Vital signs

Question 1

Before starting you must ask…?

Answer 1

➢ Within the last 30 minutes have they:
- eaten a large meal
- had a hot or cold drink
- had a hot bath
- smoked a cigarette
- undertaken vigorous exercise
- exerted themselves.
➢Taking any blood pressure lowering medications?
➢ Wearing a hearing aid or have any ear infections.
➢ Presence of an arterio-venous fistula in the arm, any operations on arms, axillae or breasts, any pain, swelling or weakness in the arm.

Question 2

Tympanic Temperature equipment

Answer 2

Thermometer
Thermometer covers (take box)

Question 3

Tympanic Temperature performance of task

Answer 3

• Put disposable cover on
• Insert at correct angle
• Wait for ‘beep’
• Record reading

Question 4

Tympanic Temperature - how to ‘inform’ patient

Answer 4

‘this will just involve a small thermometer in your ear for several seconds- it will not be uncomfortable’

Question 5

Pulse rate equipment

Answer 5

Watch

Question 6

Pulse rate performance of task

Answer 6

• Count pulse in 15 secs and multiple by 4

- Record

Question 7

Pulse rate - how to ‘inform’ patient

Answer 7

‘I am just going to take your pulse. I will just need to feel your wrist for about 15 seconds’

Question 8

Respiratory rate equipment

Answer 8

Watch

Question 9

Respiratory rate performance of task

Answer 9

• Take after doing the pulse rate WITHOUT telling the patient as this may affect their resp rate
• Measure rate in 15 seconds and multiply by 4
• Record

Question 10

Respiratory rate - how to ‘inform’ patient

Answer 10

Don’t

Question 11

Manual Blood Pressure equipment

Answer 11

Sphygmomanometer

Stethoscope

Question 12

Manual Blood Pressure performance of task

Answer 12

• Double check no contraindications and no tight sleeves and jewellery
• Place cuff on patient
• Inflate cuff
• Estimate pressure with radial pulse then deflate
• Place stethoscope over brachial artery and re-inflate cuff 20 mmHg/s over estimate from radial artery
• Slowly deflate the cuff until you hear first beat- systolic then last beat- diastolic
• Record

Question 13

Manual Blood Pressure - how to ‘inform’ patient

Answer 13

‘this will just involve me tightening a cuff on your arm twice, deflating it each time. It won’t hurt but may be a bit uncomfortable’

Question 14

O2 saturation equipment

Answer 14

O2 sats machine

Question 15

O2 saturation performance of task

Answer 15

• Double check for nail varnish/fake nails.
• Put peg over finger until reading appears on the machine.
• Record

Question 16

O2 saturation - how to ‘inform’ patient

Answer 16

‘I need to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood by attaching probe onto end of finger - this is painless and will produce a reading within a few seconds’