EDGEWOOD COLLEGE

N211

VITAL SIGN EXERCISE

1. What is normal adult:

Oral temperature?

Rectal temperature?

Axillary temperature?

Pulse rate?

Respiratory rate?

Blood pressure?

2. Why are vital signs an important part of a patient’s assessment?

3. List some circumstances when a nurse should take vital signs?

4. What are possible sites for temperature taking?

5. What factors do you consider when deciding which site to use for taking the patient’s

temperature?

6. Describe placement of the oral thermometer.

How long should you leave the oral glass/mercury thermometer in place?

The electronic?

7. Decscribe placement of the rectal thermometer for an adult.

How long do you leave the rectal thermometer (glass/mercury) in place?

8. Describe placement of the thermometer for an axillary temp:

How long do you leave the glass/mercury thermometer in place for an adult?

A child?

9. What is the most common site for a pulse reading?

What fingers do you use?

Where else can you palpate a pulse?

How long do you count a regular pulse?

An irregular pulse?

10. Why might you take an apical pulse?

Describe the site for an apical pulse.

What is a pulse deficit?

11. What factors might affect the pulse rate?

12. Besides the rate, what else should you notice about the pulse?

13. How do you assess the respiratory rate without the patient being aware of what you are doing?

How long do you count respirations for an adult?

What factors may affect the respiratory rate?

14. Your adult patient’s respiratory rate is 40. What might you assess next?

15. What is blood pressure actually measuring?

Systolic?

Diastolic?

16. How do you decide what size cuff to use?

What happens if you use a cuff that is too large (wide)?

What happens if you use a cuff that is too small (narrow)?