Module 5: Vital Signs & Basic Patient Monitoring
- Identify the four primary vital signs and normal adult ranges
- Describe the correct technique for measuring each vital sign
- Explain why accurate recording and timely reporting matter
The four primary vital signs are body temperature (normal range roughly 36.1-37.2°C), pulse rate (normal resting adult range roughly 60-100 beats per minute), respiratory rate (roughly 12-20 breaths per minute for a resting adult), and blood pressure (a normal adult reading is commonly cited around 120/80 mmHg, though healthy ranges vary). Measuring vital signs correctly requires a calm patient, properly calibrated equipment such as a thermometer, stethoscope, and blood pressure cuff, and a quiet moment free of recent exertion that could skew the reading. A support worker's job is typically to measure and accurately record these values, not to interpret or diagnose from them, but recording them precisely and reporting any reading clearly outside the normal range immediately is critical, since vital signs are often the earliest warning sign of a patient's deterioration.
1. A support worker who measures vital signs should primarily:
2. A normal resting adult pulse rate typically falls in the range of:
3. Which of the following is one of the four primary vital signs?