Assessing Vital Signs

How to Assess Vital Signs

What you'll learn

Explain the difference between objective data and subjective data (signs and symptoms)

Identify which observations and readings are concerning and should be reported to someone right away

Demonstrate how to measure and record vital signs, height and weight, and other patient data

Explain the normal range for each vital sign

Requirements

None.

What is needed to take this course? Nothing but a willingness to learn and an interest in assessing vital signs!

You do not need a textbook or any special equipment or software for this course.

Description

In this course, students will learn how to properly take temperatures using different kinds of thermometers, how to take a pulse using a variety of methods, how to assess blood pressure, and other vital signs.  Pulse oximetry and methods for properly measuring height and weight are discussed. This is for current or aspiring health care workers or for anyone serving as a care giver to a loved one. The vital signs of body function are Temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. These vital signs vary a little bit between normal limits, and they can be used to tell you how the person is responding to their treatment – and also if they are experiencing a life-threatening event. Any time vital signs change from a previous reading or are outside the normal range, report it immediately.If you dispense medications for your job or as a care giver, observation and reporting is a very important skill associated with medication administration. You need to be able to monitor the effects of the medications you have given, and in some situations you must know the resident’s physical status before you give certain medications.The human body is capable of maintaining a balance of physical and general health, but when a change from physical or emotional stress takes its toll, the body will react.What is needed to take this course? Nothing but a willingness to learn and an interest in assessing vital signs! You do not need a textbook or any special equipment or software for this course.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction

Section 2: Observations, Signs, and Symptoms

Lecture 2 Observations: What Do You think?

Lecture 3 Observations, Signs, and Symptoms

Lecture 4 Observations: Knowing When to Report Your Concerns

Section 3: Dignity, Respect, and Quality of Life

Lecture 5 Vitals: Conveying Dignity and Respect

Section 4: An Introduction to Taking a Temperature

Lecture 6 Temperature Introduction

Lecture 7 Temperature: Basic Procedure

Lecture 8 Temperature: Comfort and Safety Considerations

Lecture 9 Temperature: Axillary

Lecture 10 Temperature: Temporal (Forehead) Method

Lecture 11 Temperature: Rectal

Lecture 12 Temperature: Oral Method

Lecture 13 Temperature: Tympanic

Lecture 14 Temperature: Post Procedure

Section 5: Introduction to Taking a Pulse

Lecture 15 Vitals Assessment: Pulse

Lecture 16 Pulse: Safety, Infection Control, and Comfort

Lecture 17 What to Know Before Taking a Pulse

Lecture 18 Pulse: Taking a Radial Pulse

Lecture 19 Pulse: Taking an Apical Pulse

Lecture 20 Pulse Post-Procedure

Section 6: Vitals: Respirations

Lecture 21 Normal Respiratory Rate

Lecture 22 Counting Respirations

Section 7: Vitals Assessment: Blood Pressure

Lecture 23 Introduction to Blood Pressure

Lecture 24 Measuring Blood Pressure

Lecture 25 Blood Pressure: First Steps

Lecture 26 Blood Pressure: Two Methods

Lecture 27 Blood Pressure: Completing the Measurement

Lecture 28 Blood Pressure: Last Steps

Section 8: Vitals: Pulse Oximetry

Lecture 29 Assessing Oxygen Saturation

Section 9: Assessing Height and Weight

Lecture 30 Assessing Height and Weight

Section 10: Communicating Across the Team

Lecture 31 Effective Communication with Providers

Section 11: Putting it All Together

Lecture 32 Putting it All Together

Lecture 33 Revisit Points to Ponder

Section 12: Final Exam

This course is appropriate for anyone currently working in health care and wishing to expand their skills, anyone considering a career in health care, or anyone serving as a care giver for a loved one.