Basic Nursing 1: Vital Signs Overview

Introductio

• The presentation is about vital signs in a nursing course.
• The course is Basic Nursing 1.
• The instructor is Lic. Sonia Vela F. MSC.
• The institution is Instituto Superior Tecnológico Stanford Universitario

Vital Signs Overview

• Weight, height, and vital signs are part of a clinical examination.
• Vital signs include pulse, respiration, body temperature, and blood pressure.

Pulse

• Pulse is an indicator of heart function.
• It is the repeated and regular expansion and contraction of an artery.
• This is caused by pressure waves from the left ventricle's ejection.
• Pulse is also measured from various arteries such as temporal, carotid, brachial, radial, cubital, femoral, popliteal, and pedal.

Respiration

• Respiration is the molecular exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the pulmonary system.
• The respiratory center is in the medulla oblongata.
• Factors affecting respiration frequency and character include age, moods, digestion, activity level, temperature, medications, fever, bleeding (hemorrhage), shock, etc.

Temperature

• Body temperature is the degree of heat maintained in the body via equilibrium between thermogenesis and heat loss (heat dissipation).
• Body temperature is measured in the buccal, rectal, or axillary/inguinal cavities.

Blood Pressure

• Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood on the artery walls.
• Blood pressure is measured by systolic and diastolic readings.
• Blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope.
  • The procedure includes: placing the patient comfortably (sitting or lying), positioning the arm, putting the cuff on the arm, and using the stethoscope to locate the pulse.

Important Concepts

• Vital signs are objective and clinically reliable manifestations observed during physical examination.
• Vital signs reflect the physiological state of a person.
• Vital signs are essential for assessing a person's health and guiding diagnosis and treatment.

Measurement Techniques

• Taking measurements of vital signs should be done together but the order does not matter.
• Time allocated to temperature measurement should also be used to complete pulse and respiration tests, as these can be affected by patient condition.
• The use of a timer, a logbook, and pen/pencil are suggested equipment to record data.

Equipment for Measurement

• Items needed include a thermometer, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, timer, log (notebook), pen/pencil etc.
• Types of thermometers exist (e.g., mercury, digital, electronic)
• Various types and models of sphygmomanometers exist (e.g., aneroid, mercury).

Normal Values

• Normal values for temperature, pulse, and respiration rates are presented across different age groups for vital signs.

Alterations

• Alterations and characteristics of the pulse and respiration are presented: Eupnea (normal), Apnea (cessation), Bradipnea (slow), Dyspnea (difficulty in breathing), Hyperpnea (deep and fast), Ortopnea (difficulty breathing when lying down), Taquipnea (rapid).

Additional Considerations

• Personal factors can influence vital signs (e.g., age, health condition, exercise, etc.).
• The presentations include diagrams of the human body and vital signs measurement tools.

Este quiz trata sobre los signos vitales en el curso de Enfermería Básica 1. Se abordan temas como el pulso, la respiración, la temperatura corporal y la presión arterial, así como su importancia en la evaluación clínica. Esta información es esencial para el cuidado del paciente.