Normal vital signs
The normal values of vital signs in adults and newborns (heart and breathing rate, blood pressure, temperature, saturation, urine output, capillary glucose), the words for abnormalities, and the situations where they must raise the alarm.
- 31 cards
- 3 topics
- Free
The outline, topic by topic
Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.
- Concepts
- Scenarios
- Understand
A few cards from the deck
Adult heart rate: what is it?
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Between 60 and 100 beats a minute at rest.
Below: bradycardia; above: tachycardia.
A patient has a heart rate of 125, BP 85/50 and mottled knees. What is suspected?
- Shock
- Simple anxiety
- Hypertension
- Normal values
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Shock
Fast heart, low pressure and signs of poor perfusion: raise the alarm at once.
Adult breathing rate: what is it?
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Between 12 and 20 breaths a minute at rest.
Below: bradypnoea; above: tachypnoea.
Why do normal vital signs vary with age?
- They do not vary
- The devices are different
- It is a convention
- Metabolism and size change: young children have faster hearts and breathing
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Metabolism and size change: young children have faster hearts and breathing
A vital sign must always be read for the person's age.
Adult blood pressure: what is it?
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Optimal around 120/80 mmHg; hypertension starts at 140/90 in the clinic.
It is measured at rest, after a few minutes seated.
An adult with no lung disease has a SpO₂ of 88 %. What should be done?
- Nothing, it is normal
- Raise the alarm: it is hypoxaemia
- Wait until tomorrow
- Make them run
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Raise the alarm: it is hypoxaemia
First check the reading (sensor, cold finger, nail varnish), then alert.