b.The pulse rate is the number of pulsations
felt over a peripheral artery or heard over
the apex of the heart in 30 seconds.
c.When stroke volume decreases, such as
when blood volume is decreased due to
hemorrhage, the heart rate increases in
an attempt to maintain the same cardiac
output.
d.The normal pulse rate ranges from 60 to
100 beats/minute.
e.A rapid heart rate (tachycardia) increases
cardiac filling time, which in turn increases
stroke volume and cardiac output.
f.Pulse rate is normally slower in men, in
thin people, and in sleep.
5.Which of the following statements accurately
describe the factors controlling respirations?
(Select all that apply.)
a.Under normal conditions, healthy adults
breathe about 12 to 20 times each minute.
b.Tachypnea occurs in response to a
decreased metabolic rate during pyrexia.
c.During bradypnea, a decrease in intracranial
pressure depresses the respiratory center,
resulting in irregular or shallow breathing,
slow breathing, or both.
d.Apnea refers to periods during which there
is no breathing.
e.Dyspnea is difficult or labored breathing. A
dyspneic patient usually has rapid, shallow
respirations and appears anxious.
f.Dyspneic people can often breathe more
easily in a prone position, a condition
known as orthopnea.
6.Which of the following statements regarding
blood pressure are accurate? (Select all that
apply.)
a.Maximum blood pressure is exerted on the
walls of arteries when the right ventricle of
the heart pushes blood through the aortic
valve into the aorta at the beginning of
systole.
b.Blood pressure rises as the ventricle
contracts and falls as the heart relaxes.
c.The continuous contraction and relaxation
of the left ventricle creates a pressure wave
that is transmitted through the arterial
system.d.The highest pressure is the systolic
pressure; the lowest pressure is the
diastolic pressure.
e.The difference between the systolic pressure
and diastolic pressure is known as the pulse
amplitude.
f.When the radial pulse is irregular, counting
at the apex of the heart and at the radial
artery simultaneously may assess the apical-
radial pulse rate.
7.Which of the following guidelines would be
implemented when properly assessing a
patient’s blood pressure? (Select all that apply.)
a.Have the patient assume a comfortable
lying or sitting position.
b.Have the forearm supported below the level
of the heart and the palm of the hand
downward.
c.Center the bladder of the cuff over the
brachial artery, about midway on the arm,
so that the lower edge of the cuff is about
2.5 to 5 cm above the inner aspect of the
elbow.
d.Check that a mercury manometer is in the
horizontal position and the mercury is in
the zero area with the gauge at eye level.
e.Inflate the cuff while continuing to palpate
the artery. Pump the pressure 30 mm Hg
above the point at which the systolic pres-
sure was palpated and estimated.
f.Note the point on the gauge at which
there is appearance of the first faint but
clear sound that slowly increases in inten-
sity; note this number as the diastolic
pressure.Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
1.The cardiac output (in liters per minute) of a
patient with a stroke volume of 75 mL and a
heart rate of 70 beats/minute would be
.
2.The bladder width and length (in centimeters)
that would typically be used on a child with
an arm circumference of 20 cm would be
and.
3.A number that would describe the pulse
amplitude for a weak pulse would be
.136 UNIT VI ACTIONS BASIC TO NURSING CARE
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