Measuring Vital Signs: Temperature, And Respiration
Chapter 6
Measuring Vital Signs
Unit 1: Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration
UNIT RATIONALE
Important indicators of your patient’s/client’s health status are known as vital signs. Vital signs give you information about breathing, body temperature, and the heart. They are a good indication of how well the body systems are functioning. As a health care worker, you need to observe patients whenever you are near them. Your knowledge of vital signs and how to measure them helps you know when to report that a patient is having problems.
UNIT OBJECTIVES
When you have completed this unit, you will be able to do the following:
• Match vocabulary words with their correct meanings.
• Define vital signs
• List fourteen factors that influence body temperature.
• Name the most common site at which to measure a temperature.
• Match the normal temperature to the site where it is measured.
• Measure temperature with a glass thermometer.
• Demonstrate how to measure oral, rectal, and axillary temperature.
• Define pulse.
• Explain pulse oximetry.
• Identify sites where pulse may be counted.
• Identify a normal adult pulse rate and a common method for counting a pulse.
• List six factors that influence the …show more content…
pulse rate.
• Demonstrate counting and recording a radial pulse accurately.
• Recognize two parts of a respiration.
• Relate types of abnormal respirations to their correct name.
• Select eight factors that affect respiration.
• Explain the importance of not being obvious when counting respirations.
• Demonstrate how to count and record respirations accurately.
• Explain the importance of each vital sign.
INTRODUCTION TO VITAL SIGNS
Vital signs include body temperature, pulse, respiration rates, and blood pressure.
Vital signs are the indicators that tell you how the body is functioning. Pulse oximetry is another important indicator of body functioning. When vital signs are within normal limits, the body is considered to be in homeostasis. When the vital signs are not within normal limits, it is an indication that something is wrong. It is important to be accurate when you measure vital signs and to record the results very carefully and accurately. Other health care workers depend on this information when making decisions about the patient’s treatment. In this unit, you learn how to measure body temperature and count the pulse rate and respiratory rate. Together these measurements are referred to as
TPR.
TEMPERATURE
Temperature is the measure of body heat. Heat is produced in the body by the muscles and glands and by the oxidation of food. Heat is lost from the body by respiration, perspiration, and excretion. The balance between the heat produced and the heat lost is the body temperature. Table 11.1 shows the factors that influence temperature.
Thermometers
The thermometer is the instrument used to measure temperature. There are several types of thermometers: glass thermometers, aural thermometers, chemically treated paper or plastic thermometers, and electronic/digital thermometers.
GLASS THERMOMETER (CLINICAL/MERCURY)
A glass thermometer is a hollow glass tube with calibration lines on it. At one end of the thermometer is a bulb that is filled with mercury. The mercury is heat sensitive and rises up the hollow tube when exposed to hear. This enables you to read the patient’s/client’s temperature. There are two types of tips or bulbs on glass thermometers. (Figure 1.1)
AURAL THERMOMETERS
A tympanic membrane sensor measures body temperature. It is accurate, easy to use, and safe. It is especially effective for babies and children.
Measuring Vital Signs
Unit 1: Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration
UNIT RATIONALE
Important indicators of your patient’s/client’s health status are known as vital signs. Vital signs give you information about breathing, body temperature, and the heart. They are a good indication of how well the body systems are functioning. As a health care worker, you need to observe patients whenever you are near them. Your knowledge of vital signs and how to measure them helps you know when to report that a patient is having problems.
UNIT OBJECTIVES
When you have completed this unit, you will be able to do the following:
• Match vocabulary words with their correct meanings.
• Define vital signs
• List fourteen factors that influence body temperature.
• Name the most common site at which to measure a temperature.
• Match the normal temperature to the site where it is measured.
• Measure temperature with a glass thermometer.
• Demonstrate how to measure oral, rectal, and axillary temperature.
• Define pulse.
• Explain pulse oximetry.
• Identify sites where pulse may be counted.
• Identify a normal adult pulse rate and a common method for counting a pulse.
• List six factors that influence the …show more content…
pulse rate.
• Demonstrate counting and recording a radial pulse accurately.
• Recognize two parts of a respiration.
• Relate types of abnormal respirations to their correct name.
• Select eight factors that affect respiration.
• Explain the importance of not being obvious when counting respirations.
• Demonstrate how to count and record respirations accurately.
• Explain the importance of each vital sign.
INTRODUCTION TO VITAL SIGNS
Vital signs include body temperature, pulse, respiration rates, and blood pressure.
Vital signs are the indicators that tell you how the body is functioning. Pulse oximetry is another important indicator of body functioning. When vital signs are within normal limits, the body is considered to be in homeostasis. When the vital signs are not within normal limits, it is an indication that something is wrong. It is important to be accurate when you measure vital signs and to record the results very carefully and accurately. Other health care workers depend on this information when making decisions about the patient’s treatment. In this unit, you learn how to measure body temperature and count the pulse rate and respiratory rate. Together these measurements are referred to as
TPR.
TEMPERATURE
Temperature is the measure of body heat. Heat is produced in the body by the muscles and glands and by the oxidation of food. Heat is lost from the body by respiration, perspiration, and excretion. The balance between the heat produced and the heat lost is the body temperature. Table 11.1 shows the factors that influence temperature.
Thermometers
The thermometer is the instrument used to measure temperature. There are several types of thermometers: glass thermometers, aural thermometers, chemically treated paper or plastic thermometers, and electronic/digital thermometers.
GLASS THERMOMETER (CLINICAL/MERCURY)
A glass thermometer is a hollow glass tube with calibration lines on it. At one end of the thermometer is a bulb that is filled with mercury. The mercury is heat sensitive and rises up the hollow tube when exposed to hear. This enables you to read the patient’s/client’s temperature. There are two types of tips or bulbs on glass thermometers. (Figure 1.1)
AURAL THERMOMETERS
A tympanic membrane sensor measures body temperature. It is accurate, easy to use, and safe. It is especially effective for babies and children.