Purpose of Vital Sign (2) - a. Detect any chances in normal body function
b. Determine response to treatment
Vital Signs measuring (5) - Measurement- taken at rest
Temperature - measure body heat
Pulse - measure heart rate and rhythm
Respiration - how often patient inhales and exhales
Blood Pressure - measures pressure against the walls of the arteries
When Vital Signs are taken - Every shift change - minimum every 8 hours
When taking signs, what's important to know about patient? (4) - a. Normal levels
b. Medications that they are currently on/taking
c. Borderline
Heat production (3) - 1) Muscles
2) Glands
3) Oxidation of food
Heat loss (3) - 1) Respiration
2) Perspiration
,3) Excretion
Between heat production and heat loss is____ ____? - Body temperature
How to increase temperature (5) - 1) Shivering
2) Epinephrine
3) Increased metabolism
4) Vasoconstriction
5) Shunts blood from the body surface
How to decrease temperature (2) - 1) Vasodilation diverts blood to the body surface where heat can be
transferred to surrounding environment
2) Sweating
Factors affecting body temperature (13) - a. Circadian rhythms
1) Time of the day
*Lowest when sleeping - internal clock -
b. Age / gender
c. Environment
d. Illness
e. Medications
f. Infection
g. Emotions
h. Hydration
i. Clothing
j. Environment temperature / air movement
k. Hormone levels (women)
l. Effects of fever
m. Methods to reduce fever
,*Taking temperature
Sites to take temp. (5) - 1) Oral - most common (blue)
2) Rectal - most accurate - registers one degree Fahrenheit higher than oral; closest to core temperature
(blue)
3) Axillary - least accurate - registers one degree Fahrenheit lower than oral
4) Tympanic - probe inserted into the ear canal
5) Forehead
*Taking temperature
Normal body temperature
1) Oral
2) Rectal
3) Axillary - 1) Oral: 97.6-99.6 F or 36.5-37.5 C
2) Rectal: 98.6-100.6 F or 37.0-38.1 C
3) Axillary: 96.6-98.6 F or 36.0-37.0 C
Taking temperature
Instruments used to measure T
(5) - a) Non-mercury glass
- Oral and rectal -
b) Chemically treated paper - disposable
c) Plastic - disposable
d) Electronic - probe covered with disposable shield
- In hospital -
e) Tympanic - electronic probe used in ear
Temperature - Safety Precautions (3) - 1) Hold rectal and axillary thermometers in place
2) Check glass thermometer for chips
, 3) Delay taking oral temperature for 10-15 minutes is patient has been smoking, eating, drinking
hot/cold liquids, or chewing gum
Pulse Physiology (2) - a. Pulse is the pressure of blood pushing against the wall of an artery against the
wall of an artery as the heart beats and rests.
b. Pulse easier to locate in arteries close to skin than can be pressed against bone
Factors affecting the pulse (11) - a. Age
b. Gender (female slightly higher)
c. Blood loss
d. Position: lying to sitting to standing
e. Drugs
f. Illness
g. Emotions
h. Emotions
i. Exercise
**Athletes (always taking about professional) have lower pulse rates - their hearts are trained to pump
less blood
j. Temperature
k. Physical training
Normal pulse rates child & adult - Adult: 60-100
Child: 120-160
Increased and decreased pulse
& Pulse deficit - a. Tachycardia - fast
b. Bradycardia - slower
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