WEEK 4 - STEPS TO TAKING VITAL SIGNS

Question 1

RESPIRATION

Answer 1

• Do not tell patients you are assessing their respiration rate, they can change the results by altering their breathing patteRN
• A good method is pretending to assess their pulse
• Get at chest level to the patient
• Rest the patients arm over their chest
• If needed, rest your other hand on their shoulder
• Watch (and feel) for rise and fall of chest as 1 respiratory cycle
• Count for 30 sec if regular rate then multiply by 2

Question 2

OXYGEN SATURATION

Answer 2

• Use a pulse oximeter
• non-invasive device
• attach to a finger
  · (or toe, nose, earlobe, forehead)

Question 3

PULSE

Answer 3

• Performed by palpating the radial artery
• Radial artery runs along thumb of each wrist
• Palpation involves pushing artery against the radius (bone) but not too hard to occlude completely
• When correct pressure is applied, you will feel bouncing
• You may find a rolling motion with your fingers (rather than pushing down) helpful to find the pulse
• Manually palpated (felt) using middle 2-3 fingertips

Question 4

TEMPERATURE - ORAL

Answer 4

· Assess to ensure patient has not ingested any hot or cold foods or drinks or smoked in the previous 15 mins
· Place protective probe cover on probe
· Ask patient to open mouth and place probe under tongue.
· Hold under tongue with mouth closed
Remove when thermometer beeps

Question 5

TEMPERATURE - AXILLA

Answer 5

· Place protective probe cover on probe
· Place probe within centre of axilla
· Hold within axilla with arm against side
Remove when thermometer beeps

Question 6

TEMPERATURE - TYMPANIC

Answer 6

· Approach patient from side
· Place protective probe cover on probe
· Pull ear pinna up and back to expose ear canal(adults)
· Point probe slightly anterior (forward) towards eardrum
· Insert probe slowly using slight circular motion until snug
· Press button to start measurement
· Remove after beeping