Vital Signs

Question 1

Respiratory Rate (RR)
- what is it?
- normal values
- high / low value classifications

Answer 1

Number of breaths a person breathes per minute

12-20 breaths/minute

Tachypnoea: rapid breathing
Bradypnoea: slow breathing

Question 2

Heart Rate (HR) - AKA pulse rate
- what is it?
- normal values
- high / low value classifications

Answer 2

How many times the heart beats per minute

60 – 100 bpm (adults)

Tachycardia: a fast heart rate > 100 bpm
Bradycardia a slow heart rate < 60 bpm

Question 3

Blood Pressure (BP)
- what is it?
- normal values
- high / low value classifications

Answer 3

Indicates the pressure of blood moving through the arteries as the heart pumps blood throughout the body

120/80 or 130/85

• Hypertension (> 140/90): increase in blood pressure which may mean your heart is working hard to deliver oxygenated blood to key organs.
• Hypotension ( < 90/60): decrease in blood pressure which may mean the pumping pressure of the heart is not sufficient to deliver key organs with oxygenated blood

Question 4

Temperature
- what is it?
- normal values
- high / low value classifications

Answer 4

A measure of how well the body can make and remove heat

36.5- 37.2 ֯C

Hypothermia ( <35 ֯c): low body temperature
Hyperthermia/Fever: high body temperature – may indicate infection

Question 5

Oxygen Saturation (Spo2)
- what is it?
- normal values
- high / low value classifications

Answer 5

Provides an indication of the amount of oxygen in a patient’s blood. Measured with pulse oximetry

95-100%

< 90% is very severe and requires urgent medical review

Question 6

Consciousness
- what is it?
- how to assess?

Answer 6

Indication of neurological function

Assessed with ACVPU or Glasgow Coma Scale

Question 7

Parts of the Glasgow Coma Scale for consciousness

Answer 7

Eye opening response

Best verbal response

Best motor response