Chapter 4 Vital Signs Flashcards
Vital Signs
Objective guideposts that provide measurement of essential life-sustaining functions, such as: Temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry
TPR
Temperature, pulse, respiration
Symptoms
subjective evidence of a disease, such as pain or headache.
-Felt by the patient
Signs
objective evidence of a disease, can be measured by a physician, such as a fever
In which provinces of Canada are MLTs legally allowed to check, record or measure vital signs and ECG?
BC and ON
Vital Signs are usually checked during each office visit to establish….
- patient’s state of health
- baseline measurement
What is a baseline measurement?
The initial vital signs measurements of a patient that is healthy. This is used to compare future vital sign measurements
Guidelines for Measuring Vital Signs: (4)
- be familiar with normal ranges for vital signs
- make sure equipment is in proper working order
- eliminate or minimize factors that affect vital signs ie. exercise, emotional states
- use an organized approach when measuring vital signs ie. start with temperature, followed by pulse and etc.
Body temperature is regulated by which body part?
The hypothalamus AKA body thermostat in the brain which connects the pituitary gland to the nervous system.
- regulates our temperature by 1-2 degrees Fahrenheit only
how does the hypothalamus regulate body temperature?
Hypothalamus reduces temperature by sending a message to perspire.
What is the normal temperature range?
36.1-37.2 degrees Celsius or 97-99 degrees Fahrenheit
Remember infants and young children generally have higher temperature than adults because their thermoregulatory system not yet fully established
What are the most important baseline measurements?
blood pressure and pulse
Is the hypothalamus a gland?
no, it is a nerve tissue
Temperature is maintained by a balance of
heat lost from the body, and heat produced in the body
the most Heat in the body is produced by
voluntary muscle contractions (skeletal muscles) and involuntary muscle contractions (digestive system)
Other body heat is produced by:
cell metabolism, fever and strong emotional states
Heat is lost through these bodily functions:
urine and feces, moisture droplets from lungs, perspiration
Heat is also lost through:
Radiation, convection and conduction
Radiation
transfer of heat in form of waves to cooler surroundings
Convection
transfer of heat through air currents
Conduction
transfer of heat from one object to another by direct contact
Purpose of measuring body temperature:
- establish patients baseline
- check patient’s state of health
Average body temperature is
98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius
Baseline measurement
patient’s initial vital sign’s measurement used to compare future measurements