Health Care Provider: Lab B: Introduction to Vital Signs

Informational Resources
Vital Signs :University of Rochester
Vital Signs: Cleveland Clinic

Body Temperature Analysis

Body Temperature Converter Tool

Use our research and tools to complete any unfinished parts of charts below

Patient Age Sex Body Body Temperature

Temperature Temperature Location
(fahrenheit) (Celcius)
0 0
F C

1 2 F 97.0 36.1 Rectal

2 33 M 98.6 37 Oral

3 80 M 102.1 38.9 Axillary

Patient Normal/Abnormal Notes: Use appropriate vocabulary and consider all

information above.

1 Abnormal As the temperature is taken rectally, the temperature tends to

be 0.5℉ to 0.7℉ higher. The normal body temperature is
around 97.8℉ to 99℉ indicating that the child’s temperature is
lower than what is normal.

2 Normal Orally taken to measure body temperature does not affect the
temperature. With the patient being measured to be 98.6℉,
their body temperature is healthy and normal as the healthy
temperature ranges from 97.8℉ to 99℉.

3 Abnormal Temperature taken at the axillary is 0.3℉, to 0.4℉ lower

meaning that the patient’s actual body temperature is
approximately 101.7℉. A body temperature of 101.7℉ is
abnormal and is too high as the healthy temperature is 97.8℉ to
99℉.

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Heart & Respiration Rate Data/Information

● Your Maximum Heart Rate is the heart’s highest rate

for your age
● To find your maximum heart rate, Take you age, and
subtract it from 220 beats/minute
○ Moderate Exercise is 50-70% of maximum
○ Intense Exercise is 70-85% of maximum
● Your Target Heart Rate is 50%-85% of your
Maximum Heart Rate

Age Target HR Zone 50-85% Average Maximum Heart Rate, 100%

20 years 100-170 beats per minute (bpm) 200 bpm

30 years 95-162 bpm 190 bpm

35 years 93-157 bpm 185 bpm

40 years 90-153 bpm 180 bpm

45 years 88-149 bpm 175 bpm

50 years 85-145 bpm 170 bpm

55 years 83-140 bpm 165 bpm

60 years 80-136 bpm 160 bpm

65 years 78-132 bpm 155 bpm

70 years 75-128 bpm 150 bpm

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Pulse & Respiration Analysis
As you did before, please complete the chart below with all relevant information & notes. For notes,
please try to demonstrate what you have learned.

Patient Age Sex Resting Pulse Pulse Respiration (Breaths PM)

(BPM) Characteristics

1 6 mos M 126 2+, (Regular) 25

2 32 F 55 3+ (Regular) 13

You/another 16 F 84 2+, (Regular) 17

Note: 1+: Weak, 2+:Normal, 3+:Bounding

Patient Notes

1 Patient 1 has an average resting pulse of 126 bpm as a newborn pulse ranges from
approximately 80bpm to 180bpm; however, the respiration of the child is below average since
the average breaths per minute is between 30 and 60 while the patient is 25.

2 Patient 2 resting pulse is below the average pulse range for adults her age which is between
60bpm to 100bpm. This indicates that their resting pulse is unhealthy and slower than normal.
Their respiration rate is normal as the average respiration rate for adults can range from 12bpm-
20bpm.

You My resting pulse of 84 bpm is of average pulse rate for teenagers as the pulse average is between
50 bpm to 90 bpm. This is the same for my respiration rate as teenagers respiration rate is
bettwen 15 bpm - 20 bpm while mine was 17 bpm which is normal and healthy.

3
Vital Signs Vocabulary
● Please supply a useful definition in your own words to help you understand the meaning of each term

Term Explanation

Pulse Rate Measurement of heart rate; number of times the

heart beats per minute

Heart Apex The apex of the heart is the tip and rounded area
of the heart; most inferior portion of the heart
→ produces heartbeat as the apex taps the chest
wall and pumps blood throughout the body

Tachycardia A rapid heartbeat

Bradycardia Slower heart rate than normal

Artery/Vein Blood vessels that carry blood:

artery → oxygenated blood from heart to rest of
the body
vein → carry blood from rest of the body back to
the heart for reoxygenation

Regular Heartbeat The average and healthy beats the heart beats in
a minute; determines an individual’s health
(average is 60 bpm to 100 bpm)

Irregular Heartbeat Heartbeat is out of its usual rhythm; possibly

beating too fast, too slow, skip beats, or added a
beat

Palpate To examine by touch; feels to examine the

condition of physical health

Inspiration (inhalation) Process of breathing in; taking air into the lung

Expiration (exhalation) Process of breathing out; taking air from lungs

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 back out to the external environment

Tachypnea Condition of rapid breathing; breaths per

minute is higher than what is average or
commonly seen

Bradypnea Abnormally slow breathing; breaths per minute

is lower than what is normal