NCM 101 HIGHESTTTTTTTT

• In 2001, The Joint Commission designated “pain” the “fifth vital sign” because of its chronic undertreatment
• in recent years, there is a call to remove the designation of pain in the presence of the opioid crisis
• By 2004, the term fifth vital sign had disappeared from The Joint Commission Standards
• Pain is inexpensive to assess and does not involve the use of fancy instruments, yet it can be an early predictor of impending disability
• Vital signs - This is a common, noninvasive physical assessment procedure that most clients are accustomed to
• Vital signs provide data that reflect the status of several body systems
• Allow 5 minutes of rest before beginning to take vital signs
• For the body to function at a cellular level, a core body temperature between 36.5°C and 37.7°C
• Strenuous exercise, stress, and ovulation can raise temperature
• Body temperature is lowest early in the morning (4:00–6:00 AM)
• temperature is highest late in the evening (8:00 PM to midnight)
• Hypothermia <36.5°C or 96.0°F
• Hypothermia may be seen in prolonged exposure to the cold, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, or starvation
• Hyperthermia >38.0°C or 100°F
• Hyperthermia may be seen in viral or bacterial infections, malignancies, trauma, and various blood, endocrine, and immune disorders.
• In the older adult, temperature may range from 35.0°C to 36.4°C