Vital signs

Types

• Temperature• Pulse• Respirations• Blood pressure• (Degree of pain)

Other signs

• Color of skin• Size of pupils• Pupil reaction to light• Level of consciousness• Response to stimuli

Temperature (balance between heat lost and

heat produced by the body)

Variations

• Individual differences in bodily processes (heart rate, metabolism, etc.)

• Eating, drinking, smoking (15 minutes prior)

• Time of day (lower in am, higher in pm and after activity)

• Body site (where temp is taken)

Body sites

• Oral (most common)

• Ear

• Armpit

• Forehead/Temple

• Rectal (children/hypothermia patients)• Most accurate

Variations by site

Oral Temporal/Rectal Ear/Armpit

Average Temp 98.6 99.6 97.6

Normal Range 97.6-99.6 98.6-100.6 96.6-98.6

Types of thermometers

Pulse(rate, rhythm, volume of heart

beat)

Measuring pulse

Resting heart rates

EKG

Understanding EKG

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hb/understanding.html

Apical pulse(stethoscope at apex of heart)

Respirations(breathing rate)

Number of breaths per minute

• Adults: 12-20

• Children: 16-30

• Infants: 30-50

Blood pressure(force exerted by blood on artery

walls)

Sphygmomanometer

2 measurements

1. Systolic – left ventricle is contracting and pushing blood into the arteries

2. Diastolic – between contractions when left ventricle is at rest

Systolic Diastolic

Normal <120 and <80

Normal range 100-120 and 60-80

Prehypertension 120-139 or 80-89

Hypertension

Stage 1 140-159 or 90-99

Stage 2 >160 or >100

Degree of pain