clinicals

Four vital signs

Temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure

Anthropometric measurements

Height, weight, BMI

Factors that influence vital signs

Physical activity, emotions, pain, anxiety, temperature, or stress

Medical assistants must do before taking vital signs

Help the patient relax

Factors that affect body temperature

Age, stress, activity, gender, external factors, and illness

Main temperature measurement sites

Tympanic, oral, axillary, rectal, temporal

Thermometer site is the most accurate for infants

Rectal or tympanic

Why might oral temperatures be inaccurate for children

The might not hold the thermometer properly

Celsius to Fahrenheit formula

F= C X 9/5 + 32

Fahrenheit to Celsius formula

C= F - 32 × 5/9

Average adult oral temperatures

98.6F (37.6C)

Average adult rectal temperature

99.6F (37.6C)

Average adult axillary temperature

97.6F (36.4C)

Four main pulse sites

Radial, carotid, brachial, temporal

Three additional pulse sites

Femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis

Pulse rate

Number of heartbeats per minute

Pulse rhythm

Pattern between beats

Pulse volume

Strength of the pulse

Aarhythmia

Irregular heartbeat rhythm

Average adult pulse rate

60-100 beats per minute

Average newborn pulse rate

140 beats per minute

3+ pulse

Full, bounding pulse

1+ pulse

Weak, thready pulse

Respiration

Breathing in (inspiration) and out (expiration)

Characteristics of respiration

Rate, rhythm, depth

Average adult respiration rate

12-20 breaths per minute

Average newborn respiration rate

40 breaths per minute

How to count respirations

Without telling the patient, count 30 seconds x2

Two BP measurements

Systolic, diastolic

Systolic pressure

When heart contracts

Diastolic pressure

When heart relaxes

Normal adult BP

120/80 mmHg

Stage 1 hypertension

130-139/ 80-89 mmHg

Stage 2 hypertension

>140/90 mmHg

Hypertensive crisis

>180/>120 mmHg

Essential hypertension

No known cause

Secondary hypertension

Caused by another condition

BP measured

Sphygmomanometer and stethoscope

Why cuff must fit properly

Wrong size gives false readings

Cause of incorrect BP readings

Anxiety, wrong cuff size, crossed legs, caffeine

How does position affect BP

Diastolic 5 mmHg higher when sitting

How does full bladder affect BP

Raises reading by 10 mmHg

Korotkoff sounds

Sounds heard while measuring BP

Phase 1 of Korotkoff sounds

First tapping=systolic pressure

When do sounds disappear

Phase V= diastolic pressure.

Pulse oximetry

Measures oxygen saturation and pulse rate

Normal pulse on oximetry reading

95% or higher

Purpose of anthropometric measurements

Assess disease risk via BMI, height, and weight

How many pounds per kilogram

2.2 lb

Kilograms per pound

0.45 kg

Patient centered care in vitals

Accurate, safe, empathetic measurements on vitals.