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.