Vital Signs

PO

by mouth

NPO

nothing by mouth

T

temperature

HR

heart rate

HTN

hypertension

AX

axillary

R or PR

rectal or per rectum

mmHg

millimeters of mercury

c/o

complains of

WNL

within normal limits

P

pulse

BP

blood pressure

TA

temporal artery

RR

respiratory rate

T or AU

tympanic

BPM

beats per minute

sphygmomanometer

instrument used to measure blood pressure

hypothermia

low body temperature

hyperthermia

high body temperature

pyrexia

fever

febrile

with fever

afebrile

without fever

anoxia

without oxygen

hypoxia

low oxygen in body tissues

hypoxemia

low oxygen content in the blood

eupnea

normal breathing

orthopnea

difficulty breathing while lying flat

tachypnea

rapid breathing

apnea

without breathing

dyspnea

difficulty breathing

cyanosis

bluish discoloration due to low oxygen

SpO2

oxygen saturation

cerumen

ear wax

hypertension

high blood pressure

observation

visual inspection

palpation

touching of body to feel structures beneath the skin

auscultation

listen to sounds using a stethoscope

percussion

tapping a body part and listening to sounds produced

manipulation

moving body parts to gather information

girth

distance around something

baseline

initial value for future measurements

critical value

a measurement too high or low it’s threatening

vital sign usage

detecting and monitoring medical problems

average body temp

98.6F (37C)

body temp range

97F(36.1C)-99F(37.2C)

fever temp

>100.4F(38C)

oral(PO)

mouth

tympanic(T) or (AU)

ear

temporal(TA)

forehead

axillary(AX)

armpit

rectal (R or PR)

rectum

don’t take tympanic temp if:

c/o pain or impacted cerumen

how to take tympanic temp(adult)

pull pinna up and back

how to take tympanic temp(child)

pull pinna down and back

healthy heart rate

60-100 BPM

temporal

ear

carotid

neck

apical

heart

brachial

above elbow

femoral

upper thigh

raidal

wrist

popliteal

behind the knee

posterior tibial

ankle

dorsal pedis

foot

rate

BPM

rhythm

regular or irregular

volume

strong, weak, thready, or boundingN

newborn RR

44 RPM

infants RR

20-40 RPM

children RR

18-30 RPM

adult RR

12-20 RPM

normal SpO2

95%-100%

normal BP

systolic <120, and diastolic <80

elevated BP

systolic 120-129, and diastolic <80

high BP (stage 1)

systolic 130- 139, or diastolic 80-89

high BP (stage 2)

systolic 140 or higher, or diastolic 90 or higher

hypertensive crisis

systolic higher than 180, and/or diastolic higher than 120

systolic korotkoff sound

first sound

diastolic korotkoff sound

last (fifth) sound

vital signs

measurement of the body’s most basic functions