How to find vitals:
Vital Signs
- In order to get vital signs, we do a few simple procedures.
- With these, we can gain quick information on how the important parts of the body are functioning at that time.
- This includes the patients pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate.
Heart Rate
- Checking the heart rate is very simple.
- Usually, I check the pulse of the carotid artery.
- A normal heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute.
- In order to check the patient’s heart rate, you’re going to place 2 fingers next to the patients windpipe.
- Usually, we count it off. However, you can just do that and ask the patient what their heart rate is.
Temperature
- Taking a patients temperature is also very simple.
- The average body temperature is 98.6.
- However, 97-99 is also a normal body temperature.
- You can slide a thermometer across the patient’s forehead.
- However, there are other ways such as putting a thermometer into the patients mouth and holding it for 45 seconds.
Blood Pressure
- Blood pressure is the pressure of blood circulating on blood vessel walls.
- A normal blood pressure would be 90 over 60 to about 120 over 80.
- Many people roll in a machine to take a patients blood pressure.
- When using a machine, you can simply place the cuff around the patient’s arm and press start on the machine.
- However, you can also place a blood pressure cuff on the patients arm, squeeze to 180, and then release it.
Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
- Your oxygen saturation is the amount of oxygen in your blood.
- A normal oxygen saturation level would be around 94% through 100%.
- To find out a patient’s oxygen saturation, you’re going to place a oximeter on the patient’s index finger.
Respiratory Rate - Someone’s respiratory rate is how many times they breathe in and out in a minute.
- A normal respiratory rate is 12-20.
- To find someone’s respiratory rate, you can auscultate their lungs with your stethoscope.
Name, Age, Gender, Allergies, Medical Conditions, Family Conditions, On any Mxeds, LOI, and Chief Complaint.
Ask them that.
-grabs materials-
-applies tourniquet-
-uses index finger to locate the prominent vein-
-identifies the prominent vein-
-wipes injection site with chlor pad-
-inserts the needle and looks for blood flashback-
-retracts the needle-
-dresses the site-
-flush lines with saline-