Author Question: A patient is experiencing acute pain. What changes would the nurse expect in the vital signs? a. ... (Read 73 times)

mydiamond · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A patient is experiencing acute pain. What changes would the nurse expect in the vital signs?

a. increase in blood pressure and pulse
b. decrease in blood pressure and increase in pulse
c. increase in blood pressure and decrease in pulse
d. decrease in blood pressure and pulse

Question 2

Which statement is most correct regarding the effects of age on vital signs?

a. An infant has a lower respiratory rate than a young adult.
b. A 1-year-old has a higher body temperature than an adult.
c. A 2-year-old has a lower pulse rate than an adult.
d. A newborn has a higher blood pressure than an adult.

komodo7 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
With acute pain, sympathetic stimulation increases the heart rate, which increases the cardiac output and vasoconstriction, causing an increased peripheral vascular resistance. These changes result in increased pulse and respiratory rates, depth of respirations, and blood pressure. Chronic pain decreases the pulse rate.

Answer to Question 2

B
An infant has a higher respiratory rate than does a young adult, with an average rate of 40 per minute. A 1-year-old does have a higher body temperature than does an adult. The average temperature is approximately 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit higher. A 2-year-old has a faster pulse rate than does an adult, in that the 2-year-old's rate is between 110 and 120 beats per minute and the adult's rate is approximately 80 beats per minute. A newborn has a lower blood pressure than an adult. The newborn's blood pressure averages 80/60 whereas the adult's blood pressure averages 120/80.