Obtain vital signs.

Obtaining vital signs should include monitoring and recording

• blood pressure (manually and electronically)
• pulse (manually and electronically)
• apical pulse
• apical-radial deficit
• respirations (manually and electronically)
• pulse oximetry
• temperature (i.e., oral, rectal, tympanic, and temporal)
• pain scale.

Process/Skill Questions:

• When obtaining a blood pressure measurement, how does one know whether the cuff is correctly sized?
• What portion of the cardiac cycle is represented in the systolic blood pressure measurement? What portion of the cardiac cycle is represented in the diastolic blood pressure measurement?
• What are three instances when one would need to immediately notify a patient’s assigned nurse?
• What changes in vital signs indicate a possible transfusion reaction during a blood transfusion?