Vital Signs Assessment Chapter 12 Vital Signs Assessment

Vital Signs Pulse Respiration Blood pressure Temperature Used to assess the body system’s conditions

The Pulse Reflects condition of patient’s circulatory system and cardiac function Pulse is found in the artery Vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body Absence of a pulse indicates cardiac arrest or death Feel the radial pulse, located at the ____.

The Pulse To check for circulation in the foot who has had an ankle injury, check the dorsalis pedis pulse. Pulse is documented as either regular or irregular.

Pulse Sites

The Pulse Use fingers to palpate an artery to listen for the heartbeat Normal pulse rate for an adult 60-100 beats per minute In a trained athlete 50-60 beats per minute You should wait several minutes after activity to assess the clients pulse.

Respiration Process of bringing oxygen into body Used by cells Expels carbon dioxide as a waste product from cells Single respiration consists of one inspiration and one expiration

Respiration General guidelines for normal rates are: 15 years and older: 15-20 breaths per minute Well-trained athlete: 6-8 breaths per minute Never let the client know you are checking the respirations

Respiratory Patterns Abdominal Apnea Bradypnea Dyspnea Hyperpnea

Respiratory Patterns Dyspnea Hyperpnea Kussmaul’s breathing Labored breathing

Blood Pressure Systolic (top number) Diastolic (bottom number) 120 example 80 Place the stethoscope over the brachial artery

Blood Pressure Terms Hypotension Hypertension Low blood pressure High blood pressure

Blood Pressure Terms Sphygmomanometer Blood pressure cuff Measures a person’s blood pressure along with a stethoscope

Body Temperature Core temperature Must remain within a relatively narrow range in order for the body’s various systems to function efficiently

Body Temperature Regulated by an area in the brain known as the hypothalamus Group of cells monitors the temperature of the blood and responds to any change of temperature Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit