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