Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs

Tools equipment and paraphernalia for taking vital signs. Lesson 1 - Use Tools, Equipment, and Paraphernalia - GenTHigh GenTHigh Computer Wiz Academy: pin. Survival Ready Blog, Outdoor Survival Gear & Skills, SHTF. May 08, 2019 Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs; stethoscope,the different kinds of bp apparatus and thermometer Read More. How do you maintain the tools equipment and paraphernalia used in care giving coffeemaker? The best way to maintain tools, equipment and paraphernalia used with when caring for a coffeemaker is to clean them. Depending on the health history and familiarity with a patient, the taking of vital signs should be a standard procedure for all patients. Clinical indicators that highlight the need for an assessment of vital signs include dyspnea, hypertension, fatigue, syncope, chest pain, irregular heart rate, cyanosis, intermittent claudication, nausea, diaphoresis, and pedal edema. Maintain Tools, Equipment, and Paraphernalia These four common competencies are covered separately in four lessons. As shown below, each Lesson is directed to the attainment of one, two, or three learning outcomes: Lesson 1 – Use Tools, Equipment, and Paraphernalia LO1. Identify caregiving tools, equipment, and paraphernalia applicable.

  1. Caregiving Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs
  2. Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs During Covid
  3. Tools&equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs
  4. Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs Gif
  • What Are The Different Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs noun 1 treated as singular or plural Miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity.
  • Pediatric Information: “Broselow-like” apps that take the age or weight of the pediatric patient and calculate device sizes, drug dosages, vital signs, etc. Pocket Reference: No matter what your experience level, you’ll always be glad to have quick access to some pocket emergency medicine reference.
  • On the battlefield, changes in vital signs can indicate if a soldier is injured, alerting medics more quickly than a radio call. The BioHarness continuously transmits data to the rescue vehicle and field hospital so that when the injured soldier arrives, doctors are up-to-date on the patient’s medical status.
  • Tools equipment and paraphernalia for taking vital signs. Lesson 1 - Use Tools, Equipment, and Paraphernalia - GenTHigh GenTHigh Computer Wiz Academy: pin. Survival Ready Blog, Outdoor Survival Gear & Skills, SHTF.

Tools for taking vital signs. Pulse, breathing, warmth, and reaction.The signs of life are called 'Vital Signs' and they are assessed from the 'Vital Organs':1.

Diagnostic Equipment for. Vital Signs Devices. The Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs® monitor provides vital signs in seconds with hospital-grade technology.

noun

  • 1treated as singular or pluralMiscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity.

    ‘drills, saws, and other paraphernalia necessary for home improvements’
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    • ‘Apart from the sponsor company's paraphernalia, there were big displays of chessboards.’
    • ‘A party ensued, with marquees blasting out music and a market area selling drugs and festival paraphernalia such as glow sticks.’
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    • ‘Various other bits and pieces of paraphernalia or equipment in the process can be a source of infection for Hep-C as well.’
    • ‘But it must go much farther than merely banning the sale of paramilitary paraphernalia near the club grounds.’
    • ‘We still have the human resources at all levels and we still have the equipment and paraphernalia for general elections.’
    • ‘Both of my boys have been raised around computer paraphernalia and tools.’
    • ‘Various other equipment and military paraphernalia have been found in the area over the years.’
    • ‘A UN flag and an Indian flag now form part of his paraphernalia in the travel kit.’
    • ‘Around £2,000 cash was also found along with drug paraphernalia including scales and cutting boards.’
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    • ‘Pro shooters walk around with those funny khaki vests with large pockets all over them stuffed with paraphernalia and lenses.’
    • ‘Items on auction include left over shop stock, fittings, computer equipment and other environmental paraphernalia.’
    equipment, stuff, things, apparatus, tackle, kit, implements, tools, utensils, material, materials, appliances, rig, outfit, accoutrements, appurtenances, impedimenta, miscellaneous articles, odds and ends, bits and pieces, bits and bobs, trappings, accessories
    View synonyms
    1. 1.1Trappings associated with a particular institution or activity that are regarded as superfluous.
      • ‘Though these comforts are the paraphernalia associated with aristocrats, priority for the same assumes a logic.’
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      • ‘Most of the paraphernalia we have come to associate with funerals today is of Victorian invention and aesthetic.’
      belongings, luggage, baggage, effects, supplies, provisions, trappings, appurtenances, impedimenta
      View synonyms

Origin

Mid 17th century (denoting property owned by a married woman): from medieval Latin, based on Greek parapherna ‘property apart from a dowry’, from para ‘distinct from’ + pherna (from phernē ‘dower’).

Pronunciation

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Vital signs
Medical diagnostics
An anesthetic machine with integrated systems for monitoring of several vital parameters, including blood pressure and heart rate
Purposeassess the general physical health of a person

Vital signs (often shortened to just vitals) are a group of the 4 to 6 most important signs that indicate the status of the body’s vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of a person, give clues to possible diseases, and show progress toward recovery.[1][2] The normal ranges for a person’s vital signs vary with age, weight, gender, and overall health.[3]

There are four primary vital signs: body temperature, blood pressure, pulse (heart rate), and breathing rate (respiratory rate), often notated as BT, BP, HR, and RR. However, depending on the clinical setting, the vital signs may include other measurements called the 'fifth vital sign' or 'sixth vital sign'. Vital signs are recorded using the LOINC internationally accepted standard coding system.[4][5]

Early warning scores have been proposed that combine the individual values of vital signs into a single score. This was done in recognition that deteriorating vital signs often precede cardiac arrest and/or admission to the intensive care unit. Used appropriately, a rapid response team can assess and treat a deteriorating patient and prevent adverse outcomes.[6][7][8]

  • 1Primary vital signs
  • 2Other signs

Primary vital signs[edit]

There are four primary vital signs which are standard in most medical settings:

  1. Heart rate or Pulse

The equipment needed is a thermometer, a sphygmomanometer, and a watch. Though a pulse can be taken by hand, a stethoscope may be required for a patient with a very weak pulse.

Temperature[edit]

Temperature recording gives an indication of core body temperature which is normally tightly controlled (thermoregulation) as it affects the rate of chemical reactions. Body temperature is maintained through a balance of the heat produced by the body and the heat lost from the body.

Temperature can be recorded in order to establish a baseline for the individual's normal body temperature for the site and measuring conditions. The main reason for checking body temperature is to solicit any signs of systemic infection or inflammation in the presence of a fever (temp > 38.5 °C/101.3 °F or sustained temp > 38 °C/100.4 °F), or elevated significantly above the individual's normal temperature. Other causes of elevated temperature include hyperthermia. Fallout 4 magazines mod.

Temperature depression (hypothermia) also needs to be evaluated. It is also noteworthy to review the trend of the patient's temperature. A fever of 38 °C is not necessarily indicate an ominous sign if the patient's previous temperature has been higher.

Pulse[edit]

The pulse is the rate at which the heart beats while pumping blood through the arteries, recorded as beats per minute (bpm). It may also be called 'heart rate'. The pulse is commonly taken at the wrist (radial artery). Alternative sites include the elbow (brachial artery), the neck (carotid artery), behind the knee (popliteal artery), or in the foot (dorsalis pedis or posterior tibial arteries). The pulse rate can also be measured by listening directly to the heartbeat using a stethoscope. The pulse varies with age: a newborn or infant can have a heart rate of 130–150 bpm, a toddler of 100–120 bpm, an older child of 60–100 bpm, an adolescent of 80–100 bpm, and an adult of 50–80 bpm.

Respiratory rate[edit]

Average respiratory rates vary between ages, but the normal reference range for people age 18 to 65 is 16–20 breaths per minute.[9] The value of respiratory rate as an indicator of potential respiratory dysfunction has been investigated but findings suggest it is of limited value. Respiratory rate is a clear indicator of acidotic states, as the main function of respiration is removal of CO2 leaving bicarbonate base in circulation.

Blood pressure[edit]

The blood pressure is recorded as two readings: a high systolic pressure, which occurs during the maximal contraction of the heart, and the lower diastolic or resting pressure. A normal blood pressure would be 120 being the systolic over 80, the diastolic. Usually the blood pressure is read from the left arm unless there is some damage to the arm. The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure is called the pulse pressure. The measurement of these pressures is now usually done with an aneroid or electronic sphygmomanometer. The classic measurement device is a mercury sphygmomanometer, using a column of mercury measured off in millimeters. In the United States and UK, the common form is millimeters of mercury, whilst elsewhere SI units of pressure are used. There is no natural 'normal' value for blood pressure, but rather a range of values that on increasing are associated with increased risks. The guideline acceptable reading also takes into account other co-factors for disease. Therefore, elevated blood pressure (hypertension) is variously defined when the systolic number is persistently over 140–160 mmHg. Low blood pressure is hypotension. Blood pressures are also taken at other portions of the extremities. These pressures are called segmental blood pressures and are used to evaluate blockage or arterial occlusion in a limb (see Ankle brachial pressure index).

Other signs[edit]

In the U.S., in addition to the above four, many providers are required or encouraged by government technology-in-medicine laws to record the patient's height, weight, and body mass index.[10] Unlike the traditional vital signs, these measurements are not useful for assessing acute changes in state because of the rate at which they change; however, they are useful for assessing the impact of prolonged illness or chronic health problems.

The definition of vital signs may also vary with the setting of the assessment. EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), in particular, are taught to measure the vital signs of: respiration, pulse, skin, pupils, and blood pressure as 'the 5 vital signs' in a non-hospital setting.[11]

Fifth vital signs[edit]

The 'fifth vital sign' may refer to a few different parameters.

  • Pain is considered a standard fifth vital sign in some organizations such as the U.S. Veterans Affairs.[12] Pain is measured on a 0-10 pain scale based on subjective patient reporting and may be unreliable.[13] Some studies show that recording pain routinely may not change management.[14][15][16]
  • Menstrual cycle[17][18]
  • Oxygen saturation (as measured by pulse oximetry)[19][20][21]
  • Blood Glucose level [22]

Sixth vital signs[edit]

There is no standard 'sixth vital sign'; its use is more informal and discipline-dependent than the above.

  • End-tidal CO
    2
    .[23][24]
  • Functional status[25]
  • Shortness of breath[26]
  • Gait speed[27]
  • Delirium [28]

Variations by age[edit]

Reference ranges for blood pressure
StageApproximate ageSystolicDiastolic
RangeTypical exampleRangeTypical example
Infants1 to 12 months75-100[29]8550–70[29]60
Toddlers1 to 4 years80-110[29]9550–80[29]65
Preschoolers3 to 5 years80-110[29]9550–80[29]65
School age6 to 13 years85-120[29]10055–80[29]65
Adolescents13 to 18 years95-140[29]11560–90[29]75

Children and infants have respiratory and heart rates that are faster than those of adults as shown in the following table:

AgeNormal heart rate
(beats per minute)
Normal respiratory rate
(breaths per minute)
Range[30]Typical exampleRange[31]Typical example
Newborn100–160[32]13030–5040
0–5 months90–15012025–4030
6–12 months80–14011020–3025
1–3 years80–13010520–3025
3–5 years80–12010020–3025
6–10 years70–1109015–3020
11–14 years60–1058012–2016
15–20 years60–1008012–30[citation needed]20

Monitoring[edit]

Monitoring of vital parameters most commonly includes at least blood pressure and heart rate, and preferably also pulse oximetry and respiratory rate. Multimodal monitors that simultaneously measure and display the relevant vital parameters are commonly integrated into the bedside monitors in intensive care units, and the anesthetic machines in operating rooms. These allow for continuous monitoring of a patient, with medical staff being continuously informed of the changes in general condition of a patient.

While monitoring has traditionally been done by nurses and doctors, a number of companies are developing devices which can be used by consumers themselves. These include Scanadu and Azoi.

Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^'Vital Signs'.
  2. ^http://www.emergencycareforyou.org/VitalCareMagazine/ER101/Default.aspx?id=500
  3. ^'Vital Signs Table - ProHealthSys'.
  4. ^'Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes'.
  5. ^'LOINC - A Lingua Franca Critical for Electronic Medical Records and Health Information Exchange'.
  6. ^National Early Warning Score Development and Implementation Group (NEWSDIG) (2012). National Early Warning Score (NEWS): standardising the assessment of acute-illness severity in the NHS. London: Royal College of Physicians. ISBN978-1-86016-471-2.
  7. ^National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Clinical guideline 50: Acutely ill patients in hospital. London, 2007.
  8. ^'Acute care toolkit 6: the medical patient at risk: recognition and care of the seriously ill or deteriorating medical patient'(PDF). Royal College of Physicians of London. May 2013.
  9. ^(RCP 2012)[clarification needed]
  10. ^'What should I include when I record vital signs of my patients for MU? - Providers & Professionals - HealthIT.gov'.
  11. ^Emergency Care, 11th edition, pp. 226–244.
  12. ^http://www.va.gov/painmanagement/docs/toolkit.pdf
  13. ^Lorenz, Karl A.; Sherbourne, Cathy D.; Shugarman, Lisa R.; Rubenstein, Lisa V.; Wen, Li; Cohen, Angela; Goebel, Joy R.; Hagenmeier, Emily; Simon, Barbara; Lanto, Andy; Asch, Steven M. (1 May 2009). 'How Reliable is Pain as the Fifth Vital Sign?'. J Am Board Fam Med. 22 (3): 291–298. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2009.03.080162. PMID19429735 – via www.jabfm.org.
  14. ^'Tips From Other Journals - American Family Physician'.
  15. ^Mularski RA, White-Chu F, Overbay D, Miller L, Asch SM, Ganzini L (2006). 'Measuring pain as the 5th vital sign does not improve quality of pain management'. J Gen Intern Med. 21 (6): 607–12. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00415.x. PMC1924634. PMID16808744.
  16. ^http://www.pain-initiative-un.org/doc-center/en/docs/The%20Fifth%20Vital%20Sign%20Implementation.pdf
  17. ^American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2015). 'Menstruation in girls and adolescents: using the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Committee Opinion No. 651'. Obstet Gynecol. 126: 143–6.
  18. ^American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Adolescence, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee on Adolescent Health Care. (2006). 'Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign'. Pediatrics. 118 (5).CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^Mower W, Myers G, Nicklin E, Kearin K, Baraff L, Sachs C (1998). 'Pulse oximetry as a fifth vital sign in emergency geriatric assessment'. Acad Emerg Med. 5 (9): 858–65. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02813.x. PMID9754497.
  20. ^Mower W, Sachs C, Nicklin E, Baraff L (1997). 'Pulse oximetry as a fifth pediatric vital sign'. Pediatrics. 99 (5): 681–6. CiteSeerX10.1.1.575.2200. doi:10.1542/peds.99.5.681. PMID9113944.
  21. ^Neff T (1988). 'Routine oximetry. A fifth vital sign?'. Chest. 94 (2): 227. doi:10.1378/chest.94.2.227a. PMID3396392.
  22. ^'Mining Vital Signs from Wearable Healthcare Device via Nonlinear Machine Learning'. University of Hull. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  23. ^Vardi A, Levin I, Paret G, Barzilay Z (2000). 'The sixth vital sign: end-tidal CO2 in pediatric trauma patients during transport'. Harefuah. 139 (3–4): 85–7, 168. PMID10979461.
  24. ^Holcomb JB, Salinas J, McManus JM, Miller CC, Cooke WH, Convertino VA (2005). 'Manual vital signs reliably predict need for life-saving interventions in trauma patients'. J Trauma. 59 (4): 821–8, discussion 828–9. doi:10.1097/01.ta.0000188125.44129.7c. PMID16374268.
  25. ^Bierman A (2001). 'Functional Status: The Sixth Vital Sign'. J Gen Intern Med. 16 (11): 785–6. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2001.10918.x. PMC1495293. PMID11722694.
  26. ^'Nursing care of dyspnea: the 6th vital sign in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)'. National Guideline Clearinghouse. Archived from the original on 2009-01-17. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  27. ^Studenski S, Perera S, Wallace D, et al. (2003). 'Physical performance measures in the clinical setting'. J Am Geriatr Soc. 51 (9): 314–322. doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51104.x. PMID12588574.
  28. ^https://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610(08)00072-8/fulltext
  29. ^ abcdefghijPEDIATRIC AGE SPECIFIC, page 6. Revised 6/10. By Theresa Kirkpatrick and Kateri Tobias. UCLA Health System
  30. ^Emergency Care, Page 214
  31. ^Emergency Care, Page 215
  32. ^Vorvick, Linda. 'Pulse'. MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vital_signs&oldid=896702556'

What Are The Different Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs

What are vital signs?

Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and health care providers include the following:

  • Body temperature

  • Pulse rate

  • Respiration rate (rate of breathing)

  • Blood pressure (Blood pressure is not considered a vital sign, but is often measured along with the vital signs.)

Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs Procedures

Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere.

What is body temperature?

The normal body temperature of a person varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and, in women, the stage of the menstrual cycle. Normal body temperature can range from 97.8 degrees F (or Fahrenheit, equivalent to 36.5 degrees C, or Celsius) to 99 degrees F (37.2 degrees C) for a healthy adult. A person's body temperature can be taken in any of the following ways:

  • Orally. Temperature can be taken by mouth using either the classic glass thermometer, or the more modern digital thermometers that use an electronic probe to measure body temperature.

  • Rectally. Temperatures taken rectally (using a glass or digital thermometer) tend to be 0.5 to 0.7 degrees F higher than when taken by mouth.

  • Axillary. Temperatures can be taken under the arm using a glass or digital thermometer. Temperatures taken by this route tend to be 0.3 to 0.4 degrees F lower than those temperatures taken by mouth.

  • By ear. A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the ear drum, which reflects the body's core temperature (the temperature of the internal organs).

  • By skin. A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the skin on the forehead.

Caregiving Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs

Body temperature may be abnormal due to fever (high temperature) or hypothermia (low temperature). A fever is indicated when body temperature rises about one degree or more over the normal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

About glass thermometers containing mercury

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, mercury is a toxic substance that poses a threat to the health of humans, as well as to the environment. Because of the risk of breaking, glass thermometers containing mercury should be removed from use and disposed of properly in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Contact your local health department, waste disposal authority, or fire department for information on how to properly dispose of mercury thermometers.

What is the pulse rate?

The pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse not only measures the heart rate, but also can indicate the following:

  • Heart rhythm

  • Strength of the pulse

The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate may fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. Females ages 12 and older, in general, tend to have faster heart rates than do males. Athletes, such as runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, may have heart rates near 40 beats per minute and experience no problems.

How to check your pulse

As the heart forces blood through the arteries, you feel the beats by firmly pressing on the arteries, which are located close to the surface of the skin at certain points of the body. The pulse can be found on the side of the neck, on the inside of the elbow, or at the wrist. For most people, it is easiest to take the pulse at the wrist. If you use the lower neck, be sure not to press too hard, and never press on the pulses on both sides of the lower neck at the same time to prevent blocking blood flow to the brain. When taking your pulse:

  • Using the first and second fingertips, press firmly but gently on the arteries until you feel a pulse.

  • Begin counting the pulse when the clock's second hand is on the 12.

  • Count your pulse for 60 seconds (or for 15 seconds and then multiply by four to calculate beats per minute).

  • When counting, do not watch the clock continuously, but concentrate on the beats of the pulse.

  • If unsure about your results, ask another person to count for you.

If your doctor has ordered you to check your own pulse and you are having difficulty finding it, consult your doctor or nurse for additional instruction.

What is the respiration rate?

The respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. The rate is usually measured when a person is at rest and simply involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times the chest rises. Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, and other medical conditions. When checking respiration, it is important to also note whether a person has any difficulty breathing.

Normal respiration rates for an adult person at rest range from 12 to 16 breaths per minute.

What is blood pressure?

Tools&equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls during contraction and relaxation of the heart. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart contracts. When the heart relaxes, the blood pressure falls.

Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure. The higher number, or systolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the body. The lower number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are recorded as 'mm Hg' (millimeters of mercury). This recording represents how high the mercury column in an old-fashioned manual blood pressure device (called a mercury manometer or sphygmomanometer) is raised by the pressure of the blood. Today, your doctor's office is more likely to use a simple dial for this measurement.

Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs During Covid

High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. With high blood pressure, the arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate the blood.

Blood pressure is categorized as normal, elevated, or stage 1 or stage 2 high blood pressure:

  • Normal blood pressure is systolic of less than 120 and diastolic of less than 80 (120/80)

  • Elevated blood pressure is systolic of 120 to 129 and diastolic less than 80

  • Stage 1 high blood pressure is systolic is 130 to 139 or diastolic between 80 to 89

  • Stage 2 high blood pressure is when systolic is 140 or higher or the diastolic is 90 or higher

These numbers should be used as a guide only. A single blood pressure measurement that is higher than normal is not necessarily an indication of a problem. Your doctor will want to see multiple blood pressure measurements over several days or weeks before making a diagnosis of high blood pressure and starting treatment. Ask your provider when to contact him or her if your blood pressure readings are not within the normal range.

Why should I monitor my blood pressure at home?

For people with hypertension, home monitoring allows your doctor to monitor how much your blood pressure changes during the day, and from day to day. This may also help your doctor determine how effectively your blood pressure medication is working.

Tools&equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs

What special equipment is needed to measure blood pressure?

Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs Video

Either an aneroid monitor, which has a dial gauge and is read by looking at a pointer, or a digital monitor, in which the blood pressure reading flashes on a small screen, can be used to measure blood pressure.

About the aneroid monitor

The aneroid monitor is less expensive than the digital monitor. The cuff is inflated by hand by squeezing a rubber bulb. Some units even have a special feature to make it easier to put the cuff on with one hand. However, the unit can be easily damaged and become less accurate. Because the person using it must listen for heartbeats with the stethoscope, it may not be appropriate for the hearing-impaired.

About the digital monitor

The digital monitor is automatic, with the measurements appearing on a small screen. Because the recordings are easy to read, this is the most popular blood pressure measuring device. It is also easier to use than the aneroid unit, and since there is no need to listen to heartbeats through the stethoscope, this is a good device for hearing-impaired patients. One disadvantage is that body movement or an irregular heart rate can change the accuracy. These units are also more expensive than the aneroid monitors.

About finger and wrist blood pressure monitors

Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs

Tests have shown that finger and/or wrist blood pressure devices are not as accurate in measuring blood pressure as other types of monitors. In addition, they are more expensive than other monitors.

Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs Respiration

Before you measure your blood pressure:

Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs Gif

The American Heart Association recommends the following guidelines for home blood pressure monitoring:

  • Don't smoke or drink coffee for 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure.

  • Go to the bathroom before the test.

  • Relax for 5 minutes before taking the measurement.

  • Sit with your back supported (don't sit on a couch or soft chair). Keep your feet on the floor uncrossed. Place your arm on a solid flat surface (like a table) with the upper part of the arm at heart level. Place the middle of the cuff directly above the bend of the elbow. Check the monitor's instruction manual for an illustration.

  • Take multiple readings. When you measure, take 2 to 3 readings one minute apart and record all the results.

  • Take your blood pressure at the same time every day, or as your healthcare provider recommends.

  • Record the date, time, and blood pressure reading.

  • Take the record with you to your next medical appointment. Dj mixer express for windows keygen crack. If your blood pressure monitor has a built-in memory, simply take the monitor with you to your next appointment.

  • Call your provider if you have several high readings. Don't be frightened by a single high blood pressure reading, but if you get several high readings, check in with your healthcare provider.

  • When blood pressure reaches a systolic (top number) of 180 or higher OR diastolic (bottom number) of 110 or higher, seek emergency medical treatment.

Ask your doctor or another healthcare professional to teach you how to use your blood pressure monitor correctly. Have the monitor routinely checked for accuracy by taking it with you to your doctor's office. It is also important to make sure the tubing is not twisted when you store it and keep it away from heat to prevent cracks and leaks.

Tools Equipment And Paraphernalia For Taking Vital Signs A Skill On Resume

Proper use of your blood pressure monitor will help you and your doctor in monitoring your blood pressure.