Vital Signs Flashcards
4 Main Vital Signs:
Temperature
Pulse
Respirations
Blood Pressure
Other Vital Signs:
- Pain - (Scale 0-10, Patients asked to rate on a scale of 1-10)
- Skin Color
- Size of Pupils and reaction to light
- Level of consciousness
- Patients response to stimuli
- Pulse oximeter reading
Temperature
A measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced
How is temperature measured
- Oral (O)
- Rectal (R)
- Axillary (Ax)- under arm
- Aural (ear) T - aka Tympanic
* *A low or high reading can indicate disease**
Normal Temperature
Normal range 96.6 to 100.6 F depending on route used. Individuals have different body temperatures
- Time of day
- Lower in am, after resting
- Higher in the pm or after activity or food intake
Temperature at different body parts vary
O – 98.6
R – 99.6
Ax – 97.6
Hypothermia
Body temp < 95 F rectally. Death usually occurs if temp < 93 degrees F rectally.
Hyperthermia
Body temp > 104 F rectally. Prolonged exposure will cause brain damage or serious infection. > 106 F will lead to convulsions, brain damage, or death
Clinical thermometer
Red = Rectal
Blue =Oral or axillary
Pulse
The pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart contracts and relaxes
Rate
of beats per minute
Rhythm
refers to regularity of heart beat
Volume
refers to strength of heart beat
Where do you normally take heart rate
Usually taken on the radial or carotid artery
Areas pulse can be taken
Temporal – sides of forehead Carotid – sides of the neck Brachial – inner aspect of forearm Radial – inner aspect of the wrist Femoral – inner aspect of the upper thigh Popliteal – behind the knee Doralis Pedis – top of the foot arch
Bradycardia
pulse < 60 bpm
Tachycardia
pulse > 100 bpm
except in children
Normal heart rate ranges:
Normal Ranges:
Newborn baby - 120 to 160 bpm
Baby aged from 1 to 12 months - 80 to 140 bpm
Baby/toddler aged from 1 to 2 years - 80 to 130 bpm
Toddler/young child aged 2 to 6 years - 75 to 120 bpm
Child aged 7 to 12 years - 75 to 110 bpm
Adults – 60-100 bpm
Respirations (Normal Ranges)
Normal ranges:
Adults: 12-20 breaths per minute
Newborns up to 6 months old: 30-60 breaths per minute
Infants 6-12 months old: 24-30 breaths per minute
Toddlers and Children 1-5 years old: 20-30 breaths per minute
Children 6-12 years old: 12-20 breaths per minute
Adults: 12-20 breaths per minute
Respirations
- 1 breath consists of 1 inspiration and 1 expiration
2. Respirations should be counted in a way that the patient is unaware of the procedure
Dyspnea
Difficult or labored breathing
Apnea
absence of respirations
Bradypnea
RR < 12 bpm
Tachypnea
RR > 20 bpm