Study Guide Ch. 14 Vital Signs
14.1 Measuring and recording Vital Signs
 Define key terms
o Vital signs
o Homeostasis
o Temperature
o Pulse
 Rate
 Rhythm
 Volume
o Respirations
o Blood pressure
o Apical pulse
 Know how to use the formulas to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius
temperatures
 Vital signs should be measured while a patient is relaxed and resting.
14.2 Measuring and Recording Temperature
 Normal temperature range: 970 to 1000F (36.10 to 37.80 C)
 Where are the following temperatures measured?
o Oral
o Rectal
o Axillary
o Aural
 Know key terms
o Hypothermia
o Hyperthermia
o Fever
o Pyrexia
o Febrile
o Afebrile
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Know how to read a thermometer, both glass and electronic types.
Know how to record temperature measurements.
Rectal temperature: considered the most accurate
Oral temperature: a patient may not eat, drink or smoke for at least 15 minutes
before an oral temperature measurement.
What factors increase body temperature?
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What factors decrease body temperature?
14.3 Measuring and Recording Pulse
 Where is the pulse usually taken?
 Where are the following pulse points located?
o Temporal
o Carotid
o Brachial
o Radial
o Femoral
o Popliteal
o Dorsalis pedis (pedal pulse)
 Know the normal range for pulse in adults: 60 to 90 beats per minute
 Know key terms
o Bradycardia
o Tachycardia
o Arrhythmia
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What factors increase pulse rate?
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What factors decrease pulse rate?
14.4 Measuring and recording Respirations
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Normal respiratory rate for adults 14 to 18 breaths per minute (12 to 20 breaths
per minutes is also considered normal.)
Know key terms
o Dyspnea
o Apnea
o Tachypnea
o Bradypnea
o Orthopnea
o Cheyne-Stokes respirations
o Rales
o Wheezing
o Cyanosis
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Patients should not be aware that you are counting respirations. Count respirations
while your hand is still in place before or after measuring pulse.
14.5 Graphing TPR
 Follow agency policy
 The vital sign record is a legal document. It must be accurate, neat, and legible
 Errors should be crossed out with one line, initialed, and marked “error”. (Red
ink is not necessary)
14.6 Measuring and Recording Apical Pulse
 The apical pulse is taken at the apex of the heart, located on the midclavicular line
in the 5th intercostal space.
 Equipment needed: stethoscope, an instrument used to listen to body sounds
(know how to spell the word “stethoscope”)
 Reasons to take an apical pulse
o Infants and children have a very rapid heartbeat, hard to measure radial
pulse
o Individuals with weak pulse
o Individuals with irregular heartbeat
o Check for pulse deficit
o Listen for abnormal heart sounds
14.7 Measuring and Recording Blood Pressure
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Equipment needed (know how to spell these words!)
o Sphygmomanometer
o Stethoscope
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Key terms
o Systolic
o Diastolic
o Pulse pressure
o Hypertension
o Hypotension
o Palpated systolic pressure
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Normal range of systolic pressure: 100-140 mmHg
Normal range of diastolic pressure: 60-90 mmHg
Recorded as systolic/diastolic, for example 120/80 mmHg
Blood pressure is usually measured at the brachial artery at the antecubital space
B/P measurement is affected by patient position, size of cuff
Factors that can increase blood pressure
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Factors that can decrease blood pressure