HAS PRELIM
2nd
Vital Signs NCMA111
VITAL SIGNS
NORMAL VITAL SIGNS
• TEMPERATURE – 36.5 – 37.2
• ADULT PR – 60 – 100 bpm
• RESPIRATION – 16 – 20
• BLOOD PRESSURE- 120/80mmgh ( some says its is
already prehypertensive
o Activity, talking, gum – chewing, and anxiety
affect pulse, respirations and blood
pressure, ALLOW 5 minutes of REST before
beginning to take VS
TEMPERATURE
• Balance between the heat lost and produced.
• Temperature is ultimately regulated by the
hypothalamus
TYPES OF HEAT TRANSFER
o Conduction- transfer of heat from one molecule to
a molecule of lower temperature
o Radiation- transfer of energy in the form of waves
and particles
o Convection- is the dispersion of heat by air
currents PULSE RATE
o Vaporization / Evaporation- is a continuous • is an indirect measurement of cardiac output obtained
evaporation of moisture from the respiratory tract by counting the number of apical or peripheral pulse
and from the mucosa of the mouth and from the waves over a pulse point. A normal pulse rate for adults
skin is between 60 and 100 beats per minute
• PYREXIA- A body temperature above the usual range PULSE CHARACTERISTICS
is called Pyrexia, Hyperthermia or Fever • Pulse quality refers to the “feel” of the pulse, its
rhythm and forcefulness.
TYPES OF FEVERS
1. INTERMITTENT- alternates at regular intervals between
periods of fever and periods of normal/subnormal
temperatures.
2. REMITTENT- wide range of temperature fluctuations
all of which are above normal
3. RELAPSING- short febrile periods of a few days are
interspersed with periods of 1 or 2 days of normal
temperature
4. CONSTANT- fluctuates minimally but always remain
above normal
SITE ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES NORMAL
RANGE
Oral Accessible Breakage, 35.9- 37.5
inaccurate, injury
of oral mucosa
Rectal Reliable Injury of rectum, 36.3-37.9
misleading result
axillary Safe& non- Long time 35.4-37
• Pulse rhythm- is the regularity of the heartbeat.
invasive
tympanic Core Membrane injury, 36.7-38.3 • Dysrhythmia- arrhythmia, irregular heart beat
temperature, discrepancy, • Pulse Volume - is a measurement of the strength or
very fast misleading result amplitude of force exerted by the ejected blood
against the arterial wall with each contraction
• Bradycardia- is a heart rate less than 60 beats per
minute in an adult
• Tachycardia - is a heart rate in excess of 100 beats
per minute in an adult
HAS PRELIM
2nd
Vital Signs NCMA111
RESPIRATORY RATE
• RESPIRATION is the act of breathing
• TIDAL VOLUME = 500ML OF AIR
MAJOR PHYSICAL PULMONARY FUNCTIONS
ALTERED BREATHING PATTERN / SOUNDS • RATE o
• VENTILATION - the inflow and outflow of air between
Tachypnea quick, shallow breathing o Bradypnea
the atmosphere and the lung alveoli
• abnormally slow -the
CIRCULATION o Apnea cessation
quantity of blood of breathing
flowing o
through
the lungs isEupnea normal4 breathing
approximately to 6 L/min
• DIFFUSION -the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide between the alveoli and the blood
• TRANSPORT- the carrying of oxygen and carbon
dioxide in the blood and body fluids to and from the
cells
ALTERED BREATHING PATTERN / SOUNDS
ALTERED BREATHING PATTERN / SOUNDS • RATE o
RATE
Tachypnea quick, shallow breathing o Bradypnea
• Tachypnea - quick, shallow breathing, more than
20bpm slow o Apnea cessation of breathing o
abnormally
• BradypneaEupnea normal
-abnormally slow,breathing
below 12bpm
• Apnea- cessation of breathing
• Eupnea- normal breathing
BLOOD PRESSURE
• It is measured in terms of millimeters of mercury (mm
Hg) and written in fraction form.
• NORMAL VALUE is below 120 ( systolic ) and below
80 ( diastolic )
PERIPHERAL VASCULAR RESISTANCE
• vasoconstriction = ↑ BP
• vasodilation = ↓BP
