Adult Vital Sign Ranges

Vital Sign Normal Abnormal

Blood  Systolic BP (SBP) < 120 mmHg and  Prehypertension: SBP 120-139,
Pressure (BP)  Diastolic BP (DBP) < 80 mmHg DBP 80-89
(JNC7)  Stage 1 Hypertension: SBP 140-
159, DBP 90-99
Normal Range (for this class 503)  Stage 2 Hypertension: SBP ≥ 160
Systolic BP 100-119 mmHg, DBP≥ 100
Diastolic BP 60-79  Hypotension: <95/60
 Orthostatic hypotension: At least
Note: Lower bound (typical clinically) 2 of the following 3: decrease in
Systolic BP => 100* (>90 in some) SBP by 20; decrease in DBP by 10;
Diastolic BP =>60 (>50 in some)
increase in pulse by 20 from supine
to sitting/standing.
Temperature  Oral: 35.8°C – 37.3°C (96.4°F – 99.1°F)  Hypothermia < 35°C (<95°F)
 Rectal and tympanic: 36.1 - 37.9°C  Hyperthermia > 37.5°C (>99.5°F)
o 0.3 - 0.6°C (0.5°F – 1.0°F) higher than o Low-grade fever >37.5°C
oral (99.5°F)
 Axillary and temporal: 35.2 - 37.0°C o High-grade fever >38.6°C
o 0.3°C - 0.6°C (0.5°F – 1.0°F) lower (101.5°F)
than oral

Note: Older adults usually have a lower temperature

than other age-groups, with a mean of 36.2°C
(97.2°F).
Note: Rectal is the most accurate route, but rarely
used  invasive.
Heart Rate  50-95 beats per minute (bpm)  Bradycardia <50 bpm
(HR)  Tachycardia >100 bpm
Note: Per Jarvis text, 50-95 bpm is the normal
range, but many clinicians & institutions Note: All changes in vital signs should be
consider normal 60-100 bpm normal range. evaluated against the individual patient’s
baseline (their “normal”)
Respiration  12 -20 respirations per minute (rpm)  Bradypnea (slow): ≤ 10 rpm
Rate (RR) o Note: Jarvis text states the normal range  Tachypnea (rapid): >24 rpm
is 10-20 rpm, but this is not common in
actual practice.
 Obese adults 12-22 rpm
Oxygen  95-99% (pulse oximeter) Hypoxemia <90%
Saturation
(SpO2)
Pain  No “normal”; often desired “no pain”, but Severe pain: 7 – 10
may not be “normal” Moderate pain: 4 – 6
Typical pain scale 0 – 10 Mild pain: 1-3
No pain: 0

Note: These are the normal vital sign ranges established by this class. In practice, normal vital signs depend on the
individual patient, where you practice, and what the provider orders for your patients.