What are the Four Vital Signs? Temperature (T) Pulse (P) Respirations (R) Blood Pressure (B/P)

Where do you measure temperature? Oral: 96.0F – 100.0F Axillary: 98.6F – 97.6F Rectal: 98.6F – 99.6F Tympanic/Aural: 96.0F – 99.5

Effects on Temperature Activity Infections Drugs: Stimulants Drugs: Depressants Other factors that influence Temperature?

Effects on Temperature Oral Temp Can be effected by what person has recently been eating Leave for about 2 min Rectal Temp Insert only about 1cm

Types of Thermometers Electronic Digital Disposable Tympanic

Pulse (p) How fast the heart is beating Measured in beats per minute (BPM) Take while at rest Arteries in the body expand with each heart contraction

Pulse Sites Artery is closer to the skin: pressing on these area’s you can feel the pulse Radial Popliteal Femoral Brachial Carotid Apical Temporal pedal

Normal Pulse Rate Varies by age What increases pulse What decreases pulse? Adult Normal: 60-100 Tachycardia Bradycardia Rhythm force

Normal Pulse Rate Pulse should be measured with index finger and middle finger Thumb- has it’s own pulse making it difficult to feel the persons pulse

Respirations (R) Role & Function: Adults: 12-20 Children 18-28 Inhalation Exhalation Adults: 12-20 Children 18-28 Infants 24-35 Counted at rest

Respiratory Terms Apnea Bradypnea Dyspnea Cheyne-Stokes Orthopnea hyperventilation Tachypnea SOB

Blood Pressure (b/p) Measured in millimeters of mercury (mm/Hg) Written as a fraction What effects pressure? Systolic: 90 - 140 Diastolic: 60 – 90 Hypertension Hypotension

Blood Pressure What increases pressure? What decreases pressure?

Taking a B/P Stethoscope Sphygmomanometer Reading the gauge S = first sound D = last sound