Name: how nurses check vital signs
Uploaded: 2025-05-22T09:05:46.000Z
Duration: 1 min 25 s
Channel: JoVE

Vital signs include measuring body temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and respiration, abbreviated as T, P, BP, SpO2, and R.
In some hospitals, pain, and level of consciousness are also considered vital signs.
The measurements of vital signs provide the baseline data to determine a person&#39;s health status.
Variations in readings indicate a change in physiological function, which helps nurses to identify healthcare needs and plan interventions accordingly.
Illness, stress, environmental temperature, and age are some factors that can alter vital signs.
Nurses must know the acceptable ranges of vital signs for different age groups.
The vital signs are measured in the following situations:
During a&#160; physical examination
During admission to a healthcare setting
Before and after surgery, a procedure, or diagnostic test
Before and after administering medications that affect cardiovascular and respiratory functions
Before and after an activity such as ambulation
When there is a change in the patient&#39;s condition or loss of consciousness
Individual hospital policies and patient care plans may indicate the frequency of vital sign measurement.

introduction to vital signs

Introduction to Vital Signs

Vital signs are physiological measurements that help key into the status of the body&#39;s essential functions. These include body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, commonly abbreviated as T, P, R, and BP. Some healthcare settings also consider oxygen saturation (SpO2) and, in specific contexts, pain and level of consciousness as additional vital signs.
Vital signs help healthcare professionals assess an individual&#39;s well-being and detect any functional changes or trends in the body&#39;s major systems, such as the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Here is a brief overview of how each vital sign is measured:
<ul>
	<li>&#8226; Pulse Rate: This is measured by counting the heartbeats per minute, commonly taken at the radial artery on the wrist.</li>
	<li>&#8226;&#160;Respiratory Rate: This is determined by observing the number of breaths per minute, noted by the rise and fall of the chest. One complete cycle counts as one breath.</li>
	<li>&#8226;&#160;Blood Pressure: BP is assessed using a sphygmomanometer, commonly known as a blood pressure cuff, which records the force of blood against the arterial walls during contraction (systolic) and rest (diastolic).</li>
	<li>&#8226;&#160;Body Temperature: Body temperature is assessed using oral or rectal thermometers to measure internal heat.</li>
</ul>

Deviations from the normal range can signal underlying health issues or emergencies. As a result, regular monitoring is essential to establish trends and monitor patient progress. Vital signs are typically measured during physical examinations, upon admission to healthcare facilities, before and after surgeries or procedures, and when there is a significant change in a patient&#39;s condition.
Understanding vital sign measurements and their acceptable ranges, particularly how they might vary by age, environment, and health status, is critical. The information empowers the nurse to plan, collaborate with healthcare team members, and implement appropriate interventions to ensure patient safety.

Vital signs are physiological measurements that help key into the status of the body&#39;s essential functions. These include body temperature, pulse ...

Education

JoVE Core

Nursing

Unit 1

Vital Signs: Temperature

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

how nurses check vital signs

Vital signs are basic body measurements that show how well essential functions are working. They include body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. These are often shortened to T, P, R, and BP. In some healthcare settings, oxygen saturation, or SpO2, is also included. Pain and level of consciousness may count as vital signs in certain situations.

These measurements help healthcare professionals assess a person's well-being and spot changes in major body systems. They are especially useful for tracking the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Regular checks can show trends over time and help detect shifts in a patient’s condition. That information supports patient safety and care planning.

Each vital sign is measured in a specific way. Pulse rate is found by counting heartbeats per minute, often at the radial artery on the wrist. Respiratory rate is measured by observing breaths per minute, using the rise and fall of the chest. One full breathing cycle counts as one breath.

Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer, also called a blood pressure cuff. It records the force of blood against artery walls during contraction, or systolic pressure, and during rest, or diastolic pressure. Body temperature is measured with oral or rectal thermometers to check internal heat. When values move outside the normal range, they may signal a health problem or emergency.

Vital signs are commonly checked during physical exams, when a person is admitted to a healthcare facility, and before and after surgery or other procedures. They are also measured when there is a major change in a patient's condition. Acceptable ranges can vary with age, environment, and health status. Nurses use these measurements to plan care, work with other healthcare team members, and choose the right interventions.

How Nurses Check Vital Signs

Vital signs are basic body measurements that show how well essential functions are working. They include body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. These are often shortened to T, P, R, and BP. In some healthcare settings, oxygen saturation, or SpO2, is also included. Pain and level of consciousness may count as vital signs in certain situations. These measurements help healthcare professionals assess a person's well-being and spot changes in major body systems. They...

guidelines for measuring vital signs

Measuring Vital Signs for Accurate Nursing Care

Measuring vital signs accurately helps nurses track patient changes and respond with timely care. Careful technique also improves the reliability of the results. Before measuring, a nurse checks whether the patient is calm and comfortable. Anxiety or discomfort can affect the reading. The right equipment also matters. Blood pressure readings depend on using the correct cuff size, since a cuff that is too large or too small may give an inaccurate result. Nurses also inspect equipment for wear,...

body temperature

How the Body Regulates Temperature

The body regulates temperature by balancing heat production and heat loss. This balance helps keep core body temperature steady even during exercise or changes in the environment. Core temperature refers to the temperature of deep tissues under the skin, while surface temperature can change more easily. Heat is produced mainly by metabolic activity in the body’s core tissues. Blood carries this heat from the core to the skin, where it can be released into the environment. Core body temperature...

mechanism of heat transfer

How the Body Loses and Gains Heat

The body loses and gains heat through conduction, convection, evaporation, and radiation. These heat transfer mechanisms help the body stay in balance, or maintain homeostasis, when the environment is not thermoneutral. In a thermoneutral environment, the body is already in balance and does not need to use or release energy to keep its core temperature steady. Conduction is heat transfer through direct contact. It happens when skin touches an object with a different temperature. For example,...

factors affecting body temperature

Body Temperature Changes and Why They Happen

Body temperature changes for many reasons, and age is one of the most important. Newborns have an immature system that must respond quickly to environmental change, so their temperature can shift more easily. Older adults can also have trouble regulating temperature because of age-related changes and other factors. Exercise can raise body temperature because active muscles need more blood flow. The body also breaks down glucose and fat for energy, and that process produces heat. Hormone levels...

increased body temperature

Fever Phases and Body Temperature Control

Fever is a rise in body temperature above 38°C (100.4°F). A person with fever is called febrile. The hypothalamus, a part of the brain that works like the body’s thermostat, controls temperature by using a thermoregulatory setpoint. It reads signals from cold and warm receptors throughout the body and adjusts temperature as needed. Fever usually starts when the hypothalamic setpoint changes in response to infection or illness. A virus such as influenza, a bacterium such as streptococcus, or...

types of fever

Fever Types and Heat-Related Conditions

Fever can happen for many reasons, and not all fevers come from infection. It may be linked to nervous system disorders, certain cancers, blood diseases such as leukemia, embolism, thrombosis, heatstroke, dehydration, surgical trauma, crushing injuries, or allergic reactions. Rigor is one fever pattern marked by a sudden, severe shivering attack. During rigor, body temperature rises quickly to hyperpyrexia levels, which means an extremely high fever. Hyperthermia is different from a typical...

patterns of fever

Fever Phases and Temperature Patterns

Fever has clear phases and several temperature patterns. The first phase is the onset or invasion phase, when body temperature begins to rise. This rise may happen suddenly or gradually. The second phase is the steady phase. During this stage, body temperature reaches its highest point and stays constant at a high level. The third phase is the defervescence or decline phase. In this stage, the elevated temperature returns to normal, either suddenly or gradually. Fever may appear as...

methods of reducing fever

Fever Care: Medicines and Cooling Steps

Fever care focuses on lowering body temperature and finding the cause of the fever. Common signs and symptoms include hot, dry skin, a flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Proper treatment starts with identifying the root problem. Pharmacological methods use medicine to reduce fever. If a bacterial infection is the cause, healthcare providers collect culture specimens such as urine, blood, sputum, and wound samples, then prescribe the...

decreased body temperature

Hypothermia and Frostbite Signs

Hypothermia and frostbite are two cold-related conditions that can cause a decreased body temperature. They happen when heat loss from long exposure to cold becomes greater than the body’s ability to make heat. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia and show how severe it is. Mild hypothermia occurs when core temperature falls between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35 °C (95 °F). It is linked to impaired thermoregulation, which means the body has trouble controlling its temperature. Moderate...

equipments used to measure body temperature

equipments-used-to-measure-body-temperature

Body Temperature Tools and Thermometer Types

Body temperature can be checked with several tools, and the result may be shown in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Different thermometers are used for different body sites and settings. Some give a reading in seconds, while others are older or single-use designs. Glass-bulb thermometers are hollow glass tubes with a bulb tip that holds a liquid such as ethanol or mercury. Mercury glass-bulb thermometers were once the standard for measuring body temperature. Today, many countries prohibit mercury...

temperature measurement sites

Body Temperature: Common Measurement Methods

Body temperature can be measured at several common sites, and each site has its own uses and limits. A thermometer is used to check temperature in the oral cavity, axillary region, temporal artery, and skin surface such as the forehead, abdomen, and axilla. Some sites give a closer estimate of true core temperature, which is the temperature inside the body. Core body temperature can be assessed in the rectum, tympanic membrane, pulmonary artery, esophagus, and urinary bladder. The oral site is...

assessing body temperature - tympanic membrane

assessing-body-temperature-tympanic-membrane

Using a Tympanic Thermometer Correctly

A tympanic membrane thermometer measures temperature through the ear. Correct use of the device helps support an accurate reading and reduces the chance of cross-contamination. Start with good hand hygiene before handling the thermometer. Turn it on and wait for the ready sign on the screen. Then place the probe cover in position before use. Ask the patient to tilt the head to the side for comfort. Check the ear canal for cerumen, or earwax, because it can block the probe lens cover. If...

assessing body temperature - oral

Oral Temperature Check with an Electronic Thermometer

Oral temperature checks use an electronic thermometer to measure body temperature through the mouth. Proper hand hygiene comes first to help prevent the spread of microorganisms. The thermometer is then removed from the charging unit, turned on, and used only after the ready sign appears. A probe cover is slid on until a click is heard. This helps prevent cross-contamination and keeps the cover in the correct place. The patient is asked to open the mouth, and the probe is placed under the...

assessing body temperature - rectal

Rectal Temperature Checks for Core Readings

Rectal temperature checks are a precise way to measure core body temperature. This method often gives a higher reading than oral temperature. It is used when an accurate internal temperature is needed. The procedure starts with hand hygiene and clean gloves to reduce cross-infection. The patient is placed in a side-lying position so the rectal area can be seen more easily. Only the anal region is exposed, and warmth and privacy are maintained. If feces or secretions are present, the area is...

assessing body temperature - axilla

Axillary Temperature Check with Digital Thermometer

Axillary body temperature is checked with a digital thermometer using a careful, step-by-step method. The goal is to get an accurate reading from the axilla, or underarm area, while keeping the patient comfortable and protected. Hand hygiene comes first, followed by clean gloves to help prevent infection and cross-contamination. The patient is then told what will happen so they can cooperate with the procedure. Privacy is maintained, only the axilla is exposed, and the patient is asked to stay...

assessing body temperature - temporal artery

assessing-body-temperature-temporal-artery

Temporal Artery Temperature Scan Steps

Temporal artery temperature scanning is a quick way to check a patient’s body temperature with a temporal artery thermometer. The process begins with hand hygiene and a fresh pair of gloves to help prevent cross-infection and keep the patient safe. The procedure should also be explained clearly so the patient knows what to expect and can cooperate with comfort. Before scanning, the forehead should be checked for moisture. If the skin is wet, it should be gently wiped with a clean cloth because...

key terms and concepts

Learn how nurses measure body temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and more. Explore why vital signs help track health changes.

How Nurses Check Vital Signs | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Nursing offers concise animated lessons on nursing practices, covering health systems, nursing organizations, and health concepts. It includes practical communication, infection prevention, and nursing fundamentals, providing students with a clear understanding of nursing principles.

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How Nurses Check Vital Signs

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