Vital Signs Presentation.pdf

VITAL

SIGNS

HOMEOSTASIS

A state of balance within the human body.

It is regulated by a person’s cardinal

vital signs, which include:

•

Temperature

•

Pulse

•

Respiration

•

Blood Pressure

Open Ended

What are the main vital signs?

TEMPERATURE

The measurement of body heat.

Temperature is regulated by a balance of

heat produced and heat lost.

HEAT PRODUCED:

HEAT LOST:

•

muscles

•

glands

•

oxidation of

food

•

perspiration

•

respiration

•

excretion

Body temperature is regulated by a part

of the brain called the hypothalamus.

HOW IS IT CONTROLLED?

It receives input from
thermoreceptors so that

the body can make

appropriate adjustments
to maintain proper body

temperature.

Open Ended

In your own words explain why you think body temperature regulation is important.

WHAT IS A NORMAL TEMP?

Normal body temperature is a range from:

97.0°F

99.0°F
to

Febrile: an elevated temperature

Pyrexia: an above-normal temperature (fever)

Hyperthermia: an uncontrolled high

temperature.

Hypothermia: a below-normal temperature

Having a fever is an important part of the

body’s defense against infection.

WHAT DOES A FEVER MEAN?

Most bacteria and viruses thrive

best at 98.6°F. A fever raises

the temperature beyond the

temperature certain microbes need
to reproduce. It also activates

the immune system to make more

white blood cells and antibodies.

Open Ended

What is the normal temperature range?

PULSE

An indication of how well the blood is

circulating through the body.

The pulse is created

by the pressure of

blood pushing

against the wall of

an artery as the

heart contracts and

relaxes.

Rate: Number of pulse beats per minute.

CHARA

CTERISTICS OF A PULSE

NORMAL PULSE RATES

AGE

RATE (BPM)

BEFORE BIRTH
AT BIRTH

FIRST YEAR OF LIFE
CHILDHOOD YEARS
ADULT

140-150
90-160
115-130
80-115

60-80

tachycardia: pulse rate over 100 bpm (in adults)

bradycardia: pulse rate under 60 bpm (in adults)

Rhythm: regularity of the heart.

CHARA

CTERISTICS OF A PULSE

arrhythmia: an irregular pulse rate- usually

due to uneven intervals in between beats.

Volume: the strength or pressure felt with

each beat.

CHARA

CTERISTICS OF A PULSE

bounding:
strong or

forceful pulse

threading:

weak, barely-

felt pulse

PULSE VOLUME SCALE

0

ABSENT, NOT PALPABLE

1

2
3
4

DIMINISHED, THREADY, WEAK
EXPECTED, EASY TO PALPATE

FULL, INCREASED
BOUNDING, STRONG

PULSE SITES

There are locations in

the body where an artery
is superficial enough to

feel a pulse.

To the right are the

locations most

commonly used to

find a pulse.

carotid

apical

brachial

radial

femoral

dorsalis

pedis

posterior

tibial

temporal

COUNTING A PULSE

1:000:590:580:570:560:550:540:530:520:510:500:490:480:470:460:450:440:430:420:410:400:390:380:370:360:350:340:330:320:310:300:290:280:270:260:250:240:230:220:210:200:190:180:170:160:150:140:130:120:110:100:090:080:070:060:050:040:030:020:01End1:00

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1 MINUTE = PULSE IN BEATS PER MINUTE

30 SECONDS = MULTIPLY BY 2 TO GET

BEATS PER MINUTE

10 SECONDS = MULTIPLY BY 6 TO GET

BEATS PER MINUTE

RESPIRATION

The process of taking oxygen into the

body and expelling carbon dioxide.

One inspiration

(breathing in) and

one expiration

(breathing out) are

considered as one

respiration.

COUNTING RESPIRATIONS

Counting respirations should be done
without the patient knowing. If the

patient realizes you are counting
respirations, they may not breathe

normally.

Best done after counting pulse.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPIRATION

Rate: the number of

respirations per minute.

Rhythm: the regularity or
irregularity of breathing.

Quality: The amount of air

exchanged and the effort

it takes to breathe

NORMAL RESPIRATION RATES

The normal rate for an adult is

12
20

*the breathing

rate for an infant
can be as much as

40 breaths per

minute.

RESPIRATION TERMS

•

dyspnea: shortness of breath

•

tachypnea: abnormally fast respirations

•

apnea: absence of breathing

•

Cheyne-Stokes: labored breathing

followed by apnea

•

Rales: bubbling or rattling sounds in

the lungs

T P R

When documenting temperature, pulse and
respiration, write the results in this

order.

13 beats in
10 seconds

16 breaths
over a minute

100.6 °F (oral)

Ivan Hurtan

100.6/78/16

BLOOD PRESSURE

The force of blood pushing against the

walls of the blood vessels.

SYSTOLIC

DIASTOLIC

The greatest force

exerted on the walls

of the arteries by

the heart

The least force

exerted on the walls

of the arteries by

the heart

BLOOD PRESSURE NORMS

•

hypotension: low blood pressure

•

hypertension: high blood pressure

BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORIES

SYSTOLIC(mmHg)
Less than 120

120-129
130-139

140 or higher

NORMAL

ELEVATED

HPB STAGE 1
HPB STAGE 2

HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS

BP CATEGORY

DIASTOLIC(mmHg)

Higher than 180

Less than 80
Less than 80

80-89

90 or higher

Higher than 120

and
and
or
or

and/or

BLOOD PRESSURE EQUIPMENT:

SYPHYG: refers to pulse

MANO: refers to pressure

SPHYGMOMANOMETER

METER: refers to measure

sfig-mow-muh-naa-muh-tr

How to pronounce:

dial

Collapses and releases the artery

under the cuff in a controlled manner

and measured with a mercury or

aneroid manometer to indicate the

arterial pressure

BLOOD PRESSURE EQUIPMENT:

Allows for auscultation (listening to internal sounds)

STETHOSCOPE

ear

bell

diaphragm

tips

Systolic blood pressure:

measured at the first beating
sound heard after artery has

been occluded.

Diastolic blood pressure:

measured at the point where
the beating sound has ceased