Vital Signs

• Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions.
• Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems.
• The four main vital signs are: temperature (T), pulse rate (P) or heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and blood pressure (BP).
• A “fifth” vital sign is pain measurement.
• A pulse oximetry reading is often done with vital signs.
• The average body temperature is 98.6 F (37 C).
• Measurements outside the patient’s normal range and any critical values should be reported to the provider.
• Vital signs have the name "vital" as their measurement and assessment is the critical first step for any clinical evaluation.
• The first set of clinical examinations is an evaluation of the vital signs of the patient.
• Vital signs are an objective measurement of the essential physiological functions of a living organism.
• Critical value in health care is a measurement that is so high or low that it is life-threatening.
• Baseline is an initial value that can be compared to future measurements.
• Normal body temperature can range between 97 F (36.1 C) and 99 F (37.2 C) or more.
• Your body temperature can vary depending on how active you are or the time of day.
• Generally, older people (elderly) have lower body temperatures than younger people have.
• The CDC considers a person to have a fever when he or she has a measured temperature of 100.4° F (38° C) or greater.
• Fever is the body’s natural defense to fight invasive organisms and is a normal reaction to illness.
• Patients who have fever can present with chills, loss of appetite, malaise, thirst, and generalized aching.
• Temperature can be taken by various routes: Oral (PO) - Mouth, Tympanic (T) or (AU) - Ear, Temporal (TA) - Forehead, Axillary (Ax) - Armpit, Rectal (R or PR) - Rectum.
• Normal temperature: 98.6 F = 37 C.
• The apical pulse is located on the left side of the chest at the 5th intercostal space (ICS) at the midclavicular line.
• Tympanic, rectal, and temporal artery temperatures are approximately 1℉ higher than oral readings.
• Temperature is lowest in the morning and highest in the afternoon.
• Temperature is measured in beats per minute (BPM).
• The body needs a certain level of oxygen in the blood for it to function efficiently.
• Bradycardia is defined as a slow heart rate.
• The pulse can be palpated in temporal, carotid, apical, brachial, femoral, radial, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis locations.
• Axillary temperature is approximately 1℉ lower than an oral reading.
• Axillary temperature is taken by putting the tip of the thermometer in an armpit, making sure the armpit is dry, closing the armpit by holding the elbow against the chest, and waiting for the beep (about 10 seconds).
• The apical pulse is the only pulse that can be auscultated.
• Respiratory Rate (RR) or Respirations (R) is measured in beats per minute (BPM).
• Factors that can affect temperature include drinking hot or cold liquids, smoking, hot weather, age, menstrual cycle, and more.
• Regular respirations are counted for 30 seconds then RR= 30 x 2.
• SpO2, also known as oxygen saturation, is a measure of the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood relative to the amount of hemoglobin not carrying oxygen.
• Irregular respirations are counted for a full 60 seconds to get the RR.
• Tachycardia is defined as a rapid heart rate.
• Oral temperatures cannot be taken under these circumstances: Patient is unconscious, Patient has recently had facial or oral surgery, Patient is younger than 5 years old, Patient is confused, Patient is heavily sedated, Patient is likely to have a seizure, Patient is using oxygen, Patient has facial paralysis, Patient has an injury to the face or neck.
• Temporal (TA) - Forehead is the most accurate location for taking a temperature.
• Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart contracts.
• Hypoxemia is a condition where there is low oxygen content in the blood, while hypoxia is a condition where there is low oxygen supply in bodily tissues.