CNA Chapter 26: Measuring Vital Signs
unless otherwise ordered, take vital signs when the person
is lying or sitting
body temperatures is lower in the
morning
a pedal pulse is found
over a footbone
when taking the blood pressure, you place the stethoscope diaphragm
over the brachial artery at the inner aspect of the elbow
when a pulse rate is 120 beats per minute you
report that the person has tachycardia
vital signs
temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure; and pain in some agencies
blood pressure (BP)
the amount of force exerted against the walls of an artery by the blood
body temperature
the amount of heat in the body that is a balance between the amount of heat produced and the amount lost by the body
pulse
the beat of the heart felt at an artery as a wave of blood passes through the artery
hypertension
when the systolic pressure is 140 mm Hg or higher, or the diastolic pressure is 90 mm Hg or higher
if you are taking vital signs on a person with dementia, it may be better if
you take the pulse and respirations at one time, and the temperature and blood pressure at another time
the blood pressure is inflated _ beyond the point where you last felt the radial pulse
30 mm Hg
What is the pulse rate per minute of 12 years and older?
60-100
What is the pulse rate per minute of 10 years?
70-110
an apical pulse of 72 is recorded as
72Ap
What is the pulse rate per minute of 6 years?
75-120
What is the pulse rate per minute of 2 years?
80-160
What is the pulse rate per minute of Birth to 1 year?
80-190
if you take an axillary temperature, the normal range of the temperature would be
96.6 to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit
if you take an oral temperature, the normal range of the temperature would be
97.6 to 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit
if you take a tympanic membrane temperature, the normal range of the temperature would be
98.6 degrees Fahrenheit
if you take a rectal temperature, the normal range of the temperature would be
98.6 to 100.6 degrees Fahrenheit
a _ pulse is taken during the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Carotid
sphygomomanometer
a cuff and measuring device used to measure blood pressure
thermometer
a device used to measure temperature
tachycardia
a rapid heart rate; more than 100 beats per minute
respiration
breathing air into and out of the lungs
persons in nursing centers usually have vital signs measured
daily, twice a day, or weekly
if you are preparing to take a oral temperature, ask the person not to
eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum at least 15 to 20 minutes
fever
elevated body temperature
the apical pulse is taken
for a full minute; on infants and children up to 2 years of age; on persons who have an irregular heartbeat
you need to feel the pulse to determine the
force
an apical-pulse is taken by
having one staff member take the apical pulse and second staff member takes the radial pulse at the same time
when counting respirations the best way is to
keep your fingers or stethoscope over the pulse site so the person thinks you are still counting the pulse
when getting ready to take the blood pressure, position the person's arm
level with the heart
if you are taking the temperature of an older person, you would expect the temperature to be
lower than the normal range
to read a glass thermometer you should hold it at the
stem and bring it to eye level to read it
apical-radial pulse
taking the apical and radial pulses at the same time
pulse deficit
the difference between the apical and radial pulse rates
pulse rate
the number of heartbeats or pulses felt in 1 minute
systole
the period of heart muscle contraction; the heart is pumping blood
diastole
the period of heart muscle relaxation; the heart is at rest
systolic pressure
the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts
diastolic pressure
the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest
when taking the radial pulse, place
two or three fingers on the thumb side of the wrist
when taking a temperature for persons who are confused and resist care, the best choice would be to
use tympanic or temporal artery thermometer
hypotension
when the systolic pressure is below 90 mm Hg, or the diastolic pressure is below 60 mm Hg
when using a stethoscope you can help to prevent infection by
wiping the earpieces and diaphragm with antiseptic wipes before and after use
what should you do if a person asks their vital sign measurements?
you can tell the person the measurements if center policy allows
a glass thermometer is inserted into the rectum
1 inch
the pulse rate is the number of heartbeats or pulses felt in
1 minute
if you take a temporal artery temperature, the normal range of the temperature would be
99.6 degrees Fahrenheit
bradycardia
A slow heart rate, less than 60 beats/min.
a glass rectal thermometer has
a stubby tip color-coded in red
stethoscope
an instrument used to listen to sounds produced by the heart, lungs, and other body organs