Measuring Height, Weight, and Vital Signs

Pulse Points

a body's pulse can be felt or heard at various points on the body (arteries)

Hypotension

a consistently below-normal blood pressure

Electric Sphygmomanometer

a device that automatically measures a patient's blood pressure at regular intervals and tracks it on a computer

Aneroid Sphygmomanometer

a device with a circular dial for readings that is attached to a cuff by a rubber tube

Tachypnea

a fast respiratory rate (fever)

Dial Scale

a large, numbered dial that indicated the patient's correct weight measurement

Febrile

a patient with a temperature above 99 F (running a fever)

Afebrile

a patients who has a temperature within the normal range

What factors cause fluctuations in body temperature

age (metabolism) gender (women) exercise (calories) time of day (morning) emotions (stress/depression) illness (disease)

Arrhythmia

an abnormal heart rhythm

Listening for a pulse using a stethoscope is called _______________

ausculate

A/an _____________ scale has a system of weights that are moved across the top of the scale

balance beam

3 types of scales

balance beam scales, dial scales, and digital scales

Most commonly taken using an aneroid sphygmomanometer

blood pressure

Hypertension

blood pressure that remains consistently above normal

Reflects a balance between the heat a person's body produced and the heat it losses

body temperature

Where are pulse points

carotid, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis artery

Bradypnea

decreased respiratory rate (diabetes)

Dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing (anxious)

Digital Scale

displays the patient's weight on a digital screen

_________________ thermometers are not reliable for definitive measurement but are acceptable for screening in certain settings, such as day care centers and school

disposable

Most common thermometers

electric, tympanic, temporal, and disposable

The medical term for normal respiration is _________________

eupnea

Pulse

expansion and relaxation of the arteries

Tachycardia

heart rate is greater than 100 beats per minute

Bradycardia

heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute

Measurement that may begin to decrease in older patients due to osteoporosis

height

Help patients avoid orthostatic hypotension

help the patient raise his or her head of the bed - assist the patient into a sitting position on the side of the bed, watching for dizziness or faintness - help the patient into a standing position

Blood pressure that remains consistently above normal is known as _______________

hypertension

What regulates temperature

hypothalamus

Avoid taking blood pressure readings in arms that have

intravenous lines, dialysis shunts, and major cuts or wounds

Blood Pressure

is a measurement of the pressure of the blood against the arterial walls in the contraction and relaxation phases of the heartbeat

Electronic Thermometer

is a portable batter-operated unit with interchangeable probes

Tympanic thermometer

is usually battery-powered and has an end fitted with a disposable cover that is inserted into the ear

Why is it important for vital signs to be recorded as a part of a patient's permanent medical record during every health care visit?

it is essential for health care professionals to monitor the patients condition and diagnose, treat, and prevent many disorders

Orthostatic Hypotension

low blood pressure along with weakness or fainting when a patient rises to an erect position

Diastolic

lower pressure level

Vital signs

measure some of the body's essential functions: temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure

Temporal artery thermometer

measures actual blood temperature by touching the unit to the front of the forehead, pressing the on/off button, and sliding the probe scanner over the forehead and down the temporal artery

At what sites can body temperature be measured? Which site if most common, and which site is considered to be most accurate?

mouth, rectum, and axillary areas (ear/temple) mouth: most common rectal: most accurate

Eupnea

normal respiration

Core Temperature

normally, the body maintains a relatively constant internal temperature

Rectal temperature are generally 1 F higher than

oral temperature

Orthopnea

patients can often breath more easily in an upright position

Apnea

periods of no breathing

How does a health care professional palpate a patient's pulse?

place your index and middle and ring fingers over the patient's pulse point - counting heartbeats for 30 seconds, and then multiplying the results by two or count for a minute (radial)

Expansion and relaxation of the arteries as the heat pumps blood

pulse

When you feel for a patients pulse you assess

pulse rate, pulse rhythm, and pulse strength

The characteristics of respirations include

rate, rhythm, and depth

Disposable Thermometer

register body temperature quickly with color changes on a strip

Taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide

respiration

__________ pressure goes over ___________ pressure

systolic - diastolic

Respiration

the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the blood in the body

Systolic

the highest pressure level in the arteries during contraction is recorded - occurs when the first sound is heard in taking blood pressure

Factors that affect pulse rate

time of day (morning) gender (women) body size and type (skinny) exercise (muscles) stress or emotions (depression) fever (faster) medications (side effects) blood volume (dehydration)

How can a health care professional visually assess a patient's respiration? What should they do if they are unable to make this visual assessment?

to assess a patient's respiration, the complete cycle of one rose and one fall of the patient's chest should be counted as one respiration - lay a hand on the chest to feel the respirations - count each respiration for 30 seconds and multiply by 2

Balance Beam Scale

used in many health care facilities, has a system of weights that are moved along a beam at the top of the scale

Doppler ultrasound stethoscope

used to amplify the sound of a pulse that is difficult to palate or a blood pressure that is difficult to measure

Although not considered a vital sign, this measurement can fluctuate throughout a person's life and should be recored at each health care visit because it is important clue to overall health

weight

The width of the blood pressure cuff should be about

40% of the circumference of the limb where the measurement is being taken

A healthy adult's resting pulse rate should average between

60 and 100 beats per minute

Normal temperature in adults

97-99 F

Under normal circumstances, a healthy adult's resting respiratory rate is between

12 and 20 breaths per minute

Normal blood pressure

120/80 mm

What is the difference between bradycardia and tachycardia?

B: heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute T: heart rate is greater than 100 beats per minute