Vital Signs in Healthcare

Vital Signs

• Vital signs are indicators, reflecting health status
• Include temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, pain and pulse oximetry

Vital Sign Units

• Temperature (T): Celsius (℃) or Fahrenheit (℉)
• Pulse (P): beats per minute (bpm)
• Respiration (RR): breaths per minute (bpm)
• Blood Pressure (BP): millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
• Pain level: Numeric pain scale (0-10)
• Pulse oximetry (SpO2): Percentage (%)

Why are vital signs important?

• Monitor physiological functions
• Identify changes in health status
• Early detection of serious risk for timely intervention

When to assess vital signs?

• On admission
• When patient's health status changes
• Before and after surgery or invasive procedures
• Before and after activities that increase risk
• Before administering medications that affect cardiovascular or respiratory function

Who assesses vital signs?

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Nursing students
• Patient care assistants
• Other healthcare team members

Nurses' responsibilities for vital signs

• Interpret and analyze measurements
• Assess individual patient's condition
• Provide interventions for abnormal measurements

How to assess vital signs?

• Assess and select appropriate equipment
• Know how to measure vital signs
• Understand the patient's medical history and current condition
• Collaborate with physicians to determine assessment frequency
• Document findings accurately
• Verify and communicate significant findings
• Determine interventions for abnormal findings

Temperature

• The difference between heat produced by the body and heat lost to the environment
• Two types:
  • Core Temperature: Temperature of deep tissues, relatively constant
  • Surface Temperature: Temperature of skin, subcutaneous tissues, and fat, subject to change

Body Temperature Examples:

• Core temperature: Temperature of deep tissues, stays relatively constant
• Surface temperature: Skin, subcutaneous tissue, and fat temperature changes in response to the environment

Physiology of Body Temperature

• Homeostasis and Thermoregulation

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

• Circadian Rhythm (Diurnal Variations): Body temperature fluctuates throughout the day, varying by 0.5℃ (1.0℉), lower in the morning than in the late afternoon.
• Age: Both older adults and infants have rapid body temperature changes in response to hot or cold environments. Older adults are at higher risk of developing hypothermia.
• Biological Sex: Women experience more temperature fluctuation than men. Progesterone secretion increases at ovulation, increasing body temperature by 0.3℃–0.5℃.
• Physical Activity: Increases body temperature due to increased metabolism and heat production.
• Stress: Increased production of epinephrine and norepinephrine increases metabolic activity and heat production.
• Environmental Temperatures: Humans respond to changes in temperature by increasing heat loss and retaining heat.

Temperature Scale

• Celsius (℃) and Fahrenheit (℉)
• Conversion formula:
  • ℃ = (℉ - 32) x 5/9
  • ℉ = (℃ x 9/5) + 32
• Examples:
  • 38℃ = 100.4℉
  • 98.6℉ = 37℃

Normal Body Temperature Range

• Oral: 35.8℃- 37.5℃​ (96.4℉ – 99.5℉​)
• Rectal: 36.1℃ – 37.8℃​ (96.98℉ – 100.04℉​)
• Axillary: 35.5℃ – 37.2℃​ (95.9℉ - 98.96℉​)
• Tympanic: 36.1℃ - 37.8℃​ (96.98℉ - 100.04℉​)

Terminology for Body Temperature Changes

• Increased Body Temperature:
  • Pyrexia, Hyperthermia, Fever: An increase above normal in body temperature.
  • Hyperpyrexia: Very high fever (≥41℃ or ≥106℉)
  • Febrile: A person with a fever.
  • Afebrile: A person without a fever.
• Decreased Body Temperature:
  • Hypothermia: A decrease below normal in body temperature.
  • Death can occur when body temperature falls below.

Increased Body Temperature

• Occurs when the thermoregulatory set point in the hypothalamus is displaced upward, caused by pyrogens.

Decreased Body Temperature (Hypothermia):

• A decrease below normal in body temperature.
• Death may occur when body temperature falls below.

This quiz covers the essential aspects of vital signs, including their significance, measurement units, and circumstances under which they should be assessed. Understand the roles of healthcare professionals in monitoring these critical indicators of health. Test your knowledge on the various components of vital signs essential for patient care.