Vital Signs

Blood Pressure (BP)

The force of blood against the walls of the arteries, written as systolic/diastolic and measured in mmHg.

Normal BP

Less than 120/80 mmHg.

Hypertension

High blood pressure defined as greater than 130/80 mmHg.

Hypotension

Low blood pressure defined as less than 90/60 mmHg.

MAP (Mean Arterial Pressure)

Estimates the average pressure in the arteries during one cardiac cycle, calculated as (Systolic + 2 × Diastolic) ÷ 3.

Adequate perfusion MAP

MAP ≥65 mmHg generally indicates adequate tissue/organ perfusion.

Inadequate perfusion MAP

MAP <65 mmHg indicates inadequate perfusion and can be associated with shock.

Orthostatic hypotension

A drop in blood pressure that occurs when a person changes position.

Normal temperature range

97.6°F–99.6°F or 36.4°C–37.6°C.

Fever

A body temperature greater than 100.4°F.

Hypothermia

Abnormally low body temperature defined as below 95°F (35°C).

Five temperature routes

Oral, Axillary, Tympanic, Temporal, and Rectal.

Normal pulse rate

60–100 beats per minute (bpm).

Tachycardia

Pulse rate greater than 100 bpm, indicating a fast heart rate.

Bradycardia

Pulse rate less than 60 bpm, indicating a slow heart rate.

Normal respiratory rate

12–20 breaths per minute.

Tachypnea

Respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute.

Bradypnea

Respiratory rate less than 12 breaths per minute.

Apnea

Complete absence of breathing.

SpO₂ definition

Oxygen saturation in the blood.

Normal SpO₂ range

93–100%.

Concerning SpO₂

SpO₂ below 93%.

Plethysmography

A pleth waveform that represents changes in blood volume in tissue with each heartbeat.

Acute pain response

Activates the body's “Fight or flight” response involving the sympathetic nervous system.

Roles of the nurse aide

Observe, Identify, Document, and Report vital signs and conditions.

Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale

A scale used to assess pain, ranging from 0 (No Hurt) to 10 (Hurts Worst).