VITAL SIGNS AND

PATIENT
ASSESSMENT
PATIENT CARE AND MANAGEMENT

A presentation by: VIENNA MAE F. DELA ROSA,

RRT
LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
At the end of this discussion, students will be able to:

• Explain and demonstrate how vital signs are obtained.

• Explain the patient assessment procedure.

Vital signs
• procedures used for assessment are usually referred to as the "vital
signs”
• they involve the measurement of temperature, pulse rate, respiratory
rate, and blood pressure.
• most radiology departments have a drawer or box to keep a blood
pressure cuff and gauge (sphygmomanometer), a stethoscope, and
other equipment that might be needed in an emergency.
 TEMPERATU
RE
FEVER (pyrexia or hyperthermia):
- is a sign of increased body metabolism (energy use), usually
in response to an infectious process.
- An accurate temperature reading provides important information
about the body's basic metabolic state.
- although few patients will need you to take their
temperature, you should be able to do so competently.
- Body temperatures vary during the day, being lowest in
the morning and highest in the evening.
- Temperatures may be obtained by the oral, rectal, axillary,
tympanic, and temporal artery routes.
 • INSTRUMENT
• RECTAL - Many doctors suggest taking a rectal temperature in infant
THERMOMETER and children 3 years of age and younger
- the most internal hence has the most precise calculation
- To use, first dab petroleum jelly on the bulb of the
thermometer.
- Place your baby belly-down on your lap or on a bed or changing
table, then gently insert the bulb 1/2 to 1 inch into your child's
rectum.
- Loosely hold the thermometer in place with two fingers until it
beeps.

• ORAL - The oral route provides an accurate measure of changes in body

THERMOMETER core temperature when taken correctly with the probe of the
thermometer placed well under the base of the tongue.
- not appropriate when the patient has recently had a hot or cold
beverage, is receiving oxygen, or is breathing through the
mouth.
- Can be a mercury thermometer or digital
• ORAL - a glass tube is filled with mercury and a standard temperature scale is
THERMOMETER: marked on the tube. With changes in temperature, the mercury
Mercury expands and contracts, and the temperature can be read from the
thermometer scale.

• ORAL - Use a probe to measure temperature, and provide a digital reading

THERMOMETER: through a tablet. A basic display design makes them easy to use.
Digital thermometer

• DIGITAL EAR - fast and convenient but if doesn’t inserted right into the child's ear
THERMOMETERS or canal or if there's a buildup of earwax, they can also be inaccurate
TYMPANIC - expensive and requires the use of batteries
THERMOMETERS - use an infrared ray to measure the temperature inside the ear
canal
- appropriate for infants older than age 6 months, older children and
adults
• TEMPORAL ARTERY - use an infrared scanner to measure the temperature of the
THERMOMETERS temporal artery in the forehead
- an record a person's temperature quickly and are easily tolerated
- the most accurate alternative to rectal digital thermometers for taking a
child's temperature
- expensive
• MONITORING
• Oral:
- not appropriate when the patient has recently had a hot or cold beverage,
is receiving oxygen, or is breathing through the mouth
- the rectal or axillary method may be used as an alternative
• Axillary:
- the preferred method because of its less invasive nature
• Rectal:
- accurate and faster

- Hospitals commonly specify axillary, tympanic, or temporal artery routes for

children under the age of 6 years and for anyone who is confused or unable to
follow direction
 ORAL ROUTE
• Perform hand hygiene.
• Cover the oral probe with a clean
plastic sleeve.
• Turn on the thermometer. Insert the
probe under patient's tongue.
Instruct patient to keep lips closed.
• Remove probe when the audible
tone or flashing number indicates
that the maximum temperature has
been reached (about 1 minute).
• Note the temperature reading.
• Remove and discard plastic sleeve.
Remove and discard gloves.
• Repeat hand hygiene.
• Turn off the thermometer and return
it to storage. Record the
temperature.
AXLLARY ROUTE
• Perform hand hygiene.
• Cover the probe with a clean plastic
sleeve.
• Turn on the thermometer. Place the
probe in the axilla so that the skin
folds are in direct contact with the
probe.
• Instruct patient to hold upper arm
firmly against chest wall.
• Remove probe when the audible
tone or flashing number indicates
that the maximum temperature has
been reached (about 1 minute).
• Note the temperature reading.
• Remove and discard plastic sleeve.
Remove and discard gloves.
• Repeat hand hygiene.
• Turn off the thermometer and return
it to storage. Record the
temperature.
RECTAL ROUTE
• Perform hand hygiene.
• Cover the rectal probe with a clean
plastic sleeve.
• With the patient in a lateral
recumbent position, cover the
patient and expose the anus by
raising the top fold of the buttocks.
• Slowly insert the probe past the
anal
sphincter.
• Hold the probe in place. When the
audible tone or flashing number
indicates that the maximum
temperature has been reached
(about 1 minute), remove probe
slowly.
• Note the temperature reading.
• Remove and discard plastic sleeve,
Remove and discard gloves.
• Repeat hand hygiene.
• Turn off the thermometer and return
it to storage. Record the
temperature.
• NORMAL VALUES
- There are a few important considerations regarding body temperatures:

1. A person’s temperature changes throughout the day and can be

moderately influenced by several factors, including:
• Strenuous exercise
• Stress
• Smoking
• Meals
• Time of day (body temperature is lowest early in the morning)
2. Certain pain relievers can lower body temperature:
Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and Tylenol (acetaminophen)
3. Body temperatures can vary based on how and where they’re
taken.
Rectal and ear temperatures are higher (and more accurate) than oral and armpit
temperatures.
• Hypothermia occurs when body heat dissipates faster than the body
can produce it, causing dangerous drops in temperature.
• The normal range (97 to 99 F) depends on the person and their
activities.
• Hyperthermia is a low-grade fever, one that’s typical of mild
infectious diseases and adverse drug reactions.
• Hyperpyrexia manifests as a much higher temperature and often
results from brain hemorrhaging, sepsis, or serious infection.
END OF LECTURE
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.