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afebrile
when a patient’s temperature is back at their normal baseline and is no longer elevated to indicate a fever
arrhythmia
an abnormal heart rhythm caused by irregularities in electrical conduction through the heart or injury to the heart muscle itself
arterial line
a thin, hollow, flexible tube that is placed into a peripheral artery, such as the wrist or groin
arterial pressure monitoring
an invasive method of continuous blood pressure monitoring
automatic blood pressure
blood pressure taken using an automated blood pressure machine; no stethoscope is required
blood pressure
the pressure of blood as it presses against arterial walls
brachial artery
pulse point located on each side of the upper arm on the medial aspect superior to the antecubital fossa
bradycardia
when the heart rate (HR) is lower than the accepted norm of 60 beats per minute (bpm)
carotid artery
pulse point located on each side of the neck lateral to and above the trachea
conduction
a mechanism of heat transfer in which the skin encounters a cooler object, thus lowering its temperature
convection
a mechanism of heat transfer in which cooler air surrounds the body to cool it down
diastolic blood pressure
represents the arterial pressure of blood during ventricular relaxation, or diastole
doppler blood pressure
blood pressure taken using a Doppler machine
doppler ultrasound device
a handheld ultrasound tool that allows the examiner to hear the whooshing sound of the pulse
dorsalis pedis artery
pulse point located roughly atop both feet
evaporation
the transfer of heat through dissipation of sweat from the skin, thus cooling the body
expiration
the act of exhalation or breathing out
external respiration
the act of breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide
febrile
with fever
femoral artery
pulse point located in the groin
heart rate
the number of times the heart beats in one minute
homeostasis
the process by which the human body maintains balance by adjusting to internal and external stimuli
hypertension
elevated blood pressure readings of 130/80 mm Hg or higher
hyperthermia
a condition that occurs when the core body temperature is more than 105.8°F (41°C)
hypotension
low blood pressure readings less than 90/60 mm Hg
hypothermia
a condition that occurs when the core body temperature is less than 95°F (35°C)
inspiration
the act of inhalation or breathing in
internal respiration
the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs and the cells
Korotkoff
pulse sound heard when obtaining a manual blood pressure
left ventricular assist device
a type of cardiovascular device that supports heart function by stimulating the left ventricle to beat
manual blood pressure
blood pressure reading taken using a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope
mean arterial pressure (MAP)
represents the “average” pressure of blood in the arteries, that is, the average force driving blood into vessels that serve the tissues
normothermia
the targeted range for normal temperature
orthostatic hypotension
a drop in blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic within three minutes when moving from a lying down (supine) or seated position to a standing (upright) position
oxygen saturation
measurement of the arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) of arterial blood
palpation
feeling with hands or fingers
popliteal artery
pulse point located behind both knees
posterior tibial artery
pulse point located posterior to the medial aspect of the ankle
pulse
the palpable way to assess the brief pressure increase in the arteries causing them to temporarily expand as the left ventricle pumps blood through them
pulse equality
a comparison of the pulse forces on both sides of the body
pulse force
the strength of the pulsation felt on palpation
pulse oximeter
a machine utilized to measure the oxygen saturation of blood
pulse point
where the artery is close to the surface
pulse pressure
the difference between systolic pressure and diastolic pressure
pulse rate
counted with the first beat felt by your fingers as “One.” It is considered best practice to assess a patient’s pulse for a full sixty seconds, especially if there is an irregularity to the rhythm
pyrexia
fever; a state outside of normal body thermoregulation where the core temperature is greater than 100.4°F (38°C)
radial artery
pulse point located at each wrist below the base of the thumb
radiation
heat from the body moving to cooler air, thus cooling the body
respiration
the action of breathing, including inhalation and exhalation
respiratory acidosis
having a blood pH less than 7.35 with a concurrent increase in carbon dioxide (CO2)
respiratory alkalosis
a systemic acid-base disorder that is caused by a reduction in carbon dioxide and a pH greater than 7.45
sphygmomanometer
manual blood pressure cuff
systolic blood pressure
reflects the arterial pressure resulting from the ejection of blood during ventricular contraction, or systole
tachycardia
heart rate faster than 100 beats per minute
thermoregulation
the automatic regulation of temperature that is carried out by the hypothalamus
vital sign
five key metrics of homeostasis—temperature, pulse (heart rate), blood pressure, respirations, and oxygen saturation—that are used by nurses and other members of the medical profession to ascertain a patient’s current physical status
white coat hypertension
sometimes called white coat syndrome; elevated blood pressure that results from a person’s conscious or unconscious fear and anxiety at being at the doctor’s office or in the presence of healthcare personnel
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