1Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Vital signs include: Temperature Temperature Pulse Pulse Respiration Respiration Blood pressure (often included) Blood pressure (often included)

2Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Temperature can be taken: Orally Orally Axillary Axillary Rectally Rectally Aurally (tympanic membrane) Aurally (tympanic membrane)

3Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Types of thermometers include: Electronic Electronic Tympanic membrane Tympanic membrane Chemical Chemical Temperature-sensitive strips Temperature-sensitive strips

4Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Temperature results may be affected by: Age Age Variations in time of day Variations in time of day Exercise Exercise Emotional states Emotional states Environment Environment Pregnancy Pregnancy

5Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Variation in Body Temperature by Age AgeSite Average Temp (°) NewbornAxillary F C 1 year Oral 99.7 F 37.6 C 5 years Oral 98.6 F 37 C AdultOral 98.6 F 37 C Rectal 99.6 F 37.5 C Axillary 97.6 F 36.4 C Aural 98.6 F 37 C Elderly (over 70 years) Oral 96.8 F 36 C

6Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Pulse can be affected by: Age Age Gender Gender Physical activity Physical activity Emotional stress Emotional stress Metabolism Metabolism Fever Fever Medications Medications

7Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Pulse can be described in terms of: Rhythm – e.g., irregular Rhythm – e.g., irregular Volume – e.g., thready/bounding Volume – e.g., thready/bounding

8Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Variation in Pulse Range and Average Pulse Rate by Age Age Group Pulse Range (beats/min) Avg Pulse (beats/min) Newborn Toddler Preschooler School-age Adolescent Adult After age Well-trained athletes

9Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Respiration Count includes one inhalation and exhalation. Count includes one inhalation and exhalation. Respiration exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide. Respiration exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide.

10Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Respiration is affected by: Age Age Physical activity Physical activity Emotional states Emotional states Fever Fever Medications Medications

11Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Respiration can be described in terms of: Volume – e.g., normal, deep, shallow, labored Volume – e.g., normal, deep, shallow, labored Rhythm – e.g., even, regular Rhythm – e.g., even, regular

12Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Variation in Respiratory Range and Rate by Age Group Age Group Respiratory Range (resp/min) Average RR (resp/min) Newborn Toddler Preschooler School-age Adolescent Adult

13Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Blood pressure (BP) is measured in terms of: Systole – pressure on the walls of the arteries when the heart contracts Systole – pressure on the walls of the arteries when the heart contracts Diastole – pressure on the walls of the arteries when the heart is at rest Diastole – pressure on the walls of the arteries when the heart is at rest Pulse pressure – difference between systolic and diastolic pressure Pulse pressure – difference between systolic and diastolic pressure

14Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Blood pressure is affected by: Age Age Gender Gender Diurnal variations Diurnal variations Emotional states Emotional states Exercise Exercise Body position Body position Medications Medications

15Copyright © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Blood Pressure Classification for Adults 18 and Over BP Classification Systolic BP Diastolic BP Normal Less than 120 AND Less than 90 Pre- hypertension OR80-89 Hypertension Stage 1 Stage OR90-99 Stage 2 Stage or higher OR 100 or higher