Summary

Vital signs are arguably the most frequently used metrics by healthcare providers because they are important and interrelated indicators of the body’s homeostatic functioning. Vital signs in the normal range indicate the presence of homeostasis, or balance, in the body. Body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus; its homeostatic mechanisms include involuntary actions such as sweating and shivering to reestablish temperature into the normal range. Pulse is the direct measurement of a patient’s heart rate. The number of beats per minute is a strong indicator of how hard the heart is working to perfuse the body; irregular beats or a rhythm that is too fast or too slow can indicate alterations in cardiovascular homeostatic balance. Respirations are the mechanism by which the body brings in oxygen and exchanges it for carbon dioxide in the lungs to be exhaled as waste. Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure the blood exerts on the arterial walls; a certain amount of pressure is required for adequate amounts of blood to circulate through the body and bring the oxygen to the organs. Oxygen saturation is a percentage of total oxygen that the blood can carry throughout the body. The interrelation of the five vital signs gives healthcare providers vitally important information to determine what is going on with a patient.

The accurate measurement of vital signs is an essential duty of nurses when caring for patients. The most common methods of temperature measurement in the hospital setting include oral, tympanic membrane, axillary, and rectal routes, and the nurse must select the method that is most appropriate for their patient’s developmental age. Pulse should be palpated manually via one of the pulse points located on the body; proper technique includes using the index and middle fingers of one hand and applying light but firm pressure to the site. Assessment of respirations must be done when the patient is unaware their respirations are being assessed, lest the patient change their respirations unconsciously. Oxygenation status is assessed using a pulse oximeter, which is most commonly applied to a finger but can also be applied to the forehead or earlobe. Blood pressure can be measured in four different ways; the method of measurement selected depends on the patient’s acuity and care location.

Patients may be required to self-monitor their vital signs at home, and it is the responsibility of the nurse to educate the patient on how to properly do this. Nurses must first establish how their patient best likes to learn, and from there teach the patient the necessary information. Besides being able to take their own vital signs, patients must also be able to do basic analysis of their vital sign readings. Reference ranges for normal vital signs must be given to the patient, and if they get an abnormal reading, they must be able to troubleshoot and figure out if the reading is correct or not. Finally, nurses must establish the best way for patients to report their findings, particularly if they are abnormal, to the healthcare provider.