Introduction to vital signs

The commonly measured vital signs include body temperature; blood pressure; heart rate, also called pulse; and respiratory rate. Pain is often considered a vital sign and is measured along with the others.

Measuring vital signs is a crucial component in taking care of a client’s health. Vital signs help assess the general physical health of a person, provide clues to possible diseases, and help monitor the progress of the client’s health status.

Normally, vital signs are measured and interpreted by a nurse. However, as a nursing assistant, you will be asked to measure vital signs, and so you will need to know how to measure them.

Vital signs are typically measured at certain times. First, vital signs are measured when you encounter the client for the first time during the admission process or during the initial home care visits.

This will provide the client’s baseline and can be used to compare with future measurements. Usually, vital signs are measured every shift. Clients who are ill, like those in hospitals, need their vital signs measured every few hours.

You will even find some severely ill clients attached to machines that monitor their vital signs continuously.

On the other hand, clients such as those in long-term care facilities, may have their vital signs measured only a couple days each week.

The client’s plan of care will specify how often the client’s vital signs need to be taken, so make sure you check that as well.

Next, vital signs are often measured when the client is receiving medications; during nursing interventions; and before, during, and after medical procedures, such as surgical operation.

This is because such procedures may cause significant stress to the client that may result in a significant change in the vital signs. So, it is important to take measurements, document them, and report to the nurse.

You should also measure vital signs after an incident, like a fall; when you notice changes in the client’s status like a decreased level of consciousness; or when the client reports any specific symptoms of physical distress, like dizziness or feeling cold.