Measuring Vital Signs & Patient Assessment

Objectives Students will: – Identify normal and abnormal V/S measurements. – Measure and record vital signs according to industry standards. – Measure and record height and weight according to industry standards. – Explain why urine, stool, and sputum specimens are collected. – Explain the rules for collecting different specimens – Describe the seven warning signs of cancer

Vital Signs Are important indicators of health Detect changes in normal body function May signal life-threatening conditions Provide information about responses to treatment

Vital Signs Temperature Pulse Respirations Blood Pressure

Vital Signs Are Measured: – Upon admission – As often as required by the person’s condition – Before & after surgery and other procedures – After a fall or accident – When prescribed drugs that affect the respiratory or circulatory system – When there are complaints of pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain – As stated on the care plan

When Measuring Vital Signs Usually taken with the person sitting or lying The person is at rest Always report: – A change from a previous measurement – Vital signs above or below the normal range – If you are unable to measure the vital signs

Temperature Measurement of balance between heat lost and produced by the body. – Heat is produced by: Metabolism of food Muscle and gland activity – Heat may be lost through: Perspiration, Respiration, Excretion Measured with the Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius or Centigrade (C) scales

Factors that  body temperature Illness Infection Exercise Excitement High temperatures in the environment Temperature is usually higher in the evening Factors that  body temperature Starvation or fasting Sleep Decreased muscle activity Exposure to cold in the environment Body Temperature

Temperature Sites Oral - by mouth – most common method – May be affected by hot or cold food, smoking, oxygen, chewing gum – Wait 15 minutes or use alternate site Rectal - in the rectum -most accurate site – Do not use if patient has rectal surgery or bleeding Axillary - under arm – less reliable site – Used when other sites are inaccessible – Do not use immediately after bathing

Temperature Sites Tympanic or aural - in the ear – Measures in 1 to 3 seconds Temporal Artery – temporal artery on the forehead Record route temperature was taken O - Oral R- Rectal T – Tympanic A – Axillary

Normal Body Temperature Oral 98.6 ( ) Rectal 99.6 ( ) Axillary 97.6 ( ) Typmanic 98.6 ( ) Temporal 99.6 ( ) Hypothermia – temperature below normal Hyperthermia – temperature above normal

Types of Thermometers Clinical (glass) thermometer no longer contain mercury. – Come in oral and rectal. – Disposable covers are usually used. Electronic can be used for oral, rectal, or axillary and use disposable probe covers. Tympanic placed in auditory canal and uses disposable cover. Strips that contain special chemicals or dots that change colors can also be used.

Pulse The pressure of blood pushing against the wall of an artery as the heart beats and rests. Measured for one minute while noting: – rate - beats per minute – rhythm - regular or irregular – volume - strength or intensity - described as strong, weak, thready, bounding

Pulse Sites Most Commonly Used: Carotid – during CPR Apical – use stethoscope Brachial – for Blood Pressure Radial - to count pulse Femoral – assessment and procedures Popliteal – assessment Dorsalis Pedis – assessment

Normal Ranges AgePulse per Minute Birth to 1 year years years years years & older Bradycardia – Under 60 beats per minute Tachycardia – Over 100 beats per minute

Factors that Affect Pulse Factors that  pulse Exercise Stimulant drugs Excitement Fever Shock Nervous tension Factors that  pulse Sleep Depressant drugs Heart disease Coma

Respirations Process of breathing air into (inhalation) and out of (exhalation) the lungs. Oxygen enters the lungs during inhalation. Carbon dioxide leaves the lungs during exhalation. The chest rises during inhalation and falls during exhalation. Normal rate breaths per minute

Assessing Respiration Respirations is measured when the person is at rest. Rate may change is patient is aware that it is being counted. To prevent this, count respirations right after taking a pulse. Keep your fingers or stethoscope over the pulse site. To count respirations, watch the chest rise and fall.

Assessing Respiration Character and quality of respirations is also assessed: – Deep – Shallow – Labored or difficult – Noises – wheezing, stertorous (a heavy, snoring type of sound) – Moist or rattling sounds Dyspnea – difficult or labored breathing Apnea – absence of respirations Cheyne-Stokes – periods of dyspnea followed by periods of apnea; often noted in the dying patient Rales – bubbling or noisy sounds caused by fluids or mucus in the air passages

Blood Pressure Measure of the pressure blood exerts on the walls of arteries Blood pressure is controlled by: – The force of heart contractions weakened heart  drop in BP – The amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat loss of blood  drop in BP – How easily the blood flows through the blood vessels Narrowing of vessels  increase in BP Dilatation of vessels  decrease in BP

Factors that Affect Blood Pressure Factors that  blood pressure Excitement, anxiety, nervous tension Stimulant drugs Exercise and eating Factors that  blood pressure Rest or sleep Depressant drugs Shock Excessive loss of blood

Measuring BP A sphygmomanometer is used to measure BP – Aneroid – has a round dial and needle – Mercury – has a column of mercury – Electronic – automated device BP is measured in millimeters (mm) of mercury (Hg). The systolic pressure is recorded over the diastolic pressure.

Normal Range of Blood Pressure Systolic: Pressure on the walls of arteries when the heart is contracting. Normal range – less than 120 mm Hg Diastolic: Constant pressure when heart is at rest Normal range – less than 80 mm Hg Hypertension—BP that remains above a systolic of 140 mm Hg or a diastolic of 90 mm Hg Hypotension—Systolic below 90 mm Hg and/or a diastolic below60 mm Hg

Measuring Height and Weight Used to determine if patient is underweight or overweight Height and weight charts are used as averages Weight greater or less than 20% considered normal BMI or Body Mass Index a statistical measure of body weight based on a person's weight and height. BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal

Measuring Height and Weight General Guidelines: Use the same scale every day Make sure the scale is balanced before use Weigh the patient at the same time each day Remove jacket, robe, and shoes before weighing OBSERVE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS! Prevent injury from falls and the protruding height lever. Some people are weight conscious. Make only positive comments when weighing patients

Types of Scales Clinical scales contain a balance beam and measuring rod Bed scales or Chair scales are used for patients unable to stand Infant scales come in balanced, aneroid, or digital – When weighing an infant…keep one hand slightly over but not touching the infant – A tape measure is used to measure infant height.

Urine Specimens Can provide valuable information about the patients state of health Urine is commonly tested for: – Bacteria, pus, or blood as found in bladder and kidney infection – Sugar and acetone as found in diabetes – Hormones as found in pregnancy – Drugs

Common Types of Specimens Random urine specimen – Collected for a routine urinalysis. – No special measures are needed. Midstream specimen (clean-voided or clean-catch) – The perineal area is cleaned before collecting the specimen. – Sterile gloves and container are needed. Double voided – Patient voids and the specimen is discarded – After 30 minutes, patient voids again and specimen is collected for testing

Testing Urine Urine pH measures if urine is acidic or alkaline. – Normal pH is 4.6 to 8.0. Testing for glucose and ketones – These tests are usually done 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime. – Information used to make drug and diet decisions. – Double-voided specimens are best for these tests. Testing for blood – Sometimes blood is seen in the urine. – At other times it is unseen (occult). – A routine urine specimen is needed.

Testing Urine Using reagent strips – Universal Precautions must be used at all times – Dip the strip into urine. – Compare the strip with the color chart on the bottle at the required time interval. – Record and report results

Stool Specimen Stool, or feces, may be tested for: – Blood – Fat – Microbes – Worms – Other abnormal contents The stool specimen must not be contaminated with urine.

Sputum Specimen Sputum specimens may be tested for blood, microbes, and abnormal cells. The person coughs up sputum from the bronchi and trachea. – It is easier to collect a specimen in the morning.

Other Types of Specimens Specimens may be obtained from other body tissue and fluid. A biopsy is done by removing a small piece of tissue for further examination. A culture and sensitivity is done by swabbing a body surface and testing for the presence of microbes

Observations by Body Systems Using sight, touch, hearing, and smell

ABC’s of Observation Appearance Behavior – actions, conduct, pain Communication

Signs and Symptoms SignsObjective data are seen, heard, felt, smelled. You can see urine, hear a cough, feel a pulse and smell a foul odor. SymptomsSubjective data are thing a person tells you about that you cannot observe through your senses. Examples include nausea, pain and dizziness.

Integumentary System Color – flushed, pale, ashen, icteric, cyanotic, (don’t forget nails) Temperature – warm, hot cool Moisture – dry, moist, perspiring Abnormalities – rashes, bruises, wounds

Posture – stooped, fetal position, straight Mobility – in bed, balance, ambulation Range of Motion – performance of ADL’s Musculoskeletal System

Pulse – strength, regularity, rate Blood Pressure Skin color Extremities – edema Circulatory System

Respirations – rate, regularity, depth, dyspnea, SOB (exertion, at rest), stertorous Cough – frequency, dry, productive Sputum – color, consistency Respiratory System

Mental state – orientation Ability to communicate Senses – Eyes – pupils equal, reddened, drainage – Ears – drainage, hearing – Nose – drainage, bleeding Nervous System

Frequency, amount, color, dysuria Clarity, blood or sediment, incontinent Pain or burning upon urination Urinary System

Appetite – amount of solids/liquids consumed, belching, burping, intolerance to foods Eating – difficulty chewing or swallowing Nausea/Vomiting Bowel elimination – frequency, amount, consistency, color, diarrhea, constipation, flatus Digestive System

Female – Breasts – drainage from nipples, discoloration, lumps – Vagina – discharge, amount, color, character Male – Testes – lumps – Penis – drainage, amount and character Reproductive System