Tap a card to flip it. Only one card opens at a time and it stays open for 8 seconds. You can re-open any card as many times as you need. Then play the matching game below.
🃏 Vocabulary Cards
🎯 Matching Game (12 pts)
Click a term on the left, then click its matching definition on the right. Each correct match = 1 point.
TERMS
DEFINITIONS
Vital signs are objective measurements of the body's most basic functions. They give clinicians a rapid snapshot of how well the cardiovascular, respiratory, and thermoregulatory systems are working. The four classic vital signs are blood pressure (BP), pulse rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. Many hospitals now include oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and pain as additional indicators.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against arterial walls. It is measured with a sphygmomanometer and reported as two numbers: systolic (peak pressure when the ventricles contract) over diastolic (lowest pressure when the heart relaxes). A normal adult reading is around 120/80 mmHg. Pressures ≥130/80 are classified as hypertension; readings below 90/60 are hypotension.
The pulse is the rhythmic expansion of an artery as the left ventricle ejects blood. A normal adult resting heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute. Bradycardia describes a rate under 60, which can be normal in conditioned athletes but pathological in a hypothermic or hypotensive patient. Tachycardia describes a rate above 100, common in fever, dehydration, anxiety, or hemorrhage.
Respiratory rate is the number of breaths per minute, normally 12–20 in adults. Rates above 20 (tachypnea) often signal respiratory distress, sepsis, or metabolic acidosis. Pulse oximetry measures the percentage of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin; values below 92% are concerning and below 88% require urgent intervention.
Body temperature averages 98.6°F (37°C) but normally varies between 97°F and 99°F across the day. A febrile patient (temperature ≥100.4°F / 38°C) — a state called pyrexia — usually has an immune response to infection. Hypothermia begins below 95°F and impairs enzyme activity, slows the heart, and can be lethal if untreated.
Reading vital signs together is far more powerful than reading any one in isolation. A pattern of low BP, high HR, high RR, and fever points to septic shock. Very high BP with normal HR may indicate a hypertensive emergency. Low temperature with bradycardia suggests hypothermia. A skilled clinician learns to read these patterns the way a meteorologist reads weather data — no single number tells the whole story.
🧩 Word Scrambler (1 pt)
Click words in order to rebuild the sentence.
🟢 Highlight in Green (1 pt)
Click each word that names a vital sign measurement, instrument, or vital sign disorder.
❓ How / Why Questions (3 pts)
Answer in 2–3 sentences. Use full sentences and clinical vocabulary.
🔗 Because / But / So (4 pts)
Complete each prompt three different ways using because, but, and so.
📖 Background
You are a tech in the ER. Four patients have just rolled in. Each has been hooked up to a multi-parameter monitor that reads BP, HR, RR, Temp, and SpO₂. Click "📡 READ MONITOR" on each patient to display their live vitals, then use the readings to identify their condition.
📋 Directions
- Read the chief complaint and patient bio for each of the four cases.
- Click "READ MONITOR" to display vital signs (color-coded: green = normal, amber = caution, red = critical).
- Compare each reading to normal adult ranges from the reading.
- Answer the questions below.
🩺 Patient Monitors
📝 Simulation Questions
🏥 ER Admission · Mrs. Chen, 65 F
Mrs. Chen is brought to the emergency department by her daughter. Over the last 12 hours she has become increasingly confused and short of breath. Her daughter reports she finished a course of antibiotics three days ago for a urinary tract infection, but "started getting worse again yesterday." On arrival she is pale, breathing fast, and disoriented to time. Skin is warm and flushed.
Labs: WBC 22,000/µL (high), Lactate 4.2 mmol/L (high), Cr 1.8 mg/dL (mildly high)
📋 Data Table — Normal Vital Signs by Age (4 pts)
Use the reading and your knowledge to fill in expected normal ranges. Each completed row = 1 point (4 total).
| Age Group | HR (bpm) | RR (/min) | Systolic BP (mmHg) | Temp (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (1 yr) | ||||
| Child (8 yr) | ||||
| Adult | ||||
| Older Adult (75+) |
📈 Graph — Mrs. Chen's Vital Signs Over 6 Hours of Treatment
After fluid resuscitation, antibiotics, and oxygen, Mrs. Chen's vitals were trended hourly. Use the graph to answer the questions.
📝 Graph Questions (4 pts)
Click any value to reveal the clue. Read the clue → guess your answer → click "REVEAL ANSWER" → click GOT IT if correct or MISSED IT if not. Be honest!