How to Take Vital Signs

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Watch or clock
Thermometer
Stethoscope
Sphygmomanometer

Step 1

Temperature: This lets you know the degree of warmth your patient's body is. The average normal oral adult body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius. Normal body temperatures can vary upon age and also depending on where you are taking the temperature. Example: If you are taking it rectal (in the butt), the temperature is about 1 degree Fahrenheit higher. If you are taking it tympanically (ear), then it will also be about 1 degree Fahrenheit higher. In most clinics, they use either the oral or ear method because it is faster and cleaner.
Step 2

Digital Thermometer

When finding the temperature of your patient orally, instruct the patient to open their mouth and lift up their tongue. Place the more narrow end of the machine under the tongue and instruct the patient to close their mouth. If you are using a digital thermometer, it will either make a beeping sound to let you know it is finished or flash the temperature on the screen.
Step 3

Glass Thermometer

For a manual thermometer, hold the thermometer by the end opposite the colored (red, blue, or silver) tip. Make sure the thermometer is clean before inserting it into the patient's mouth. Next, shake the thermometer downward several times. The thermometer should read less than 96 degrees Fahrenheit. Instruct your patient to open their mouth and place colored end of the thermometer under their tongue. Make sure they do not bite the glass! Leave under their tongue for about three minutes. When time is up, remove thermometer and holding it at eye level, find where the fluid stops. Each linger mark is i degree and each smaller make is .2 degrees. Clean thermometer, (see warnings below), and place back in case.
Step 4

Pull slightly up and outward

When finding a temperature in the ear, place a digital thermometer plastic sleeve over the tip of the machine. This will activate the machine. Simply take the helix or outer top portion of the ear and gently pull slightly up and outward to open the ear canal. Then place the tip of the machine in the patient's ear and press gently until you feel a little resistance. Press the button on the outside of the machine and wait until it gives you a beep. Slowly take the machine back out of the ear and read the screen. Make sure you throw away the plastic sleeve then you are finished as to not cross-contaminate.
Step 5

Pulse: Or sometimes called heart rate, is the number of times your heart beats in one minute. A normal resting pulse in an adult is from 50-100. There are a few different ways that you can check for a patient's pulse.
Step 6

Wrist Pulse

The most common is on the inside of wrist, below your thumb. Gently place your 2nd and 3rd fingers of your hand on this artery. While using a clock or a watch with a second hand or timer, count the number of beats that you feel. It may be a little harder with a patient who has an abnormal heart beat, but do the best you can. You can count either for 15 or 30 seconds and multiply accordingly.
Step 7

Another common place where you can check a patient's pulse is in the carotid artery. This is located in your neck, on either side of your windpipe directly below your jaw bone. Once you have found the location, gently place your 2nd and 3rd fingers of your hand on the artery and while using a clock or a watch, count the number of beats that you feel. Again count either for 15 or 30 seconds and multiply accordingly.
Step 8

Respirations

Respirations: This is the process of measuring a patient's breath in and out. This is measured in the span of one minute. The adult normal range for respirations is 12-20 respirations per minute. Take a watch and when you are ready count the number of times the patient's chest rise and fall. This is better taken when the patient does not know you are taking this. So perform this while you are either taking their pulse or performing another simple duty. This way, you will be a more accurate reading. If the patient is breathing normally, you can count for only 30 seconds or even 15 seconds and then multiply accordingly.
Step 9

Stethoscope

Blood Pressure: This is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries in the body. There are two numbers associated with blood pressure. The higher number is called the systolic pressure which represents the pressure while the heart contracts to pump blood to the body. The lower number which is called the diastolic pressure represents the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. A normal systolic adult resting blood pressure is from 110-140 and a normal diastolic pressure is from 60-80.
Step 10

Sphygmomanometer

There are two kinds of blood pressure methods. The first one is using a stethoscope and a device called a sphygmomanometer (try spelling that one for a test!). Have the patient expose their arm. This is better to get a more accurate reading. Place the bottom edge of the cuff about one inch above the brachial artery (found in the inner area of your bent elbow). The cuff should be at the level of the heart. Wrap around the patient's arm. Make sure it is wrapped around snug, not too tight but not falling off the patient's arm. Close the valve on the bulb. Place your stethoscope on the patient's brachial artery and start pumping the bulb up to about 180. Slowly release the valve. Note when you first hear the pulse. This is the systolic pressure. Once the pulse goes away, this is the diastolic pressure.
Step 11

The second way to measure a patient's blood pressure is by using an automatic blood pressure device. Follow the same directions in the step above yet you will not need to figure out the noises nor use a stethoscope.