Basics of Nursing Ch 21

• 5 Vital signs:

  • temperature
  • pulse
  • respiration
  • blood pressure
  • pain level
• If another health worker takes vitals on your patient check the measurements to see how they match with your assesment
• Heat is produced as a by-product of metabolism
• Fever is caused by an increase in metabolism which also increases heat
• Pyrogens are agents that cause fever
• the rate at which heat is produced when the body is at rest is the basal metabolic rate
• BMR is affected by the thyroid hormone
• Increase in thyroid hormone causes an increase in metabolic rate which then increases temperature
• Decreased levels of thyroid hormone cause a decreased body temperature
• Shivering, and voluntary muscle movement increase heat production.
• Hormones affecting metabolic rate:

  • Epinephrine
  • Norepinephrine
  • Testosterone
• Men have a higher BMR than women
• Hypothalamus acts as the thermostat to

  control body temperature
• Peripheral vasoconstriction: occurs when peripheral blood vessels become constricted due to being cold
• 60 to 70mL of blood is propelled into the aorta when the heart contracts
• A state of insufficient oxygen is hypoxia
• peripheral vasodilatation: blood vessels dilating due to an increase in body temperature
• Diaphoresis is excessive sweating
• Pyrexia (fever) is a temperature of 100.2 and higher
• Stroke volume x heart rate= cardiac output
• Pulse is found by palpation or auscultation
• Heart rate does NOT normally change with age
• Dysrhythmias are common in elderly
• Organs of respiration:

  • nose
  • pharynx
  • larynx
  • trachea
  • bronchi
  • lungs
• Respirations are triggered by increased CO2 levels or a decrease in O2 levels
• The rate and depth of respirations are altered due to carotid body receptors
• Systolic pressure: Exerted on the arterial wall during cardiac contraction
• Diastolic pressure: Exerted on the arterial wall between contractions
• Blood pressure increases with increases in circulating blood volume
• Dehydration and hemorrhages cause low blood pressure
• High-pitched crowing sound on inspiration is hypoxia
• Decreased oxygen in the blood is known as stridor
• Slow, shallow breathing is: bradypnea
• Rapid respiratory rate: tachypnea
• Absence of breathing: apnea
• Irregular heart rate: arrhythmia
• the difference between the radial and apical pulse is: pulse deficit
• Pulse rate that is greater than 100bpm=tachycardia
• Heat loss occurs through:

  • radiation
  • conduction
  • convection
  • evaporation
• Heat is lost by the body due to evaporation which results in a loss of 800mL of water a day