VITAL SIGNS Measuring the temperature first puts the client at ease and causes him/her to

Vital signs provide data that reflect the status of several body systems including remain still for several minutes.
but not limited to the cardiovascular, neurologic, peripheral vascular, and By easing the client’s anxiety and keeping him/her still, you help to increase
respiratory systems. the accuracy of the data.

Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. Temperature
A core body temperature between 36.5°C and37.7°C (96.0°F and 99.9°F orally) must
be maintained.
It is appropriate to begin the physical assessment by obtaining these data.
An approximate reading of core body temperature can be taken at various anatomic
sites. None of these is completely accurate.
They are called vital signs because of their importance.
The normal human body temperature is often stated as 36.5–37.5 °C (97.7–99.5 °F).
T – Temperature
Average normal 37.0°C
P - Pulse
Several factors may cause normal variations in the core body temperature:
R - Respiration
a. Strenuous exercise
BP – Blood Pressure
b. Stress
Pain – the 5th vital sign
c. Ovulation (women)
O2 Sat – Oxygen Saturation
These can raise temperature
Body temperature is lowest early in the morning (4:00 am to 6:00 am) and
Measure the client’s temperature first, followed by pulse, respirations, and blood
highest late in the evening (8:00 pm to Midnight).
pressure.
Hypothermia (lower than 36.0°C or 96.0°F)
This is important because pulse, respirations, and blood pressure are
May be seen in prolonged exposure to thecold, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, or
influenced by anxiety and activity.
starvation.
Hyperthermia (higher than 38.0°C or 100°F) If abnormalities are noted during assessment of the radial pulse, perform further
assessment.
May be seen in viral or bacterial infections, malignancies, trauma, and
 Radial Pulse
various blood disorders, endocrine, and immune disorders.
 Taking an Axillary Temperature
 Taking a Temporal Artery Temperature Respirations
 Tympanic Temperature
The respiratory rate and character are additional clues to the client’s overall health
 Oral Temperature
status.
Observe respirations without alerting the client by watching chest movement before
Pulse removing the stethoscope after you have completed counting the apical beat.
The body has many arterial pulse sites. Notable characteristics of respiration are:
One of them is the radial pulse it gives a good overall picture of the client’s health  Rate
status.  Rhythm
 Depth

Several characteristics should be assessed when measuring the radial pulse:

Blood Pressure
 Rate
 Rhythm Blood pressure reflects the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries.
 Amplitude
This pressure varies with the cardiac cycle, reaching a high point with systole and a
 Contour
low point with diastole.
 Elasticity
Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure of the blood in the arteries when
Amplitude can be quantified as follows: the ventricles are contracted (systolic BP) and when the ventricles are relaxed
0 – Absent (diastolic BP)

1+ - Weak Blood pressure is expressed as the ratio of the systolic pressure over the diastolic
pressure.
2+ - Normal (obliterate with moderate pressure)
3+ - Bounding (unable to obliterate or requires firm pressure)
A client’s blood pressure is affected by several factors: Blood pressure in a normal reclining person is slightly lower because of peripheral
vascular resistance.
 Cardiac output
 Elasticity of the arteries Peripheral resistance is the resistance of the arteries to blood flow. As the
 Blood volume
arteries constrict, the resistance increases and as they dilate, resistance decreases.
 Blood velocity (heart rate)
 Blood viscosity (thickness)

A client’s blood pressure will normally vary throughout the day. These includes:
 The time of the day
 Caffeine or nicotine intake
 Exercise
 Emotions
 Pain
 Temperature
The difference between systolic and diastolic
pressure is termed as the pulse pressure.

Determine the pulse pressure after measuring

the blood pressure because it reflects the
stroke volume (the volume of blood ejected
with each heart beat).
Blood pressure may also vary depending on the positions of the body and of the
arm.
Blood pressure in a normal person who is standing is usually slightly higher to
compensate for the effects of gravity.