PBS-DoNow-Vital Signs

Front

What are vital signs?

Back

Measurements of the body's basic functions, including heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and blood pressure.

Front

What is the average normal body temperature?

Back

98.6°F (37°C)

Front

How do you check respirations in a conscious patient?

Back

Touch their chest or watch the chest.

Front

What is pulse?

Back

The pressure of blood pushing against an artery as the heart beats.

Front

What does systolic blood pressure represent?

Back

The first 'thump' you hear when taking a blood pressure, indicating the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats.

Front

What does diastolic blood pressure represent?

Back

The pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.

Front

What is the normal range for adult resting heart rate?

Back

60 to 100 beats per minute.

Front

What is the significance of measuring vital signs?

Back

Vital signs provide critical information about a person's health status and can indicate the need for medical intervention.

Front

What is the normal respiratory rate for adults?

Back

12 to 20 breaths per minute.

Front

How can you assess a patient's pulse?

Back

By feeling the pulse at various points on the body, such as the wrist (radial pulse) or neck (carotid pulse).