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Medical Assistant > Vitals > Flashcards

Flashcards in Vitals Deck (14)
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1
Q

-accurate height: remove all footwear, stand straight with back against wall, remain still accurate weight: remove all heavy objects from pockets, stand on scale facing forward, remain still -BMI=weight (kg)/height (m^2)

A

Height/Weight/BMI

2
Q

110/70 is considered normal by the American Heart Association (AHA)

A

Blood Pressure (BP)

3
Q

-oral temperature: 98.6 degrees F -axillary normal temperature (armpit): 97.6 degrees F -temporal: forehead -tympanic: within the ear -rectal: considered most accurate form but poses greater risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens

A

Temperature

4
Q

12-20 respirations per minute is considered normal

A

Respiration

5
Q

having a fever (any temperature over 100)

A

Febrile

6
Q

the last sound heard (relaxation) during a blood pressure reading (bottom number); all sounds disappear -lowest point of pressure -when the ventricles relax

A

Diastolic Pressure

7
Q

first sound heard (contraction) during blood pressure reading (top number); sounds like tapping -highest point of pressure -represents the force of the blood pushing against arterial walls when the ventricles of the heart are contracting

A

Systolic Pressure

8
Q

used to check the heart rate of an infant; may be heard over the apex of the heart with a stethoscope or by palpating to obtain a pulse

A

Apical Pulse

9
Q

feverish periods lasting a few hours alternating with periods in which temperature is normal

A

Intermittent Fever

10
Q

-measures amount of oxygen circulating in the blood on the hemoglobin molecules -normal: 95-100%; levels below 90% must be treated -measured by the application of a pulse oximetry device attached to a patient’s finger

A

Oxygen Saturation/Pulse Oximetry

11
Q

fever that fluctuates less than 3 degrees but does not return to normal

A

Continuous Fever

12
Q

temperature remains above normal throughout the day and fluctuates more than 3 degrees

A

Remittent Fever

13
Q

absence of fever

A

Afebrile

14
Q

-normal is considered 60-100 bpm -checked by counting number of pulsations per 60 seconds; should also document regularity/strength of pulse

A

Pulse