Vital Signs and Measurements

CHAPTER

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37Vital Signs and Measurements

37-2


Learning Outcomes (cont.)

37.1 Describe the five vital signs.

37.2 Identify various methods of taking a patient’s temperature.

37.3 Describe the process of obtaining pulse and respirations.

37-3


Learning Outcomes (cont.)

37.4 Carry out blood pressure measurements.

37.5 Summarize orthostatic or postural vital signs.

37.6 Illustrate various body measurements.

37-4


Introduction

• Vital signs– Temperature– Pulse– Respirations– Blood pressure– Pain assessment

• Body measurements– Height– Weight– Head

circumference

Vital signs and body measurements are used to evaluate health problems.

Accuracy is essential.

37-5


Vital Signs

• Provide information about patient’s overall condition

• Taken at each visit

• Protected health information – HIPAA

37-6


Vital Signs (cont.)

• Include – Temperature

– Pulse

– Respirations

– Blood pressure

– Pain assessment

• Standard range of values

• Patient baseline

37-7


Vital Signs (cont.)

• Follow OSHA Guidelines

– Wash hands before and after patient contact

– Wear gloves as appropriate

– Dispose of waste appropriately

37-8


Apply Your Knowledge

Why is accuracy important when taking vital signs?

ANSWER: Vital signs provide information about how a patient will adjust to changes within the body and environment. They may also help the physician make a diagnosis.

Yahoo!Yahoo!

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Temperature

• Febrile – elevated temperature – Fever ~ sign of inflammation or infection

– Hyperpyrexia ~ extremely high temperature

• Afebrile ~ normal temperature

• Balance between heat produced and lost

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Axilla – axillary

Mouth – oral

Rectum - rectal

Ear – tympanic

Temperature (cont.)

Temperature Routes

Temporal Artery – temporal

37-11


Temperature (cont.)

• Measurements– Degrees Fahrenheit (ºF)– Degrees Celsius (centigrade; ºC)

• Normal adult oral temperature– 98.6 ºF– 37.0 ºC

37-12


Electronic Digital Thermometers

• Electronic digital thermometer

• Tympanic thermometer

• Temporal scanner

37-13


Disposable Thermometers

• Single use

• Indicators change color

• Oral, axillary or skin temperature measurements

• Not as accurate

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Heat pockets

Taking Temperatures

• Measure to nearest tenth of a degree

• Oral temperatures– Place under tongue in either

pocket just off-center in lower jaw

– Wait at least 15 minutes after eating, drinking, or smoking

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Taking Temperatures (cont.)

• Tympanic temperatures– Proper technique

essential– Fit in ear must be

snug

• Adult – pull ear up and back

• Child – pull ear down and back

37-16



• Rectal temperatures– Use Standard Precautions

– Position patient on left side

– Slowly and gently insert tip

– Hold thermometer in place

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• Axillary temperature– Have patient sit or lie down

– Place tip in middle of axilla

– Probe must touch skin on all sides

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• Temporal temperatures – stroke scanner across forehead, crossing over the temporal artery

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Apply Your KnowledgeYou are about to take the temperature of a 6-month-old infant being seen at the pediatrician’s office for vomiting and diarrhea. Which route will you use and why? What special considerations do you need to keep in mind with this specific patient situation and why?

Answer: Route would be either tympanic or temporal since a 6-month-old would not be able to hold the thermometer under his/her tongue. If using the tympanic thermometer remember to use proper technique and pull the ear down and back. Use Standard Precautions to prevent the spread of microorganisms.

Correct!

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CirculatoryPulse

RespiratoryRespirations

Pulse and respirations are related because the heart and lungs work together.

Normally, an increase or decrease in one causes the same effect on the other.

Pulse and Respiration

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Pulse

• Indirect measurement of cardiac output

• Problems if pulse is– Abnormally fast ~ tachycardia

– Slow ~ bardycardia

– Weak or irregular

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Pulse (cont.)

• Measure at the radial artery

• Count for 1 minute– Rhythm ~ regular or irregular

– Volume ~ weak, strong, bounding

37-23


Pulse (cont.)

• Other locations to obtain pulse– Brachial artery

– Apex of the heart – using a stethoscope

– Additional arterial sites• Temporal • Carotid • Femoral • Popliteal • Posterior tibial • Dorsalis pedis

37-24


Pulse (cont.)

• Electronic measurement devices – Part of Blood pressure machine

– Pulse oximetry unit• Attaches to finger,

nose or earlobe

• Infrared light measures pulse and oxygen levels

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Respiration

• Respiratory rate – indication of how well the body provides oxygen to the tissues

• Check by watching, listening, or feeling movement

• May use stethoscope

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Respiration (cont.)

• Count for one full minute– Rate

– Rhythm ~ regular

– Quality of effort ~ normal, shallow, or deep

• Irregularities include

– Hyperventilation

– Dyspnea

– Tachypnea

– Hyperpnea

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Respiration (cont.)

• Rales – Crackling sounds

– Fluid in the lungs

– Pneumonia, atelectasis, pulmonary edema

• Rhonchi – Deep snoring or

rattling

– Partial obstruction of airway

– Asthma, acute bronchitis

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Respiration (cont.)

• Cheyne-Stokes respirations – Periods of increasing and decreasing depth of

respiration between periods of apnea

– Strokes, head injuries, brain tumors, congestive heart failure

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A 26-year-old athlete visits the medical office for a routine checkup. The medical assistant takes T-P-R and obtains the following: Temperature 98.8°F, Pulse 52 beats/minute, and Respirations 18/minute. What should the medical assistant do about these results?

ANSWER: The temperature and pulse are within the normal range. The pulse of 52 is below the normal range. Check the patient’s previous vital sign results. Some patients normally have a low pulse rate, so these results may be within normal limits for this patient.

Correct!

37-30


Blood Pressure

• The force at which blood is pumped against the walls of the arteries

• Standard unit of measurement is millimeters of mercury (mmHg)

37-31


Blood Pressure (cont.)

• Two pressure measurements – Systolic pressure ~ measure of pressure

when left ventricle contracts

– Diastolic pressure • Measure of pressure when heart relaxes

• Minimum pressure exerted against the artery walls at all times

37-32


Blood Pressure (cont.)

• Blood pressure classifications

– Normal

– Prehypertension

– Stage 1 hypertension

– Stage 2 hypertension

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Factors Affecting Blood Pressure

– Internal factors• Cardiac output• Blood volume• Vasoconstriction• Viscosity

• Hypotension

37-34


Blood Pressure Measuring Equipment

• Sphygmomanometer

– Inflatable cuff– Pressure bulb or

automatic device for inflating cuff

– Manometer to read the pressure

– Types

• Aneroid

• Electronic

• Mercury

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Blood Pressure Measuring Equipment (cont.)

• Aneroid sphygmomanometers– Circular gauge for registering pressure

– Each line 2 mmHg

– Requires use of astethoscope

– Must be calibrated to maintain accuracy

37-36


Measurement Equipment (cont.)

• Electronic sphygmomanometers

– Digital readout

– Easy to use but costly

– Maintain equipment according to manufacturer’s instructions

37-37


Measurement Equipment (cont.)

• Mercury sphygmomanometers

– A column of mercury rises with an increased pressure as the cuff is inflated

– No longer available for purchase

37-38


Calibrating the Sphygmomanometer

• Calibrate – standardize a measuring instrument

• Be certain sphygmomanometer is calibrated prior to use– To ensure it is working correctly– To ensure accurate results

37-39


The Stethoscope

• Amplifies body sounds

• Earpieces

• Chestpiece– Diaphragm –

high-pitched sounds

– Bell – low-pitched sounds

37-40


Measuring Blood Pressure

• Place cuff on the upper arm

• Palpatory method

• Inflate cuff 30 mmHg above palpatory result

• Place the stethoscope over the brachial pulse point

• Release the air in cuff and listen for vascular sounds

37-41


Measuring Blood Pressure (cont.)

• Korotkoff soundsPhase 1 – tapping sound; systolic pressure

Phase 2 – change to softer swishing sound

Phase 3 – resumption of a crisp tapping sound

Phase 4 – sound becomes muffled

Phase 5 – sound disappears; diastolic pressure

• Record pressure – 120/76

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• Adults – special considerations– Allow patients to relax prior to obtaining a

measurement if

• Post exercise

• Ambulatory disabilities

• Obese

• Known blood pressure problems

• Anxiety or stress

37-43



• Adult considerations (cont.)– Avoid measurement in an arm

• On the same side as a mastectomy

• With an injury or blocked artery

• With an implanted device under the skin

– Use the proper cuff size to obtain accurate results

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Apply Your KnowledgeA 67-year-old patient is in the medical office complaining of a headache. The blood pressure reading was 212/142. What should the medical assistant do in this situation?

ANSWER: This pressure reading is very high and should be reported to the physician at once. The complaint of headache should also be reported to the physician. Hypertension is a major contributor to stroke and heart attacks.

Very Good!

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Orthostatic or Postural Vital Signs

• Orthostatic or postural hypotension– Blood pressure drops, pulse increases as

patient stands up

– Assess for by checking BP and pulse in three positions

– Positive tilt test – pulse increases more than 10 bpm and BP drops more than 20 mmhg

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Mr. Arnaz complained to the physician that he was dizzy when he stood up. The physician asked you to do a “tilt test”. Mr. Arnaz’s BP lying down is 128/80 and pulse is 88 bpm. You check his BP and pulse sitting and standing. His standing BP is 110/58 and pulse is 100 bpm. What is his problem and what may be the causes?

ANSWER: Mr. Arnaz has a positive tilt test so he has orthostatic hypotension. This may be caused by dehydration, heart disease, diabetes, some medications, or a nervous system disorder.

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Body Measurements

• Adults and older children – Height– Weight

• Infant – Length– Weight– Head

circumference

Provide baseline values for current condition and enable monitoring of growth and development of children.

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Body Measurements (cont.)

• Adult weight– Each office visit

– Record to nearest quarter of a pound

• Height of adults– Initial visit and

yearly

– Record to nearest quarter of an inch

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Body Measurements (cont.)

• Body mass index (BMI)

– Reliable indicator of healthy weight

– Based on height and weight

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Other Body Measurements

• Diameter of limb – measure both to determine difference in size

• Wound, bruise, or other injury – length and width

• Infant’s chest circumference

• Adult’s abdominal girth

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The medical assistant is about to weigh a 6-month-old infant using the infant scale. When the medical assistant places the infant on the scale she notices the diaper is very soiled. What should the medical assistant do?

ANSWER: The diaper could be changed prior to weighing. However, if the infant is weighed with the soiled diaper, the medical assistant should weigh the diaper after weighing the infant and subtract the difference to obtain the infant’s accurate weight.

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In Summary

37.1 Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and assessment of pain.

37.2 Using either an electronic digital or disposable thermometer, a patient’s temperature may be measured by the oral, tympanic, rectal, axillary, or temporal method.

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In Summary (cont.)

37.3 Pressing lightly at the radial artery using your fingers, count the number of beats you feel in 1 minute to get the pulse.

While still keeping fingers on the patient’s pulse site, observe and feel the patient’s respirations, and count the respirations for one full minute. See Procedure 37-2.

37-54


In Summary (cont.)

37.4 To obtain a blood pressure, have the patient sit in a quiet area, rest his or her bared arm on a flat surface at heart level, locate the brachial artery, snugly secure the cuff above the brachial artery, use the palpatory method to determine the approximate systolic

pressure, use a stethoscope to auscultate the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

37-55


In Summary (cont.)

37.5 Orthostatic or postural vital signs consist of taking the blood pressure and pulse in different positions, from lying to sitting to standing, waiting 2 to 5 minutes between repositioning to allow the body’s systems to adjust to the change.

36.6 For adults and older children the measurements obtained are the height and weight; for infants they are the weight, length, and head circumference. BMI, extremities and wounds are also measured.

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End of Chapter 37

One way to get high blood pressure is to go mountain climbing over molehills.

~ Earl Wilson

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Vital Signs and Measurements