Vital Signs

the five vital signs

1. pulse
2. respirations
3. temperature
4. blood pressure
5. oxygen saturation

normal pulse rate

60-100 BPM

tachycardia

>100 BPM

bradycardia

peripheral pulses

- indicate the status of blood perfusion to the area
- temporal, carotid, apical, brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal tibial, dorsalis pedis

normal respirations

12-20 BPM

respiration descriptors

rhythm: regular or irregular
depth: deep, normal, shallow

pulse rate descriptors

rhythm: regular or irregular
amplitude: bounding, strong, weak, or thread

normal temperature

- 36-38 degrees C
avg oral: 37
avg rectal: 35.7
avg axillary: 36.8

hypothermia

> 36 degrees

hyperthermia

> 38 degrees

blood pressure

- the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries of the body
- systolic: ventricular contraction
- diastolic: ventricular relaxation

average BP

120/80 mmHg

cardiac output

↑ blood pumped into arteries = ↑ BP

peripheral resistance

larger arteries = less resistance = lower BP

blood volume

normally is constant at 5000mL in an adult, but if increased, higher BP

blood viscosity

the thicker the blood, the heart must work harder to move the blood and the higher the BP

vessel wall elasticity

the less elastic the arterial walls, the higher the BP

hypertension

BP greater than 140/90 mmHg

hypotension

systolic pressure less than 90mmHg

orthostatic hypotensoin

BP that drops suddenly b/w lying, sitting, and standing

measuring BP

- width of cuff should be 40% of the circumference of the midpoint of the limb on which the cuff is to be used
- bladder enclosed within the cuff should encircle at least 80% of the arm

cuff too wide

false low readig

cuff too narrow

false high reading

cuff wrapped too loosely or unevenly

false high reading

cuff deflated too slowly

false high diastolic reading

cuff deflated too quickly

false low systolic and high diastolic reading

arm below heart

false high reading

arm above heart

false low reading

arm unsupported

false high reading

stethoscope that fits poorly and/or impairment of the examiner's hearing causes sounds to be muffled

false low systolic and false high diastolic reading

stethoscope applied too firmly against antecubital fossa

false low diastolic reading

cuff inflated too slowly

false high diastolic reading

reassessment repeated too quickly

false high diastolic reading

inaccurate cuff inflation

false low systolic reading

multiple examiners using different Korotkoff sounds for diastolic readings

false high systolic and low diastolic reading

normal O2 sat

95%-100% on room air

pulse rate - exercise

↑: short-term exercise
↓: long-term exercise

pulse rate - temperature

↑: fever and heat
↓: hypothermia

pulse rate - emotions

↑: anxiety
↓: relaxation

pulse rate - pain

↑: acute pain
↓: unrelieved severe pain

pulse rate - medications

↑: positive chronotropic medications
↓: negative chronotropic mediations

pulse rate - hemorrhage

↑: loss of blood

pulse rate - postural changes

↑: standing or sitting
↓: lying down

pulse rate - pulmonary conditions

↑: diseases causing poor oxygenation (asthma)