Vital Signs

Temperature

Pulse

Respiration

Blood Pressure

Important indications of health of the body

Various determinations that provide information about the basic body conditions of the patient

Pain Level

Being called the fifth vital signPatients are asked to rate their pain on

a scale of 1 – 10. 1 is minimal pain10 is severe pain

Measuring and Recording Vital SignsIt is your job to obtain the vital signsIt is not your job to inform the patient of

the resultsThe physician gives the

patients the results Results must be accurate as it is often

the first sign of disease or abnormalityPhysicians use vital signs to adjust

medication dosages

Measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced by the body.

Can be measured:Oral (mouth)Rectal (rectum)Axillary (under arm)Aural (ear)Temporal (across

forehead to behind the ear)

FahrenheitMost common way to measure temperature

May need to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius

Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then multiply by 5/9 or .5556

Example 212 F

212 – 32 = 180 180 X .5556 = 100 C

Celsius to Fahrenheit

May need to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit

Multiply Celsius temperature by 9/5 or 1.8 then add 32 to the total

Example 37 C

37 X 1.8 = 66.6 66.6 + 32 = 98.6

The pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart contracts and relaxes or beats

The rate, rhythm and volume are recorded

Rate – Number of beats per minute

Rhythm regularity (regular or irregular)

Volume - Strength

Breathing rate of the patient

The rate, rhythm and character are recorded

Rate – Number of breaths per minute

Rhythm – Regularity

Character - Type

Force exerted by the blood against the arterial walls when the heart contracts or relaxes

Two Readings:SystolicDiastolic

Pulse is taken with a stethoscope at the apex of the heart

The actual heartbeat is heard and counted

When is this done?IllnessHardening of the

arteriesWeak or very rapid

pulseDoctors Orders On children because

their heart rates are so fast

If you note any abnormalities or change in the vital signs report this immediately to your supervisor

If you have difficulties taking the vital signs or feel your readings might not be accurate have another person check the vital signs. NEVER GUESS !

We will now examine each vital sign more closely and learn to take, evaluate and record vital signs accurately.