Measurement and Units in Nursing PDF

# Measurement and Units in Nursing The best available evidence on measurement and units in nursing comes from the International System of Units (SI). The SI unit system is used to ensure consistency and accuracy in healthcare assessment and treatment. ## Common SI Units and Conversions * **Leng...

# Measurement and Units in Nursing The best available evidence on measurement and units in nursing comes from the International System of Units (SI). The SI unit system is used to ensure consistency and accuracy in healthcare assessment and treatment. ## Common SI Units and Conversions * **Length:** The SI unit for Length is the meter (m). Common conversions include: * 1 meter = 100 centimeters (cm) * 1 meter = 1000 millimeters (mm) * **Weight:** The SI unit for weight is the kilogram (kg). Common conversions include: * 1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams (g) * 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.20462 pounds (lb) * **Volume:** The SI unit for volume is the liter (L). Common conversions include: * 1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL) * 1 liter (L) = 33.874 fluid ounces (fl. oz) * **Temperature:** The SI unit for temperature is the Celsius (°C). Common conversions include: * **Celsius to Fahrenheit:** °F = (°C * 9/5) + 32 * **Fahrenheit to Celsius:** °C = (°F - 32) * 5/9 * **Pressure:** The SI unit for pressure is the Pascal (Pa) or kilopascal (kPa). Common conversions include: * 1 kilopascal (kPa) = 7.50062 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) * **Flow Rate:** The SI unit for flow rate is the liter per minute (L/min). Common conversions include: * 1 liter per minute (L/min) = 1000 milliliters per minute (mL/min) * **Concentration:** The SI unit for concentration is of various units, for example, g/L, mg/mL, etc. ## Instruments Used in Nursing Measurement Nurses often encounter these measurements when measuring medications, fluid intake and output, monitoring vital signs and documenting patient information. Accurate conversion is crucial to ensure patient safety and effective healthcare delivery. These are some common instruments used in nursing: 1. **Stethoscope:** Used for auscultating heart sounds, lung sounds, blood pressure measurement and assessment. There are different types of stethoscopes, including acoustic and electronic versions. 2. **Blood Pressure Cuff (Sphygmomanometer):** Used to measure blood pressure. 3. **Thermometer:** Used to measure temperature. There are various types of thermometers, including oral, rectal, forehead, etc. 4. **Glucometer:** Measures blood glucose levels. 5. **Pulse Oximeter:** Measures oxygen saturation in the blood. 6. **Scale:** Weighs patients. 7. **Tape Measure:** Measures length or circumference. 8. **Syringe:** Used to administer medications and fluids. 9. **Needle:** Used for injections. 10. **IV Infusion Pump:** Used to regulate the flow of intravenous fluids. 11. **Percussion Hammer:** Used to assess reflexes. 12. **Nebulizer:** Used to administer medications, particularly for respiratory conditions. 13. **Pulse Assessment Tools:** Used to assess heart rate and rhythm. 14. **Urinary Catheter:** Used to drain urine from the bladder. 15. **Wound Measuring Tools:** Used to track the healing of wounds. 16. **Goniometer:** Used to measure joint angles. 17. **Peak Flow Meter:** Used to assess lung function in patients with asthma. 18. **Pulmonary Function Testing Equipment:** Used to assess lung function in patients with respiratory conditions. 19. **Pain Assessment Tools:** Used to assess pain levels. 20. **Opthalmoscope and Otoscope:** Used to examine the eye/ears respectively. 21. **Telemetry Monitoring Equipment:** Used to monitor vital signs remotely. 22. **Doppler Ultrasound:** Used for imaging and monitoring blood flow. ## Purpose of Nursing Measurements These tools are essential to nurses to provide high-quality care, make accurate clinical assessments, administer treatment safely, and monitor patients effectively. Nurses must be proficient in using these instruments and follow proper protocol to ensure patient well-being. Some common measurements performed in nursing include: 1. **Length:** Measuring the height of the patient to assess growth in pediatric patients or changes in the height over time. Measuring the length of wounds, incisions or limbs to monitor healing progress, and to assess edema. 2. **Weight:** Measuring body weight to access nutritional status, monitor for weight gain or loss, and determine appropriate medication dosage. 3. **Height:** Measuring patient height is critical for calculating body mass index (BMI), which helps to assess weight in relation to height. 4. **Volume:** Measuring volume to administer and measure fluid volume, such as intravenous (IV) fluid, oral medication, or tube feeding. Recording urine output to monitor kidney function and fluid balance. Measuring wound drainage to access healing and to prevent depression. 5. **Pressure:** Measuring blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer to assess intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with neurological conditions. Accessing pressure, ulcers, or bed sores uses pressure to measure their severity. 6. **Density:** Measuring density to calculate medication dosages based on drug concentration and patient growth. 7. **Temperature:** Using a thermometer to measure body temperature to determine fever or hypothermia. Monitoring body temperature of fluid administered intravenously (IV) to identify signs of infection. ## Measurement in Fluids * **Pressure in Fluids:** Pressure in fluids can be measured using various devices, including manometers, pressure transducers, and pressure gauges. Manometers use height differences of fluid columns to measure pressure, with examples like mercury barometers and inclined tube manometers. Pressure transducers and gauges provide digital or analog readings of pressure and are commonly used in industrial and medical applications. * **Pascal's Law:** Pascal's law, also known as Pascal's principle, states that when there is an applied change in pressure at any point in a confined fluid (either liquid or gas), the change in pressure is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid in all directions. In simpler terms, any change in pressure applied to a fluid in a closed system will be evenly distributed throughout the field. * **Boyle's Law:** The pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume at a constant temperature (i.e., if we keep the temperature of a gas constant, then as the volume of gas increases, the pressure decreases, and vice versa, It is mathematically expressed as: P1V1 = P2V2 * **Buoyancy:** Buoyancy is the upward force exerted on an object immersed in a fluid that counteracts the force of gravity, causing the object to float or feel lighter in the fluid. It opposes the force of gravity. Archimedes' principle states that when an object is immersed in a fluid, it experiences an upward buoyant force that is equal in magnitude to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces. In simpler terms, any object partially or fully submerged in a fluid will experience an upward force or buoyant force that counteracts the force of gravity acting on the object's mass. ## Application of Measurement Principles in Nursing These principles and measurements are often applied indirectly or in specialized areas of practice in nursing. Knowledge of pressure is vital when monitoring vital signs, administering medication through IVs, assessing the impact of edema, and ensuring the safe use of medical gases. While nurses may not use these principles daily, they provide a foundation for understanding underlying sciences and safety considerations in patient care.