This reflection of vital signs will go into discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of each vital sign and the importance of each of them. Vital signs should be assessed many different times such as on admission to a health care facility, before and after something substantial has happened to the patient such as surgery and so forth (ref inter). I learned to assess blood pressure (BP), pulse (P), temperature (T) and respiration (R) and I will reflect and discuss which aspects were more difficult and ways to improve on them. While pulse, respiration and temperature were fairly easy to become skilled at, it was blood pressure which was a bit more difficult to understand. Blood pressure was the hardest of the vital signs for me to learn. …show more content…
There are 2 types of breathing, costal and diaphragmatic breathing (Berman, 2015). Costal refers to the intercostal and accessory muscles while diaphragmatic refers to breathing using your diaphragm (Berman, 2015).It is important to understand the two different types of breathing because it is vital in the assessment of the patient. For example, if a patient is suing their accessory muscles to aid in breathing then we can safely assume that they are having breathing problems and use a focused assessment of their respiration. Assessing respiration is fairly straightforward. The patient’s respiration rate can be affected by anxiety so a useful to avoid this is to check pulse first and after you have finished that, while still holding their pulse point, check their respiration rate. Inconspicuous assessment avoids the patient changing their breathing because they know they are being assessed which patients can sometimes do subconsciously. Through textbooks and practical classes I have learned what to be aware of while assessing a patient’s respiratory rate. For example; their normal breathing pattern, if and how their health problems are affecting their breathing, any medications that could affect their respiratory rate and also the rate, depth, rhythm and quality of their breathing (Berman, 2015). The only problem I found while assessing respiration rate was I thought it seemed a bit invasive looking at the …show more content…
The limitations to this vital sign though are to understand and know the different types of thermometers. Many aspects can affect temperature such as exercise, age, stress and surrounding weather and environment. It is important to make sure the patient is relaxed and hasn’t been doing strenuous activities shortly before being assessed (Berman, 2015) . For a healthy adult, the normal body temperature should be around 37°C. Anything over that is considered a fever (Martha Keene Elkin, 2007). Similar to the other vital signs though, everybody is different and someone might have a slightly higher or lower temperature which is normal for them. There are many different types of thermometers. There are oral, rectal, chemical, tympanic and temporal artery thermometers as well as more (Berman, 2015). Depending on the person, different thermometers are used. Aspects such as being a child, not being able to move, being asleep while your temperature needs to be taken can all affect which type of thermometer a health care professional uses. For example, if a patient is asleep then it is very invasive to use an oral thermometer because you would have to open their mouth and then if they wake up they would feel very violated. My worry about taking temperature is which thermometer to use or if I could just use any. The difficult part was finding out whether there were special circumstances to use certain
Both tests are very useful for assessing the pulmonary and cardiac system health of the individual being examined. This involves examining the individual’s response to the test by assessing their BP, HR, oxygen intake abilities, and using this information to infer whether they have some type of internal impairment. This includes
Noticeable indications of deterioration have been shown in numerous patients few hours prior to a critical condition (Jeroen Ludikhuize, et al.2012). Critical condition can be prevented by recognizing and responding to early indications of clinical and physiological deterioration ( kyriacosu, jelsma,&jordan (2011). According to NPSA (2007) delay in responding to deteriorating vital signs have been defined as an complication resulting in prolonged length of stay, disability or death, not attributed to the patient's underlying illness procedure along but by their health-care management ( Baba-Akbari Sari et al. 2006; Helling, Martin, Martin, & Mitchell, 2014). A number of studies demonstrate that changes or alterations in a patient’s
A total of 22 patients were admitted for the study, with 11 on the BiPAP side and the other half on the BiPAP using the AVAPS. Every patient had to be in a select range of APACHE II score within 4, age within 10, pH within.04, Glasgow Coma Scale within 2, and BMI within 2 points; also referred by a doctor who did not know about the study. Both of the groups received the same parameters for their BiPAP machines, including an IPAP of 12 cmH2O, EPAP as 6 cmH2O, a tidal volume 8-12 ml/kg of ideal body weight, respiratory rate of 15 bpm, rise time 300-400 ms, and finally Helsinki-based inspiration time at a minimum of.6 seconds. Arterial blood gases, maximum tidal volumes and IPAP, EVT, leaks, respiratory and heart rates, and blood pressure were all assessed every 1, 3, 12, and then every 24 hours.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Pre-exercise: For this activity, each group member needed to be familiar with taking and reading another group member’s blood pressure. Many types of instruments exist for measurin...
Breathing is the most important AL (Roper et al, 1998). A detailed assessment of her airway would be performed because protection of the airway throughout anaesthesia is essential (Yates, 2000). This does not just include recording of respiration rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) but also noting any use of accessory muscles, shortness of breath, auscultation of chest and lungs areas for wheezes/crackles and asking patient about history of any respiratory illness/smoking (McArthur-Rouse, 2007).
HENDERSON, Y (1998) A practical approach to breathing control in primary care. Nursing Standard (JULY) 22 (44) p41
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the primary assessments concluded on patients who are believed to be suffering from cardiac complications. It involves a series of leads attached to the patient which measure the electrical activity of the heart and can be used to detect abnormalities in the heart function. The ECG is virtually always permanently abnormal after an acute myocardial infarction (Julian, Cowan & Mclenachan, 2005). Julies ECG showed an ST segment elevation which is the earliest indication that a myocardial infarction had in fact taken place. The Resuscitation Council (2006) recommends that clinical staff use a systematic approach when assessing and treating an acutely ill patient. Therefore the ABCDE framework would be used to assess Julie. This stands for airways, breathing, circulation, disability and elimination. On admission to A&E staff introduced themselves to Julie and asked her a series of questions about what had happened to which she responded. As she was able to communicate effectively this indicates that her airways are patent. Julie looked extremely pale and short of breath and frequently complained about a feeling of heaviness which radiated from her chest to her left arm. The nurses sat Julie in an upright in order to assess her breathing. The rate of respiration will vary with age and gender. For a healthy adult, respiratory rate of 12-18 breaths per minute is considered to be normal (Blows, 2001). High rates, and especially increasing rates, are markers of illness and a warning that the patient may suddenly deteriorate. Julie’s respiratory rates were recorded to be 21 breaths per minute and regular which can be described as tachypnoea. Julies chest wall appeared to expand equally and symmetrical on each side with each breath taken. Julies SP02 levels which are an estimation of oxygen
Continue by giving two slow breaths, one to one and a half seconds per breath. Watch for the chest to rise, and allow for exhalation between breaths. Check for a pulse. The carotid artery, on the side of the neck, is the easiest and most accessible. If breathing remains absent, but a pulse is present, provide rescue breathing, rescue breathing is one breath every three seconds.
The severity of illness of a person is based partially on the symptoms but also on the person’s vital signs, age, prior medical history and other factors that raise the likelihood of a life threatening illness.
The research purpose is derived from the research problem. The purpose of this study which was clearly outlined in the introduction section of the paper, sought to determine if automatic blood pressure devices could measure orthostatic hypotension accurately in emergency settings. This purpose was accompanied by research objectives and a hypothesis that focused the study. The objectives in the study sought to find the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the automatic devices, clinical and statistical significance in postural drops, and if magnitude influenced blood pressures readings (Dind et al., 2011, p. 527).The authors also predicted in their hypothesis that the automatic devices would be less accurate if the systolic blood pressures were not between 120-180 mmHg which is their...
Sund-Levander, M. & Grodzinsky, E. (2013). Assessment of body temperature measurement options. British Journal of Nursing. 22(15). 880-884.
Ever since my dad reached his mid-thirties he has had to deal with his high-blood pressure. Not only does my dad have high-blood pressure, but so does my dad’s two brothers and mother. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure, sometimes called hypertension, happens when this force is too high.” Blood pressure is measured with the use of a gauge, stethoscope, and a blood pressure cuff which is the thing that wraps tight around your arm like a python. When someone is measuring blood pressure they are looking for the systolic pressure which is blood pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood and diastolic pressure which is blood pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. When these two pressure are figured out the numbers are recorded like a fraction with the systolic pressure over top of the diastolic pressure. A normal blood pressure should be 120/80 mm Hg or less, so
Knowledge of the recording systems like the electronic monitor that is used and their result (arterial blood gases, ECG, chest drainage tube, hemodynamic data) All these informations are
Breathing is the best technique for myself and was the go to advise for many of my doctors. When I feel myself starting to hyperventilate I know that's the time to start counting my breaths. I breath in on a four count, and exhale on a four count.
For so many years I’ve asked myself the question, “what are you going to do with your life?” For a period of time I struggled with this question. Today, I sit staring at my computer, confronting myself, asking my subconscious “what do I want to do for the rest of my life?” Have I finally found the answer I 've been looking for, or am I under the false assumption that this is the right path for me. This semester has been the ultimate opportunity to explore my questions, doubt, issues, and concerns. I feel that by the end of this paper I will have answered all these questions, and will have made the best decision for my future.