Why vital signs are measured

They should be counted for at least 30 seconds as the total number of breaths in a 15 second period is rather small and any miscounting can result in rather large errors when multiplied by 4. Try to do this as surreptitiously as possible so that the patient does not consciously alter their rate of breathing. This can be done by observing the rise and fall of the patient's hospital gown while you appear to be taking their pulse.

Normal is between 12 and In general, this measurement offers no relevant information for the routine examination. However, particularly in the setting of cardio-pulmonary illness, it can be a very reliable marker of disease activity. Pulse: This can be measured at any place where there is a large artery e. You may find it helpful to feel both radial arteries simultaneously, doubling the sensory input and helping to insure the accuracy of your measurements.

Place the tips of your index and middle fingers just proximal to the patients wrist on the thumb side, orienting them so that they are both over the length of the vessel. The pictures below demonstrate the location of the radial artery surface anatomy on the left, gross anatomy on the right. Frequently, you can see transmitted pulsations on careful visual inspection of this region, which may help in locating this artery.

Upper extremity peripheral vascular disease is relatively uncommon, so the radial artery should be readily palpable in most patients. Push lightly at first, adding pressure if there is a lot of subcutaneous fat or you are unable to detect a pulse.

If you push too hard, you might occlude the vessel and mistake your own pulse for that of the patient. During palpation, note the following:. Rhythm Simulator.

Blood Pressure: Blood pressure BP is typically measured using an anaeroid manometer, with readings reported in millimeters of mercury mm Hg. While most BP readings in hospitals and clinics are initially taken with digital machines, it's still relevant to learn how to use manual cuffs, as clinicians will need to check the validity of digital readings on occasion e.

Thematic categories were predetermined based on the Health Belief Model proposed by Rosenstock, 29 Rosenstock IM. The health belief model and preventive health behavior. Health Educ Monogr. Perceived susceptibility: refers to a subjective perception of risk that a person will acquire a given condition or disease. Perceived severity: it is assessed both by the degree of emotional stimulation that is created around it and by the biological, social, emotional, and financial consequences it may lead to.

Perceived benefits: refer to a belief in the effectiveness of actions and on the perception of positive results and perceived barriers. Perceived barriers: refer to negative aspects perceived by the individual in regard to health actions.

The individual may perceive these actions to be expensive, inconvenient, unpleasant, painful, or that they demand time. When actions are qualified this way, they become barriers and create conflictive motives. This study is linked to the project "Analysis of occurrences of adverse events in a hospital of the sentinel network in the Midwest region" approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Hospital das Clinicas at the Federal University of Goias, Brazil protocol n.

Diretrizes e normas regulamentadoras para pesquisas envolvendo seres humanos. A total of nine nursing technicians, two men and seven women, along with four RNs, two men and two women, participated in the study. Age ranged from 24 to 58 years old and four of these worked on the night shift. Time working in the institution ranged from up to five years for four workers, between six and 11 years for another four workers, and 12 years or more for five workers.

Five professionals had more than one job. Two categories and four subcategories emerged from the Health Belief Model's dimensions: 29 The monitoring of vital signs includes monitoring and controlling parameters regarding blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory frequency, and temperature, which can vary among elderly individuals due to vulnerability associated with aging.

This category emerged from responses concerning the importance the staff assigned to the measurement of vitals signs, grouped according to perceived severity need to control clinical state and perceived susceptibility vulnerability of clinical state Table 1. Thumbnail Table 1 - Synthesis of nursing workers' reports regarding the importance of measuring vital signs in elderly individuals, classified according to the dimensions of the Health Belief Model proposed by Rosenstock.

Elderly patients present differentiated physiological and physiopathological conditions due to age and have specific characteristics, such as pathologies, that more frequently affect the musculoskeletal system and senses than in the case of younger patients. Hence, the health of older patients depends on the support and follow-up of specialized professionals that is appropriate to these patients' context.

Cienc Cuid Saude. The synthesis of responses indicate that nurses and nursing technicians consider necessary to control patients' clinical state, revealing the importance of vital signs for daily practice, and recognizing the vulnerability of the elderly patients' clinical state.

Given this context, we note the influence of these beliefs as a favorable indicator in health practice. Even though perceptions change from person to person, we verified in this study's setting that the perception of susceptibility and seriousness of "monitoring of vital signs in elderly individuals" may be a positive determinant for the behavior of nursing professionals. The decision-making of healthcare providers is based on the fragility, vulnerability, and dependence of elderly individuals when their autonomy is limited.

One's behavior may be based on a natural need to ensure positive results concerning one's beliefs or rules and censorship imposed by the society. Susceptibility and seriousness were expressed by feelings such as a concern over changing vital signs and the reliability of parameters measurements, expressed in reports that highlighted a lack of maintenance of equipment such as sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, as well as lack of thermometers.

This feeling expressed doubt and insecurity on the part of professionals in regard to the reliability of measurements, showing an acknowledgement of the risks to which patients are exposed. It leads us to reflect upon the need for a service that connects the practice of workers and maintenance of devices in order to obtain actual and comprehensible measurements. Preventive and corrective maintenance alone is not useful if not effectively linked to a system of human resources administration with improved professional performance, itself ensured through training and supervision of nursing actions.

It is necessary to ensure that all personnel who compose the staff perform their work in a quality manner, meeting standards of conformity and performance of equipment in an efficiently and operationally utilize equipment. It is only possible to provide dignified care if there is a dignified work ambience, i. Fontana RT. Rev Rene. On the other hand, discontinuity of care expressed by incomplete records regarding vital signs during the night shift for elderly individuals reinforces that there is a distance between the good discourse reported in the interviews and the actual practice expressed in many reports.

This category emerged from responses concerning safety care, which were grouped according to perceived barriers shortage of equipment and material and perceived benefits personal action to continue the process Table 2.

It includes themes that referred to organizational and managerial aspects, which are necessary to reduce unsafe techniques in care processes and to use better practices in order to achieve better outcomes for patients. Version 1. Final Technical Report and Technical Annexes. Geneva: WHO; Thumbnail Table 2 - Synthesis of the nursing workers' reports regarding safety care provided to patients, classified according to the dimensions of the Health Belief Model proposed by Rosenstock.

Mentioning the use of equipment that is property of the workers themselves as a facilitator was remarkable.

The participants' reports are very similar; that is, they consider this attitude necessary to comply with basic activities of their duties, which shows they experience limitations and contingencies that impede the correct practice of any activity. Many of the participants expressed dissatisfaction with their current work context within the facility even as they conform to it.

Often, in this context, when workers try to perform a complete monitoring of parameters, they use alternative means to meet the service needs, usually because material resources are unavailable. Therefore, the importance of vital signs monitoring is that it allows medical professionals to assess your wellbeing. Based on the results, a doctor may conduct further tests, diagnose a problem, or suggest lifestyle changes. The most common vitals checked are body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and height and weight.

Irregular body temperature is an early sign of an infection. Even if you feel fine, ensure you are maintaining a healthy body temperature by checking your vitals. Abnormal fluctuations in body temperature are cause for concern. A normal body temperature is Age, gender, weight, the surrounding temperature, and overall health impact body temperature. The hypothalamus is a region of your brain that adjusts body temperature.

When there is a virus in your body, your immune system sends signals to the hypothalamus to increase body temperature and weaken the infection. Sweating, clamminess, and other disruptions to your body temperature are early signs that your body is fighting off a virus.

Monitoring body temperature allows you to take preventive measures to detect problems and prevent spreading an illness to others. Blood pressure measures the force in which blood is pushed against artery walls when your heart contracts and relaxes. Monitoring blood pressure allows you to assess heart health. Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure. The higher number displays the pressure inside the artery when the heart pumps blood to the body.

The lower number represents artery pressure when the heart is at rest. When these numbers are too high, the arteries have a difficult time resisting blood flow, which makes the heart work extra hard. Abnormal blood pressure signals underlying problems like heart disease and can lead to a medical emergency like a stroke. Don't take your blood pressure on an arm or leg that has been severely injured, has had surgery on the blood vessels, or has injury to the tissue. The American Heart Association recommends the following guidelines for home blood pressure monitoring:.

Don't smoke, have caffeinated drinks, or exercise for 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure. Sit with your back supported don't sit on a couch or soft chair. Keep your feet on the floor uncrossed. Place your arm on a solid flat surface like a table with the upper part of the arm at heart level.

Place the middle of the cuff directly above the bend of the elbow. Check the monitor's instruction manual for an illustration. Take multiple readings. When you measure, take 2 to 3 readings one minute apart and record all the results. Take your blood pressure at the same time every day, or as your healthcare provider recommends. Take the record with you to your next medical appointment. If your blood pressure monitor has a built-in memory, simply take the monitor with you to your next appointment.

Call your provider if you have several high readings. Don't be frightened by a single high blood pressure reading, but if you get several high readings, check in with your healthcare provider. If your blood pressure reaches a systolic top number of or higher OR diastolic bottom number of or higher, seek emergency medical treatment. Ask your healthcare provider to teach you how to use your blood pressure monitor correctly.

Have the monitor routinely checked for accuracy by taking it with you to your healthcare provider's office. It's also important to make sure the tubing is not twisted when you store it and keep it away from heat to prevent cracks and leaks.

Monitors will have to be replaced now and then. Check that your device is working correctly. Proper use of your blood pressure monitor will help you and your healthcare provider in monitoring your blood pressure. Search Encyclopedia. The 4 main vital signs routinely checked by healthcare providers include: Body temperature Pulse rate Breathing rate respiration Blood pressure Vital signs help detect or monitor medical problems.

What is body temperature? A person's body temperature can be taken in any of the following ways: Orally. Glass thermometers containing mercury Exposure to mercury can be toxic and poses a threat to a person's health, as well as to the environment.