Question

1. identify ranges of acceptable vital signs for an infant, a child, and an adult.

2. Identify when to take vital signs

3. explain variations in technique used to access the vital signs of an infant, a child and an adult.

Answer 1

1, Acceptable vital signs for infants:

Vital signs include temperature, respiration,heart rate or pulse, and blood pressure..

Infants(0-12months)

Temperature - 98.6°f

Pulse rate - 100-160 beats per minute

Respiration- 0-6months (30-60bpm) 6-12months(24-30bpm)

Blood pressure:0-6months( 65/45 or 90/65 mmofHg

0-12months (80/55 or 100/65mmofHg

Child:

1-11 years

Temperature- 98.6°f

Pulse - 70 -120bpm

Respiration - 1-5 years (20-30bpm)

6-11 years ( 12 -20bpm)

BP - 90/55 or 110 /75mmofHg

Adults:

Above 12 years

Temperature- 98.6°f

Pulse - 60 -100bpm

Respiration - 12-18bpm

BP - 110 /65 or 130/ 85mmofHg

2, vital signs should be taken with specific disease status..when patient get admission in the hospital check vitals immediately,if is normal check every 4hours for 24hours..if vitals are abnormal check every 30minutes until the Physicisn order..check vitals everyday for the patient two times a day atleast..for infants and children if there is fever or infection check vitals every hourly..

3, for infants temperature should be checked through rectal thermometer or tympanic thermometer..for child armpit, rectal or oral digital thermometer can be used. for adults we can use oral and armpit techniques can be used..

Heart rate for infants can be checked by placing the two finger on the front of his neck or inside the wrist.. check for 30seconds count a beat. For children and adults we can check through wrist..

Respiration can be checked for 30seconds by observing the child and infant chest rises.

Blood pressure

1-3years and above we can use automated monitor for checking blood pressure..for adults we can use either automated monitor or manual monitor for checking blood pressure..