VITAL SIGNS

They are indicators of health status.

They are:
1. Temperature
2. Pulse
3. Respiration
4. Blood pressure

When to take vital signs??

1. On the client admission
2. According to hospital policy routine
3. Before and after surgery
4. Before and after diagnostic procedures
5. Before and after certain medications
6. When the client is complaining of pain
7. When the client is complaining of loss of consciousness

Pulse

• It is an indicator of circulatory status

• Approximately (60-70)ml of blood enter the aorta each contraction. (Stroke
volume).
• When the pulse wave reaches a peripheral artery, it can be palpated.
 Peripheral pulses

Radial….. The most common and the easiest.

Apical….. The best for infants.
Carotid
Femoral

• The normal range:

(60 – 100) beat/minute.
(regular & palpable)
• Tachycardia: heart rate is more than 100 beet/min.
• Bradycardia: heart rate is less than 60 beat/min.
 Temperature

• Is the hotness or coldness of the body.

• Is measured by a thermometer.

• Common sites for measuring:

– Mouth

– Rectum

– Axillae Other sites: (ear, forehead,)

• The normal range:

(36.5 – 37.5) degree centigrade.
Measured by thermometer
• Hyperthermia: temperature is more than 37.5 DC.
• Hypothermia: temperature is less than 36.5 DC.

Types of thermometers

• Mercury

• Electronic

• Disposable

• To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius:

DC = (F-32) X 5/9

• To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit:

F = (9/5 X DC) + 32
 Respiration

• The normal range:

– For adults: (12 – 20) breath/minute.

– For infants: (30 – 50) breath/minute.

For adult

• Tachypnea: respiratory rate is more than 20 breath/min.

• Bradypnea: respiratory rate is less than 12 breath/min.

• Dyspnea: difficulty in breathing.

Blood pressure

• Is the force exerted by the blood against a vessel wall.

• Systole: the left ventricle contracts and pumps blood into the aorta.

• Diastole: the ventricle relaxes.

• Blood pressure is recorded as:

(systole/diastole) mmHg.(millimeters mercury)

• The normal range: systole: 100-140 diastole: 65-95

• Hypertension: blood pressure is more than 140/95 mmHg.

• Hypotension: blood pressure is less than 100/65 mmHg.

(Measured by sphygmomanometer & stethoscope)

 Factors influencing blood pressure

• Age: blood pressure decreases by age.

• Stress: blood pressure increases with anxiety, fear, emotions.

• Race: blood pressure is higher in African.

• Medications: diuretics decreases blood pressure

Vital signs according to age

Age Pulse Respiration Blood Pressure

Newborn 120 – 40 – 60 80/40 mmHg
160
1 year 80 – 140 30 – 40 82/44
5 years 70 – 115 20 – 25 90/52
Adult 60 – 100 12 – 20 120/80