The EMT side....

[awesomesprout]

Truthfully, this is me testing my memory of what I need to know for my Vitals Skills test tomorrow.

If you're not interested, feel free to mosey along. But if you're interested

Observe BSI and apply PPE.


Pulse:

Palpate pt's pulse for 30 sec X 2

Give findings of pulse for 1 minute and rate/quality of pulse. (fast, slow, weak, strong, tachy, brady, thready, regular, irregular, regular irregular, etc.)

Respirations:

Check pt's respiratory rate for 1 minute or 30 sec X 2.

Give findings of rate per minute and rate/quality of respirations. (Labored, unlabored, erratic)
Give findings of tidal volume. (deep, normal, shallow)

Palpated Blood Pressure:

Select appropriate size BP cuff and place BP cuff 1" above antecubital fossa and under clothing.

Extend pt's arm and locate brachial pulse. Maintain fingers on brachial pulse.

Inflate BP cuff until no longer able to feel pulse + 20mmHG

Slowly deflate BP cuff and note the reading when the pulse is felt returning.

Give reading as BP is ____ by palpation or written as ___ over P.


Ausculatated Blood Pressure:

Apply appropriately sized BP Cuff. Extend pt's arm and locate brachial artery.

Place Stethoscope diaphragm over brachial pulse.

Make sure BP cuff bladder is correctly placed over brachial artery.

Inflate BP cuff until sound disappears + 10

Deflate cuff. Note reading on meter when sound returns (systolic) and when sound disappears again (diastolic)

Give BP as systolic over diastolic.


Eyes:

Examine eyes checking for:

1. Shape and alignment
2. Equality of pupils
3. moist or dry
4. follows movement equally
5. color of sclara
6. injury or debris
7. contact lenses
8. cataracts
9. prosthesis
10. nystagmus

Explain to pt you will be shining a light in their eyes and to look straight ahead

Shine pen light into each eye from the periphery

Note reactivity to light when shone in each eye.

State findings: Pupils are:... to light (equal and reactive (PEARL), unequal, pinpoint, dilated, fixed, unresponsive)


Skin signs:

Assess skin color (pink, pale, ashen, flushes, cyanotic (blue), jaundice (yellow))
State findings: Skin color is ____

Assess skin temperature (warm, hot, cool, cold)
State findings: Skin temp is ____

Assess skin moisture (dry, clammy, moist, diaphoretic)
State findings: Skin moisture is ____



On a quick side note... the tools used for Orotracheal Intubation are flat out gnarly and terrifying looking. Do not mess with someone while holding those.

:)

WOOO!

Fun right?!

Comments

Vitals

[spottacus.livejournal.com]

And you're not dead till you're warm and dead.

Re: Vitals

[sproutchk.livejournal.com]

That is also true :)