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Vital Sign

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Vital Sign

  • See Also
  1. Blood Pressure
  2. Orthostatic Blood Pressure
  3. Heart Rate
  4. Respiratory Rate
  5. Body Temperature
  6. Fever
  7. Oxygen Saturation
  8. Pediatric Vital Signs
  9. Pediatric Assessment Triangle
  10. Broselow Tape
  • Precautions
  • General
  1. Unaddressed Vital Signs are common in Malpractice suits
  2. Review nursing notes and Vital Signs throughout the clinical encounter
  3. Repeat and review Vital Signs at discharge
  4. Explain abnormal Vital Signs prior to discharge
  • Precautions
  • Specific Measures
  1. Automatic Blood Pressure cuffs may be unreliable
    1. Check manual Blood Pressure for outlying values (esp. shock, Narrow Pulse Pressure, Severe Hypertension)
  2. Oxygen Saturation may be unreliable (e.g. shock state, nail polish)
  • Evaluation
  • Abnormal Criteria
  1. See Pediatric Vital Signs
  2. Adults (18 to 65 years old)
    1. Heart Rate >100
    2. Systolic Blood Pressure <90 mmHg
    3. Temperature >100.4 F (38 C)
  3. Older Adults (>65 years, proposed changes to Emergency Severity Index)
    1. Heart Rate >90
    2. Systolic Blood Pressure <110 mmHg
    3. Temperature >99.3 F (37.4 C)