Vital Signs Measuring and Recording Vital Signs VS

Vital Signs

Measuring and Recording Vital Signs (VS) n Record info about the basic body conditions • Temperature • Pulse • Respiration • Blood Pressure Accuracy is essential! Report abnormalities immediately

Measuring and Recording Temperature -Measures balance between heat lost and heat produced in the body -Heat produced by metabolism of food and by muscle and gland activity -Homeostasis: constant state of balance in the body -Conversion between Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature -Normal body temperature for humans is a range

Measuring Temperature n Temperature measurements— oral, rectal (often used on infants/children), axillary or groin, aural, and temporal • Most thermometers are digital now • Insert thermometer into patients mouth under the tongue • Postion it to the side of the mouth • Instruct the patient to keep it under the tongue by closing the lips around thermometer

Measuring and Recording Pulse n n Feel the pressure of the blood pushing against the wall of an artery as the heart beats and rests Locate a major arterial or pulse site • • n 1. temporal 2 & 3. carotid 4. brachial 5. radial 6. femoral 7. popliteal (behind knee) 8. posterior tibial 9. dorsalis pedis Check for rate, rhythm, and volume

How to Write Vital Signs n n n i. e. Temperature = 98. 6, Pulse = 72, Respiration = 16 Write: 98. 6/72/16 Or: 98. 6 – 72 – 16 Or: 98. 6 72 16 Always in that order: temp/pulse/resp

Measuring and Recording Respirations n n Measures the breathing of a patient One respiration: one inspiration (breathing in) and one expiration (breathing out)

Respirations cont. n 3 things must be measured • Rate – breaths per minute • Character – depth and quality (deep, shallow, labored, difficult, stertorus) • Rhythm – regularity of respirations (regular or irregular)

Summary n Summarize what you have learned so far about vital signs in 3 -5 sentences. Include the terms vital signs, temperature, pulse, & respiration