What are the vital signs we assess? Temperature Pulse Respirations Blood Pressure Pain O2
What is a normal temperature? 37 C or 98.6 F
What is a normal pulse? 60-100 bpm
What is a normal respiration rate? 12-20 breaths per minute
What is normal blood pressure? 120/80 mmHg
How do we ask patient...
NU 231 Exam 1 Study Questions and
Correct Answers
What are the vital signs we assess? ✅Temperature
Pulse
Respirations
Blood Pressure
Pain
O2
What is a normal temperature? ✅37 C or 98.6 F
What is a normal pulse? ✅60-100 bpm
What is a normal respiration rate? ✅12-20 breaths per minute
What is normal blood pressure? ✅120/80 mmHg
How do we ask patients to rate pain? ✅on a 0-10 pain scale
children often use face scale
neonates: Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) or Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation
Scale (N-PASS)
Nursing action for abnormal vitals ✅- Always retake them first
- Report any abnormal findings
- Follow principles of delegation
- Validate abnormal findings and further assess
When do we assess vital signs? ✅-Upon admission to any healthcare facility.
-Based on policy and procedures.
- Any time there is a loss in consciousness
-Any time there is a change in the patient's condition.
-Before and after surgical or invasive diagnostic procedures.
-Before and after activity that may increase risk, such as ambulation after surgery.
-Before and after administering medications that affect cardiovascular or respiratory
functioning.
What are the sources of heat production? ✅- The primary source is metabolism.
- Hormones, muscle movements and exercise can all increase metabolism.
- Epinephrine and norepinephrine are released when additional heat is required and
alter metabolism
, - Thyroid hormone and shivering increases heat production
- Energy production decreases and heat production increases
What are the sources of heat loss? ✅- Skin (primary source)
- Evaporation of sweat
- Warming and humidifying inspired air
- Eliminating urine and feces
- Transfer of body heat to environment
How is body heat transferred to the environment? ✅Radiation
Convection
Evaporation
Conduction
What affects body temperature? ✅- Circadian rhythm: body temp. is lower in morning
and higher between 4 and 8pm
- Age & Gender: Older adults have less subcutaneous tissue, this leads to loss of
thermoregulatory function. New borns are more susceptible to heat loss. Women
experience more temp. fluctuations than men
- Physical Activity: Muscle movement increases temp.
- State of Health: Certain disease processes can result in a change of body temp.
- Environmental Temp.: Hypothermia and Hyperthermia
How is pulse regulated? ✅By the autonomic nervous system through the SA node of
the heart
Define pulse rate ✅The number of contractions over a peripheral artery in 1 minute
Parasympathetic stimulation vs. sympathetic simulation (HR) ✅Parasympathetic
Stimulation = decrease in HR
Sympathetic Stimulation = increase in HR
List 3 ways to assess pulse ✅1. Palpate the peripheral arteries
2. Auscultate the apical pulse with a stethoscope
3. Use a portable Doppler ultrasound
List the common pulse sites ✅Temporal
Carotid (often used during cardiac arrest)
Brachial (commonly done on infants)
Radial (normal for adults)
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller twishfrancis. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
