U10 Pt Procedures & Vital
Signs
Patient Procedures
ALWAYS
BEGIN
TESTS/PROCDURES
WITH THE
6 Rules of PATIENT
PROCEDURES
Patient Procedures
6 rules
Introduce
yourself
Patient Procedures

Introduce yourself
Identify
the pt.-Make sure you are
with the correct pt
Patient Procedures


Introduce yourself
Identify the pt.--Make sure you are with
the correct pt
Explain
the
procedure to the pt
Patient Procedures



Introduce yourself
Identify the pt.--Make sure you are with the correct pt
Explain the procedure to the pt
 Explain
to the pt that if they
feel uncomfortable/pain at any
time, they are to tell you and
that you will stop the
procedure.
Patient Procedures




Introduce yourself
Make sure you are with the correct pt
Explain the procedure to the pt
Explain to the pt that if they feel
uncomfortable/pain at any time, they are to tell
you and that you will stop the procedure.
Ask
the pt if they
understand or if they
have any questions
Patient Procedures





Introduce yourself
Make sure you are with the correct pt
Explain the procedure to the pt
Explain to the pt that if they feel
uncomfortable/pain at any time, they are to tell
you and that you will stop the procedure
Ask the pt if they understand or if they have any
questions
Record
Results
Vital Signs
 Tests/procedures that are
indicators of internal
homeostasis (homeostasis is
the maintaining of a
constant internal
environment—breathing,
heart rate, body
temperature, internal
functions).
Vital Signs
Represents the
general health of
the pt at that point
in time

Important factors of Vital Signs
 Understand
how to do the
procedure/test
Important factors of Vital Signs
 Understand
how to do the
procedure/test
 Know how to perform the
procedure or test with
confidence
Important factors of Vital Signs
 Understand
how to do the
procedure/test
 Know how to perform the
procedure or test with
confidence
 Must be accurate
Important factors of Vital Signs
 Understand
how to do the
procedure/test
 Know how to perform the
procedure or test with
confidence
 Must be accurate
 Must be able to keep the pt
comfortable.
Factors that may influence VS
 Physical
 Walking,
running, illness,
stairs etc….
Factors that may influence VS

Physical
 Emotional-afraid,
stress etc…..
bad day,
Factors that may influence VS

Physical

Emotional-afraid, bad day, stress etc…..
 Equipment
 Failures
 To
big or small
 Low batteries
Vital Signs
 Temperature
 Pulse/Heart
rate
 Respiratory Rate
 Blood pressure
 Ht
 Wt
Temperature
 Physiology:
The body
maintains a constant
temperature, this helps to
maintain homeostasis (the
internal environment of the
body), this is controlled by the
brain.
Temperature
 Physiology:
The body moves
blood to the core of the body
to increase the temperature of
the blood, which in turns
increases the body
temperature----fever.
Factors that influence
Temperature
 Liquids
Factors that influence
Temperature
 Liquids
 Weather
Factors that influence
Temperature
 Liquids
 Weather
 Exercise
Factors that influence
Temperature
 Liquids
 Weather
 Exercise
 Infections
Factors that influence
Temperature
 Liquids
 Weather
 Exercise
 Infections
 Stress
Is a Fever a good thing?
Yes—the
increase in
temperature helps the
body destroy any
pathogens. Pathogens
are temperature
sensitive.
Is a Fever a good thing?

Yes—the increase in temperature helps
the body destroy any pathogens.
Pathogens are temperature sensitive.
 Sometimes
not--- a prolonged
fever (having a fever for a long
period of time), can cause
brain injuries.
Temperature Sites
 Oral--mouth
Temperature Sites

Oral—mouth
 Rectal-
ummmmm
Temperature Sites


Oral—mouth
Rectal- ummmmm
 Tympanic--ear
Temperature Sites



Oral—mouth
Rectal- ummmmm
Tympanic—ear
 Axillary-
arm pit
Temperature Sites



Oral—mouth
Rectal- ummmmm
Tympanic—ear
 Axillary-
arm pit
 Temporal Scanforehead/behind the ear
Temperature Value/Readings
 Normal-
98.6 degrees F
Temperature Value/Readings
 Normal-
 Rectal
98.6 degrees F
temperature: subtract 1
degree
Temperature Value/Readings
 Normal-
98.6 degrees F
 Rectal
temperature: subtract 1
degree
 Axillary
degree
temperature- add 1
Types of thermometers
 Glass
Types of thermometers

Glass
 digital
Types of thermometers


Glass
Digital
 Digital
Probe
Types of thermometers



Glass
Digital
Digital Probe
 Tympanic
Types of thermometers



Glass
Digital
Digital Probe
Tympanic
 Temporal Scan

Pulse/Heart Rate
 The
number of times the
heart beats per minute.
Pulse/Heart Rate
 The
number of times the
heart beats per minute.
 Documented as ___B/M (
beats per minute)
Pulse/Heart Rate
 Factors
the affect the HR.
Exercise
Pulse/Heart Rate
 Factors
the affect the HR.
Exercise
Food
Pulse/Heart Rate
 Factors
the affect the HR.
Exercise
Food
Illness
Pulse/Heart Rate
 Factors
the affect the HR.
Exercise
Food
Illness
Stress
Pulse/Heart Rate
 Factors
the affect the HR.
Exercise
Food
Illness
Stress
Medications—OTC, Rx,
illegal
 3.
Carotid
 4. Brachial
 5. Radial
*****
 7. Popliteal
Taking a pulse
Never use your thumb.
Your thumb has a small
pulse that can be felt.
Pulse is taken on the
thumb (radial) side
of the pts wrist.
Pulse Characteristics
 Rate:
how fast the heart is
beating
Pulse Characteristics
 Rate:
how fast the heart is
beating
 Average
 Range
70 bpm
for Adults 60-90 bpm
 Range for children/infants 115-125
bpm
 Range for Athletes 40-60 bpm
Pulse Characteristics
Rhythm
– time between
the beats.
Pulse Characteristics
Volume-
pulse.
the force of the
Pulse Characteristics
Elasticity-
the feel of the
vessel through the skin.
Respiration ( breaths)/RR
 Documented
as the # of
breaths per minute
Respiration / RR
 Documented
as the # of
breaths per minute
 It is automatically assumed
that the recorded # is the
number of breaths per minute.
Respiration / RR
 Documented
as the # of
breaths per minute
 It is automatically assumed
that the recorded # is the
number of breaths per minute.
 INHALE + EXHALE = 1 breath
Respiration
Rate:
12-20 breaths per
minute
Respiration ( breaths)
Rate:
12-20 breaths per
minute
 Children
and infants have a
higher rate
 Athletes have a slower rate.
Respiration
Rhythm-
the time
between each breath.
Respiration
 Depth-
how deep the breath
is—deep, shallow, or normal
Respiration
 Counting-
watch the shoulders
rise and fall
Respiration
 Counting-
watch the shoulders
rise and fall
 DO NOT tell the pt your are
counting their breathing
Respiration
 Counting-
watch the shoulders
rise and fall
 DO NOT tell the pt you are
counting their breathing
 Pt modesty—do not stare at
the pts chest.
Blood Pressure
The
amount of pressure
in the arteries when the
heart contracts and
relaxes.
Blood Pressure
The
amount of pressure
in the arteries when the
heart contracts and
relaxes.
The pressure is
measured in mm hg=
millimeters of mercury
Blood Pressure
 Blood
pressure
measurement.
Blood Pressure
 Blood
pressure measurement.
 110/70
mm hg
Blood Pressure
 Blood
pressure measurement.
 110/70 mm hg
110
(the first/top
number) Systolic-the
pressure in the artery
when the heart
contracts.
Blood Pressure



Blood pressure measurement.
110/70 mm hg
110 (the first/top number) Systolic-the
pressure in the artery when the heart contracts.
 70
(the second/bottom
number) Diastolic- the
pressure in the artery when
the heart is relaxed
Factors that affect Blood Pressure
 Food,
fat, salt
Factors that affect Blood Pressure

Food, fat, salt
 Family
Factors that affect Blood Pressure


Food, fat, salt
Family
 White
coat syndrome-fear of
doctors
Factors that affect Blood Pressure



Food, fat, salt
Family
White coat syndrome-fear of doctors
 Exercise
Factors that affect Blood Pressure




Food, fat, salt
Family
White coat syndrome-fear of doctors
Exercise
 Stress
Factors that affect Blood Pressure





Food, fat, salt
Family
White coat syndrome-fear of doctors
Exercise
Stress
 Smoking
Blood Pressure Measurements
 Normal
Values 110/70---
128/90
 High blood pressure=130/90
or higher
 High blood pressure
increases the risk of stroke,
kidney damage, and heart
attacks.
Blood Pressure Equipment

Stethoscope
Ear
Piece
Blood Pressure Equipment

Blood pressure cuff
Height and Weight
 Measuring the ht and wt of pt
can help determine the
condition of the pts body.
Height and Weight
 Measuring the ht and wt of pt
can help determine the
condition of the pts body.
 Help measure long term
fluctuations with in the body.
Height and Weight
 Examples:
Height and Weight
 Examples:
 Sudden
wt loss may indicate
cancer, diabetes, or other
metabolic conditions
Height and Weight
 Examples:
 Sudden
wt loss may indicate
cancer, diabetes, or other
metabolic conditions
 Quick weight gain can also indicate
the onset of medical conditions
such as cancer.
Height and Weight
 Examples:
 Sudden
wt loss may indicate
cancer, diabetes, or other
metabolic conditions
 Quick weight gain can also indicate
the onset of medical conditions
 A decrease in ht can be a sign of
conditions such as osteoporosis
Height and Weight
 Ht
and wt are measured
using a certified scale, you
should not guess, but at
times the pt may refuse to
get on the scale, just
document the pts refusal.