Vital signs review

Vital signs review

• 1.
  Physical Assessment: VitalSigns Quick Review AHM Unit 1
• 2.
  What are thevital signs? • Measurements that are routinely taken to establish patient status. – Vital signs are quick and simple assessments that give us lots on information about the patient. • There are 5 – Blood pressure, pulse, respirations, temperature, and PAIN – Oxygen Saturation is often checked along with the vitals, but isn’t truly a vital sign. • Almost any medical care worker can obtain these measurements. – However, it is up to a licensed person (RN, LPN, MD, etc.) to determine what they mean.
• 3.
  Blood Pressure • Measuresthe force of the blood against the artery walls (indirect measure of heart’s output). – Recorded in mmHg – Top number is Systolic (heart at work) – Bottom Number is Diastolic (Heart at rest) – Normal is >90/60 and <120/80 for adults
• 4.
  Pulse • This isthe rate that the heart is beating. – Can be assessed by palpating the radial pulse or auscultating the apical pulse. – We measure the rate, rhythm, and the quality of the pulse. – Normal is >60 and <100 resting
• 5.
  Body Temperature • Thetemperature of the body is an important symptom. – Measured usually orally, axillary, or rectally (most accurate but only used when absolutely necessary). – Recorded in the US in degrees Fahrenheit. – Normal is >96 and <99 (may vary by source)
• 6.
  Respirations • The rate,pattern and quality of breathing. – Best to measure without patient noticing. – Watch for chest rise. – Normal is >12 and <24
• 7.
  Pain • Pain isconsidered a vital sign because it can effect the other signs and is important to take into account. – Counting it as a vital sign also ensures it will be assessed regularly, which improves patient care. – Standard is to assess on a scale of 0 to 10, or using the faces scale for young children and nonverbal patients.