Temperature
Pulse
Respirations
Blood Pressure
Vital Signs Overview
100

The amount of heat in the body that is balanced between heat produced and heat lost.

What is temperature?

100

Beat of the heart felt at an artery as a wave of blood passes through the artery.

What is pulse?

100

The act of inhalation and exhalation.

What is respiration?

100

The amount of force against the walls of an artery by the blood.

What is blood pressure?

100

The person is usually in this position when VS are taken.

What is sitting or lying down?

200

Normal oral temperature range.

What is 97.6 to 99.6?

200

A heart rate of >100 bpm.

What is tachycardia?

200

The normal range for respirations.

What is 12 - 20 breaths per minute?

200

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

What is Diastolic Pressure?

200

This systolic pressure should be report immediately:

130

102

156

92

What is 156?

300

Normal range for axillary temperature.

What is 96.6 to 98.6?

300

Heart rate less than 60 bpm.

What is bradycardia?

300

The CNA should report this respiratory measurement to the nurse immediately.

What is any respiratory rate <12 and >20?

300

The heart rate relaxes during this period of BP.

What is Diastole?

300

VS results are reported to the nurse immediately in these situations.

What is when VS are abnormal?

400

Three factors that may affect body temperature.

What are weather, exercise, illness, body size, metabolic rate?

400

The most common site for taking pulse.

What is the radial artery?

400

The position the patient is in for measuring respirations.

What is sitting in a chair or lying supine on the bed?

400

A stystolic BP >140 or a diastolic BP >90 mmHg.

What is hypertension?

400

The artery used for hearing blood pressure.

What is the brachial artery?

500

The position used for a rectal temperature.

What is Sims?

500

The apical pulse is found at this location.

What is the heart (chest)?

500

A patient lying supine is in respiratory distress. This action may be taken by the CNA to help improve their breathing.

What is raise the HOB?

500

The instrument used to listen to sounds produced by the body.

What is a stethoscope?
500

VS are taken at this interval for residents of a long term care facility.

What is according to the care plan or MD orders?