CNA 1 Module AA - Measurements

Vital Signs

(also called TPR & BP) include the measurement of tempature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure that show how well vital organs are functioning

Millimeters of Mercury

(mm Hg) the unit of measure for blood pressure

Thermometer

a device used to check a resident's temperature

Temporal Pulse

a pulse point located in the temples of the head

Apical Pulse

a pulse point located over the heart

Bradycardia

a pulse rate less than 60 beats per minute

Tachycardia

a pulse rate more than 100 beats per minute

Bradypnea

a respiratory rate less than 12 breaths per minute

Tachypnea

a respiratory rate more than 20 breaths per minute

Temporal Thermometer

a thermometer that measures heat from teh skin over the forehead, specifically over the temporal artery

Tympanic Thermometer

a thermometer that uses the ear as the site to check a resident's temperature

Analog Watch

a watch that has moving hands and typically marked from number 1 through 12

Orthostatic Hypotension

abnormal low blood pressure occurring when the resident suddenly stands up; resident complains of weakness, faintness, dizziness, and seeing spots

Expiration

also called exhalation and involves the breathing out of carbon dioxide through the nose and mouth; the chest falls

Inspiration

also called inhalation and involves the breathing in of oxygenthrough the nose; chest rises

Cardiovascular System

also called the circulatory system and is the continuous movement of blood through the body

Sphygmomanometer

also known as th BP cuff; is the equipment used to check a person's blood pressure

Cheyne-Stokes

alternating periods of slow, irregular breathing and rapid shallow breathing, plus short periods of absent breathing

Fever

an elevated temperature

Arteries

blood vessels that carry blood with oxygen and nutrients away from the heart and to the cells

Veins

blood vessels that carry blood with waste products away from the cells and to the heart

pnea

breathing/respiration

Cardia

cardia (cardiovascular)

Lungs

elastic, spongy, cone-shaped structures involved and the location where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occur

Tachy

fast

Diarrhea

frequent passage of loose, watery stools (bowel movements)

Hypertension

high blood pressure

Body Temperature

how much the heat is in the body and balances the heat creted by the body and heat lost to the environment

Objective

information collected by the nurse aide's senses

Stethascope

instrutment used to listen to heart sounds, lung sounds, and the brachial pulse during blood pressure

Respiratory System

involves the breathing in of oxygen (inspiration) and the breathing out of carbon dioxide (experation)

Pulse

is the beat of the heart felt at an artery, as a wave og blood passes through the artery; iss the numbers of heart beats per minute

Hypotension

low blood pressure

Centigrade

metric scale used to measure temperature, expressed in degrees

Apnea

no breathing

Eupnea

normal breathing

Dyspnea

painful or difficult breathing

Carotid Pulse

pulse points located in both sides of the neck

Brachial Pulse

pulse points located in the crooks of the elbows typically used during blood pressure checks

Pedal Pulse

pulse points located in the top of the feet and used to check circulation of the leg

Radial Pulse

pulse points located in the wrists, which is used most often, easy to reach , easy to find, and used for routine vital signs

Hyperventilation

rapid and deep breathing

Fahrenheit

scale used to measure temperature, expressed in degrees

Brady

slow

Hypoventilation

slow, shallow breathing that may be irregular

Aneroid Manometer

that part of the sphygmomanometer (BP Cuff) that includes the dial that indicates the systolic and diastolic pressure during blood pressure checks

Diaphragm

that part of the stethoscope located on the chest piece used to listen to the presence or absence of brachial artery blood flow during blood pressure check

Blood Pressure

the amount of force exerted by the blood against the walls of the artery

Pulse Rate

the number of heart beats (or pulses) per minute

Respiratory Rate (or respirations)

the number of inspirations (inhalations) the person takes in a minute

Respiration

the process that supplies oxygen to the cells and removes carbon dioxide from cells

Heart

the pump of the cardiovascular (circulatory) system consisting of four chambers

Pulse Rhythm

the regularity of the heart beats (pulses) and should be the same interval between beats

Diastole

the resting phase of the heart when the heart fills with blood; the bottom number of a blood pressure reading (diastolic)

Pulse Force

the strength of the pulse and should be easy to feel

Systole

the working phase of the heart when the heart is pumping blood to the body; the top number of a blood pressure reading (diastolic)

Ventricles (Right and Left)

two lower chambers of gthe heart

Atria (right and left)

two upper chambers of the heart

Pain

whatever the resident says that it is

Inhale

when air (or oxygen) is pulled in through the nose and down into the lungs

Exhale

when carbon dioxide is expelled out of the nose and the mouth from the lungs

Febrile

with a fever

Afebrile

without fever