9.1 Introduction
This chapter discusses care activities such as assisting with oxygen therapy, and measuring vital signs, height and weight. Administering oxygen is a restricted activity. However, as an HCA you may be asked to care for clients receiving oxygen therapy. The temperature, pulse and respiratory rate are included in measurements referred to as vital signs. Vital signs must be accurately measured because they tell us a great deal about a person’s condition.
Remember, there are two types of care activities:
- Tasks: care activities that HCAs are educated and trained to perform as part of their assigned HCA role.
- Restricted activities: higher-risk care activities outlined in health professional regulations that an HCA cannot perform without authorization (delegation) by a regulated health professional, such as a registered nurse. Restricted activities are not considered HCA tasks.
When assisting with oxygen therapy and vital signs, it is important to understand what type of care activity is required to help the client meet their needs and whether that care activity is within your HCA role.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, the successful student will be able to:
- Describe factors that affect oxygen needs.
- Discuss the safe use of oxygen.
- Identify oxygen concentrators, tanks (compressed oxygen) and liquate oxygen.
- Demonstrate how to deal with oxygen tubing.
- Describe vital signs.
- Demonstrate the measurement and recording of vital signs.
- Describe the importance of measuring height and weight.
- Demonstrate the measurement and recording of height and weight.
Terms to Know
- Temperature
- Hypothalamus
- Pulse
- Oxygenation
- Bronchial
- Alveoli
- Arteries
- Hemoglobin
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Pneumonia
- Anemia
- Supplemental oxygen
- Suctioning
- Oxygen concentrator
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
- Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)
- Peripheral vasoconstriction
- Peripheral vasodilation
- Hypothermia
- Hyperthermia
- Febrile
- Oral
- Axillary
- Tympanic
- Rectal
- Dermal
- Radial pulse
- Brachial
- Carotid
- Apical pulse
- Aorta
- Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- Pulse rhythm
- Pulse rate
- Pulse force
- Pulse equality
- Respiration
- Oxygen saturation
- Pulse oximeter
- Blood pressure
- Systolic pressure
- Diastolic pressure
- Stroke volume
- Pulse pressure
The degree of hear or cold in an object or a human body.
The portion of the brain that maintains the body’s internal balance (homeostasis).
The beat of the heart felt at an artery as blood passes through.
The addition of oxygen to the human body.
Passageways that connect the trachea to the lungs.
Small sacs at the bottom of the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange takes place.
Blood vessels that bring oxygen rich blood from the heart to the body cells and tissues.
A protein found in red blood cells that combines with oxygen to carry to cells and tissues of the body
A condition that affects the airways of the lungs, causing them to become narrower and making it difficult to breath.
A chronic lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis contribute to COPD.
An infection of the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi.
Having not enough blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to body’s tissues.
Providing extra or additional oxygen.
A method of removing mucous from the mouth and/or lungs.
A device that takes in air from the room and filters out nitrogen
Device used for people who are able to breathe spontaneously on their own but need help in keeping their airway unobstructed.
Similar to a CPAP devise but has two pressure settings; one during inhalation and a lower setting during exhalation.
Narrowing of the blood vessels in the extremities, ie: hands and feet.
Widening of the blood vessels in the extremities, ie: hands and feet.
when the core body temperature drops below 35°C.
When the core body temperature is excessively higher than normal.
To have a body temperature of higher than 38°C.
Relating to the mouth.
Relating to the armpit.
Relating to the eardrum.
Relating to the rectum; the last several centimeters of the large intestine.
Relating to the skin.
The pulse found near the radius bone in the forearm.
The pulse found on the inner aspect of the upper arm.
Two main arteries in that carry blood to the head and neck.
The pulse found on the chest at the bottom tip or apex of the heart.
The main artery that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart.
A fast heart rate; over 100 beats per minute.
A slow heart rate; less than 60 beats per minute.
The pattern of the pulse felt by your fingers.
The number of pulsations felt over an artery in one minute.
The strength of the pulse felt by your fingers.
Whether the pulse force is similar on both sides of the body.
The process of inhalation and exhalation that moves oxygen to the cells and removes carbon dioxide.
A measure of how much hemoglobin is bound to oxygen compared to how much remains unbound.
An electronic device that measures oxygen saturation.
The amount of force exerted by the blood against artery walls.
The pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.
The pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.
The amount of blood pumped out of the left bentricle of the heart during each contraction.
The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
