1. Vital Signs Assessment
Chapter 12
Vital Signs Assessment

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

3. 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 ____.

4. 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.

5. Pulse Sites

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Respiratory Patterns
Abdominal
Apnea
Bradypnea
Dyspnea
Hyperpnea

10. Respiratory Patterns Dyspnea Hyperpnea Kussmaul’s breathing
Labored breathing

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

12. Blood Pressure Terms Hypotension Hypertension Low blood pressure
High blood pressure

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

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

15. 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