Module 10 Vital signs

When are vitals taken?

Upon admission, bath day, 1x in hospital shift, 1x for 72 hours after fa, sick, nurse request, ,

For isolation room keep

A set of vital equipment in the isolation room

Temperature

Oral: nothing to eat or drink 15 -20 minutes before

Pulse

Have res. Sit still

Do you tell the patient you are doing respirations

No

Do you take bp on the same arm as an IV

No

Normal temp range ?

97.6 -99.6°F

Pulse normal range?

60-100 bpm

Respiration normal range

12 - 20

Blood pressure normal range

120/80 mm Hg

Oral temp reader

Probe under tongue - common(digital)

Maxillary temp reading

Under arm pit in center,deepest fold

Dementia and cognitive disabilities

Tympanic temp scanner

In ear canal

Invasive, uncomfortable

Least accurate

Temporal artery scanner

Least invasive

Same accuracy as rectal

Rectal

Most accurate and invasive -can cause harm

How is an apical pulse obtained ?

Stethoscope

Systolic

Pressure w/in the artery as heart contracts

Diastolic

Pressure w/in the artery between contractions

Abnormal temp

Greater than 100°F

Bradypnea

Slow breathing by caused by meds, drugs, alcohol

tachypnea

Fast, shallow breathing: resp infection or disease, imbalance of pH, pain, fever

Hypertension

140/90 ↑

Heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or failure, congestive heart failure

Hypotension

↓ 90/60 - falls and injury