Vital Signs ppt Flashcards
What is included in vital signs?
Temperature
Pulse
Respiration
Blood Pressure
Pain
Pulse oximetry
When do you assess vital signs?
- On admission to any health care facility or institution
- Based on facility or institutional policy and procedures
- Any time there is a change in patient’s condition
- Any time there is a loss of consciousness
- Before and after any surgical or invasive procedure
- Before or after activity that may increase risk, like ambulation after surgery
- Before administering meds that affect cardiovascular and respiratory function
Normal Oral Temp Range for Health Adults (Celsius and Farenheit)
35.8-37.5 C
96.4-99.5 F
Normal Pulse Rate Range for Healthy Adult
60-100
Average is 80
Normal Respiration Rate Range for Healthy Adult
12 to 20 breaths per minute
Normal Blood Pressure Range for Healthy Adult
Less than 120/80
What is the primary source of heat production
metabolism
What increases metabolism
Hormones, muscle movements, and exercise increase metabolism
What occurs to increase heat production
Epinephrine and norepinephrine are released when additional heat is required and alter metabolism
Thyroid hormone and shivering also increase heat production
What happens to energy production when heat production increases?
Energy production decreases
Sources of Heat Loss
- Skin (primary source)
- Evaporation of sweat
- Warming and humidifying inspired air
- Eliminating urine and feces
Transfer of Body Heat to External Environment occurs by:
- Radiation
- Convection
- Evaporation
- Conduction
Factors affecting temperature
- Circadian rhythms
- Age and gender
- Physical activity
- State of health
- Environmental temperature
Afebrile
without fever
Pyrexia
with fever (febrile)
Intermittent fever
temperature returns to normal at least once every 24 hours
Remittent fever:
temperature does not return to normal and fluctuates a few degrees up and down
Sustained or continuous fever:
Temperature remains above normal with minimal variations
Relapsing or recurrent fever:
Temperature returns to normal for one or more days with one or more episodes of fever, each as long as several days
Equipment for Assessing Temperature
- Electronic and digital thermometers
- Tympanic membrane
thermometers - Disposable single-use
thermometers - Temporal artery
thermometers - Automated monitoring
devices
Normal oral temp adult
35.9–37.5°C;
96.6–99.5°F
Normal Rectal Temp adult
36.3–38.1°C;
97.4–100.5°F
Normal Axillary Temp Adult
35.4–36.9°C;
95.6–98.5°F
Normal Tympanic Temp Adult
36.8–38.3ºC;
98.2–100.9°F
