Vital Signs- For Beginners

A how to video for the 6 vital signs: pain, temperature ,pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation

There are multiple scales used for pain, whichever one you use, make sure you explain it to the client. Pain is whatever the client says it is.

The tympanic and rectal sites for temperature are both about half a degree higher than oral and axillary(armpit) temperature is about half a degree cooler than oral temp. The 'normal' temperature range is between 36 and 38 degrees Celcius. this vary's based on age, time of day...

The sites for pulse shown in this video in order of appearance are radial, brachial, carotid and pedal. The radial and pedal pulses, among others, are used to assess peripheral(away from the center of the body, eg. the limbs) circulation. The apical pulse is auscultated (listening to sounds produced within the body) with a stethoscope in the fifth intercostal space about 2 inches from the sternum. The thumb has a pulse so if it is used in assessing a clients pulse you can mistake your own pulse for the clients. Too much pressure can obliterate the artery and with too little pressure you will not be able to feel the pulse. A 'normal' adults pulse should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Below 60 bpm is known as bradycardia and above 100 bpm is tachycardia.

As you gain experience in counting respirations you may be able to combine this skill with another. A good time can be during temperature or pulse. You may be able to simply observe the movement of the chest or stomach instead of placing your hand on the client. It is best if the client is unaware you are counting respirations. Most adults take between 12 and 20 breaths per minute.

When using the two step method wait a minute or so before doing the second step to prevent inaccurate readings. The palpated blood pressure should be done once a shift to make sure you are taking an accurate blood pressure and to prevent causing your client unnecessary discomfort. The width of the cuff should be 40 percent of the arm circumference and the bladder should cover 2/3rds of the limbs circumference. An improperly sized cuff will mean inaccurate readings. Blood pressure ideally should be below 120/80.

Make sure the client is not wearing nail polish when assessing oxygen saturation, it will prevent the machine from getting an accurate reading. O2 saturation should be between 95 and 100 percent. palpation-examination of the body using touch,




Berman, A., Snyder, S.J.,Kozier, B., Erb, G.L. (2008). Health Assessment. Fundamentals of Nursing, 30, 568-571.
Berman, A., Snyder, S.J.,Kozier, B., Erb, G.L. (2008). Vital Signs. Fundamentals of Nursing, 29, 527-561.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Vital
• Signs
• Teaching
• Project
• Cori
• Elea
• Stephanie
• Ruby

[00DaRkFaeRie00]

shalomfirst1: we agree, there is more detail in the info section that add's some skills as you improve.

[00DaRkFaeRie00]

My partner was supporting my arm in hers, so the arm was at rest. We also stated to count for 30 seconds for respiration's and stated to feel/listen for a pulse for a full minute if any irregularities were noticed

[EmotionzInAQueen]

-information about the diastolic pressure needs to be updated* last sound of "silence" is noted as diastolic.

-Also no longer is 15 sec valid when counting respirations or pulse 30x2 is more accurate a full minute if abnormality is suspected.

-Also when checking blood pressure arm should be at rest not held in air flexion cause "false low reading" due to muscular contraction.

[shalomfirst1]

It's convenient to do the respiration while doing the other vital signs, that way the patient doesn't have to know, otherwise he or she may breathe weird and get you wrong results

[MrsDogLover]

this looks looks my highschool!

[InGallifrey]

I'm not learning enough in class! Thank You for this!

[1311jakes]

Funny

[smartypants031383]

Thank you for posting this tutorial ladies...but the wigs are a bit weird.

[LLMBC]

Please i'd like you girls to post how to take a rectal temperature to each other since i've heard it is considered the most accurate method.

[ljohnverrell]

The wigs are interesting.