Report on how to accurately measure and record the vital signs on a client: Temperature

Report on how to accurately measure and record the vital signs on a client: Temperature

Objectives:

 Theoretical knowledge on how to take the temperature.

 What is temperature?
 Why is temperature taken?
 Factors that influence your temperature.
 Where can temperature be taken from?
 Symptoms of Pyrexia.

 Procedure to take the task

 Findings

 Analysis

 Evaluation of the process

Vital signs are the basis of Nursing. They are taken to measure the body’s basic functions and to help assess the general health of a person.

The main vital signs are:

 Blood Pressure
 Respiration
 Pulse
 Temperature

The vital signs vary depending on the person’s weight, height, gender and overall health.

Any changes in any of these vital signs can show that there is a change in a person’s health.

This part of the assignment will cover one of the vital signs: Temperature.

 What is Body Temperature?

Body temperature is a measure of the body's ability to create and get rid of heat. The body has a natural way of maintaining the temperature at a normal range in spite of large changes in temperatures outside the body.
The hypothalamus in the brain is responsible for the regulation of temperature. For example, when a person is too hot, he/she may begin to sweat, and as the sweat evaporates, it helps cool the body but when you are too cold, you may start shivering, which is an involuntary rapid contraction of the muscles. This extra muscle activity helps generate more heat. Under normal conditions, this keeps your body temperature within a safe range.

 Why is Body Temperature measured?
The measurement of body temperature helps to monitor whether a person is ill, or whether treatment is working. A high temperature is called Pyrexia.
The average normal body temperature is 37°C. The normal temperature can vary by:
 Age
 Person
 Time of day (often highest in the evening)
 Where on the body the