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Chapter 15 Notes
Measuring Height, Weight, and Vital Signs
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
Measure some of the body’s essential functions
Information is essential for hc professionals to monitor the patient’s condition and diagnose, treat, and
prevent many disorders
Ch 15.1 - HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
Weight
 Baseline measurement at patient’s first visit
 Required for pregnant patients, infants, children, older adults, patients prescribed medication based on
body weight, those attempting to lose or gain weight, & those with certain conditions
 Types of scales: balance beam, dial, digital
 Units of measurement: kg or lbs
Height
 Measured by movable ruler on back of most balance beam scales or mounted on wall
 Parallel bar on ruler is moved down against patient’s head
 Units of measurement: inches or cm
Ch 15.2 - TEMPERATURE
Overview
 Balance between heat produced by body & that lost by body
 Core temperature: relatively constant internal temperature of body
 Normal: 97°F to 99°F (36.1°C to 37.2°C)
 Afebrile: normal body temperature range
 Febrile: above 99°F (37.2°C) or feverish
 Hypothermic: below 95°F (35°C)
Factors Influencing Body Temperature
 Brain Control
o Hypothalamus: part of brain that regulates body temperature
o If body too cool, brain signals to conserve & generate heat through shivering
o If body too warm, brain signals to carry heat away from core to surface and produce perspiration
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Causes of Temperature Change
o Age: higher in children than adults; lower in older adults
o *Temperature of very young and very old are easily affected by the environment
o Gender: slightly higher in women
o Exercise: increases temperature
o Time of day: lowest in early morning, before activity
o Emotions: rises with stress, falls with depression
o Illness: can increase or lower
Sites for Measuring Temperature
 Mouth (most common)
 Rectum (most accurate)
 Axillary: ear or temple (best for children)
Types of Thermometers
 Electronic
 Tympanic (ear)
 Temporal Artery (forehead)
 Disposable
Ch 15.3 - PULSE
Overview
 Pulse (P)= heartbeat= expansion & relaxation of arteries = heart rate
 Indicates flow of blood to a particular area
Factors Influencing Pulse
 Age: greater in infants, children, & some older adults
 Fitness: lower in conditioned athletes
 Time of day: lower in early morning, higher later in day
 Body type & size: lower in tall, thin people; higher in shorter, stockier people
 Exercise: higher during exercise
 Stress or emotion: higher in anger, fear, excitement, & stress; lower in depression
 Fever: higher during fever
 Medications: higher or lower
 Blood volume: higher with decreased blood volume
Pulse Sites
 Carotid artery (neck)
 Brachial artery (bend of elbow)
 Radial artery (wrist)
 Femoral artery (thigh/torso)
 Popliteal artery (back of knee)
 Posterior tibial artery (ankle)
 Dorsalis pedis (top of foot)
 Apical (with stehoscope over left ventricle of the heart)
Pulse Characteristics
 Pulse rate
o # of heartbeats in 1 min (bpm)
o Average: 60 to 100 bpm
o Bradycardia: pulse <60 bpm
o Tachycardia: pulse >100 bpm
 Pulse rhythm
o Pattern of heartbeats
o Arrhythmia: abnormal heart rhythm
 Pulse strength: soft, bounding, weak, thready, strong, or full
Taking a Pulse Manually
 Place index & middle fingers or middle & ring fingers (or all 3) over pulse point
o Thumb should NOT be used since your own pulse can be felt in your thumb
 Radial artery (on inside of wrist) is most common site
 Count heartbeats for 30 seconds (& multiply by two) or for 1 full minute
Using a Stethoscope
 Auscultate: to hear a pulse
 Place stethoscope over patient’s heart
 Doppler ultrasound stethoscope: amplifies sound of pulse; used when pulse is difficult to palpate
Ch 15.4 - RESPIRATION
Overview
 Respiration (R)= Exchange of gases between atmosphere & blood in body
 Inhale (breathing in O2): air flows into lungs, diaphragm contracts & flattens out, & rib cage rises &
expands
 Expire (breathing out CO2): air flows out of chest cavity, diaphragm relaxes & moves into dome-like
shape, & rib cage contracts
 Each respiration: 1 full inhalation & 1 full expiration
Characteristics of Respiration
 Rate
o # of respirations per minute
o Normal (adults): 12 to 20 times per minute
o Eupnea: normal respiration
 Rhythm: pattern of spacing/time between breaths
 Depth: volume of air inhaled & exhaled
Factors Influencing Respiration
 Physical condition
 Disease
 Medication
 Exercise 
 Pain
 Emotions 
Breathing Conditions
 Tachypnea: fast respiratory rate
 Bradypnea: slow respiratory rate
 Dyspnea: difficult or labored breathing
 Orthopnea: condition in which breathing is easier in an upright position
 Apnea: temporary cessation of breathing
Assessing Respiration
 1 respiration = the complete cycle of one rise and one fall of a patient’s chest
 Place hand on chest if movement not visible
 Count respirations for 30 seconds (& multiply by 2) or 1 full minute
 Note any abnormal sounds: wet, dry (crackles), high-pitched (wheezes)
Ch 15.5 - BLOOD PRESSURE
Overview
 Blood Pressure (BP)= Pressure of blood against arterial walls during contraction & relaxation phases of
heartbeat
 Systolic pressure: highest pressure level in arteries during contraction (first sound)
 Diastolic pressure: lower pressure level when heart relaxes
 Measured using stethoscope & sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)
 Measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)
 Written as systolic/diastolic

Normal: <120/80 mm Hg for an adult
Factors Affecting Blood Pressure
 Age
 Activity
 Stress (white coat hypertension)
 Body position
 Medications
Blood Pressure Conditions
 Hypertension: persistently above-normal BP
o Risks of heart disease and stroke
 Hypotension: persistently below-normal BP
 Orthostatic hypotension: low BP & fainting upon rising to a standing position
o Help patient raise head off table
o Help patient sit up on side of bed
o Watch for dizziness
o Help patient into standing position
Blood Pressure Equipment
 Aneroid sphygmomanometer: a circular dial for reading, attached to a cuff by a rubber tube
 Electronic sphygmomanometer: for patients who need their BP constantly monitored
Measuring Blood Pressure
 Wrap cuff of sphygmomanometer around upper arm
 Place stethoscope on inside of elbow
 Squeeze hand pump to inflate cuff (artery is squeezed shut)
 Turn screw valve slowly counterclockwise, releasing air
 Listen through stethoscope to hear & interpret sounds as blood flows through vessel
Avaoid taking BP readings in arms with any of the following
 Intravenous (IV) line
 Dialysis shunts
 Major cuts or wounds
Ch 15.6 - CHARTING VITAL SIGNS
 Provides picture of patient’s health over years
 Helps identify development of chronic health conditions
 Recorded using either flow sheets or narrative charting
 If flow chart is electronic, data can be converted to chart or graphic