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 sign Patients are asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1 – is minimal pain 10 is severe pain

Measuring and Recording Vital Signs It is your job to obtain the vital signs It is not your job to inform the patient of the results The physician gives the patients the results Results must be accurate as it is often the first sign of disease or abnormality Physicians 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)

Fahrenheit Most 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 = 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 = = 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: Systolic Diastolic

Pulse is taken with a stethoscope at the apex of the heart The actual heartbeat is heard and counted When is this done? Illness Hardening of the arteries Weak or very rapid pulse Doctors 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.