding or full:

A bounding pulse may indicate:
RESPIRATIONS
RANGE
Respiratory Rate:
1. The most common way to assess the respiratory rate is:
2. Another way of assessing the client’s respirations is to listen with a ______________
3. What would you tell the client when listening to the respirations so they do not alter
their breathing rate?
4. When watching the respirations of a client, pretend you are checking their pulse.
Characteristics of Respiration
1. Rate:


Suggested normal adult range for respirations is _______________________
Causes of hyperventilation include:

Causes of hypoventilation include:
2. Rhythm: Should be regular (with out periods of fast or slow breathing)
3. Quality: seen in volume and effort
 Volume: (define)
o Documented as …

Effort: (define)
o Documented as …
BLOOD PRESSURE
Expected blood pressure values:

Expected blood pressure values
o Systolic readings _____________________________
o Diastolic readings ____________________________
Sites for blood pressure assessment:

Brachial:

Radial:

Popliteal:

Borsalis pedis and Posterior tibial:
Equipment for measuring a blood pressure:

Sphygmomanometer: commonly referred to as a blood pressure (b/p) cuff
 sphygmo =
 mano =
 meter =

Steps for taking a b/p
1. Check for pulse
2. Cuff placed around the extremity 1” above the _______________________
3. Place stethoscope over ____________________
4. ______________ and ______________ bulb to fill cuff with air
5. __________________ release the air from the cuff
6. As the level of the mercury drops take note of when you can ___________
hear the sounds, and the __________________ when you first hear the
sounds, and the number when you _____________ hear the sounds. If the
sounds do not completely disappear note the number when the sounds
became softer.
Types of Sphygmomanometers
o Mercury:
o Aneroid:
o Electronic:

PRECAUTIONS WHEN TAKING BLOOD PRESSURE
1. If a woman has had a mastectomy (breast removed), you should NOT:
2. If a client has an intravenous infusion (IV), an arteriovenous (AV) graft for kidney
dialusis, or some other type of injury such as a burn, you should NOT:
3. If a client has a bleeding disorder, do NOT use an ____________________________
because:
4. When taking 2 or more blood pressures in a row on the same client you should take
them at least ___________________________________________. Never try more than
three times in a row on the same extremity.
How is hypertension treated?