2.1.2 Vital Signs

Vital Signs

PBS 2.1.2

Measuring Health

• You’ve met with Charlie, reviewed her medical history, & established her chief complaint.
• Now it’s time to perform her physical exam
• Begin with vital signs

Why do we measure vitals?

• Initial information about body’s ability to maintain homeostasis

• Helps determine appropriate triage

Your Turn!

Open 2.1.2 > Measuring Health > Step 1

• Review the table and take notes on key vital signs
• description
• units used to measure it
• tool used to complete the measurement
• Complete the "Check for Understanding" quiz on tools used for measuring vital signs under step 2

To the Lab!

To prepare yourself for analyzing Charlie’s vital signs, you will work with a partner to measure and record your own vital signs.

• Go to 2.1.2 > What Are Your Signs? > step 4 > Click on each station to learn more about that vital sign and how to measure it.

• Then, practice measuring it on each other. Record your results and answer questions in the 2.1.4 lab data sheet.

Keeping a Record

2.1.2 > Tracking Vitals > Scroll to "Keeping a Record" > Ethical Scenario

Patient Vitals

Go to 2.1.2 > Patient Vitals >

• Review Charlie’s vitals (step 6) & add to her patient history report that you started in 2.1.1

• Calculate Charlie’s BMI (step 7) & determine which category the value falls in.

• Determine Charlie’s heart rate (step 8)

• Determine Charlie’s respiratory rate (step 9)

• Compare Charlie’s vitals from today to previous exam to identify any areas of concern (step 10)
• Don't forget to also answer conclusion questions!

Triage

the preliminary assessment of patients in order to determine the urgency of their need for treatment and the nature of treatment required.

Homeostasis

The ability to resist change/maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes.