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Halabja Technical Institute
Nursing Department
First Stage
Fundamental of Nursing
Snur J. Ahmad
Fourth Lab. : Vital Signs
Introduction
Vital Signs are defined as the sign of basic physiology that
includes temperature , pulse, respiration and blood
pressure. If any abnormality occurs in the body, vital signs
change immediately.
Purpose: 1. To detect any changes in normal body
function.
2. To determine response to treatment
Temperature – Temp. Pulse Rate– P
Respirations – R Blood Pressure – BP
Usually recorded by a nurse, physician, physician's
assistant, or other health care professional; from once
hourly to four times hourly, as required by a person's
condition.
Abbreviations
Body temperature is the balance between heat produced in
the tissues and heat lost to the environment.
The hypothalamus is a section of the brain responsible for
control of body temperature.
The normal range of the body temperature is
between 36.2-37.2c.
Temperature (Temp.)
Age
Gender
Clothing
Environmental temperature
Exercise
Illness
Medications
Factors affecting body Temp.
Sites for Assessing Temperature
1. Orally (common way). 37 C° (3 – 5 min)
2. Axillary (safe way). 36 C° + 0.5 C° (10 min)
3. Rectal (accurate reading).37 C° – 0.5 C° (2 – 3 min)
4. Tympanic membrane.
1. Orally
2. Axillary
3. Rectal
4. Tympanic membrane
Equipment
Thermometer is a device that measures temperature.
Types:
1. Electronic thermometer
2. Glass thermometer
3. Paper thermometer
4. Tympanic membrane thermometer
Electronic thermometer
Glass thermometer
Paper thermometer
Tympanic membrane
thermometer
Pulse Rate
Pulse is pressure of blood pushing against wall of artery as
heart beats and rests.
The normal pulse rate in adult is ( 60 – 100 beat/min.)
Tachycardia: is a rapid pulse rate , greater than 100 beat /min.
Bradycardia: is a pulse rate below 60 beats / min.
Factors affecting Pulse Rate
Pain
Fever
Stress
Exercise
Bleeding
Decrease in blood pressure
Some medications
Sites of Taking Pulse Rate
Equipment
Watch & Stethoscope
Pulse rate commonly assessed by palpation (feeling) or
auscultation (hearing) .
Noted as:
* Number of beats per minute
* Rhythm: regular or irregular
* Volume: strong or weak
Any Question?
Thank You …