1. Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Vital Signs
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Vital Signs
Values used to measure changes in body function, general health, and response to treatment
Include blood pressure (BP) and temperature, pulse, and respiration (TPR) and level of pain
Affected by many factors: age, activity, nutrition, emotion, fitness, medication, and illness
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

3. Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Assessing Vital Signs
Once a day (daily)
Twice a day (bid)
Three times a day (tid)
Four times a day (qid)
Every 4 hours (q4h)
Every 15 minutes (q15min)
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

4. Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Blood Pressure
Measurement of the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries as it circulates through the body
Maximum pressure at which the pulse can be heard is systolic
Minimum pressure at which it is audible is diastolic
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

5. Instruments for Taking Blood Pressure
Stethoscope amplifies the sound
Sphygmomanometer is an inflatable cuff that measures pressure using air (aneroid) or mercury
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

6. Figure 6-1 Sphygmomanometer and Stethoscope
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

7. Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Temperature
The measurement of the balance between the heat produced and lost by the body
Four methods commonly used to measure temperature
Mouth (oral)
Armpit (axillary)
Rectum (rectal)
Ear (temporal)
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

8. Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Table 6-1 Temperature
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Types of Thermometers
Glass with an expandable mercury filling
Expandable mercury filling
Oral
Rectal
Electronic
Disposable chemical thermometers
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10. Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Pulse
Pulse is the heartbeat that can be felt, or palpated, on surface arteries as the artery walls expand
The pulse is usually assessed using the radial artery near the wrist
Normal adult pulse rate can range between 60 and 100 beats per minute
The pulse of an infant is significantly faster than that of an adult
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

11. Table 6-2 Pulse Ranges by Age Group
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Respiration
One respiration includes the inspiration and expiration of a breath
The rhythm and character of respiration are important observations
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13. Box 6-2 Respiration in Adults
Copyright 2003 by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.