Checking Vital Signs

These are very informative videos explaining how to check various vital signs. They are also extremely easy to watch. Part II also includes Apical Pulse and Apical-Radial Pulse.

Vital Signs Skills Assessment

 

 

Vital Signs are another skills assessment that we have to do in nursing school soon. The following links are to videos from ATI that explain each procedure on obtaining vital signs:

 

 

Radial Pulse

Notes 

• Normal: 60 – 100
• Bradycardia: < 60 (Can be a result of Hyperkalemia, as well as other conditions)
• Tachycardia: > 100 (Can be a result of CHF, Dehydration, etc.)
• Pulse Strength:
  • Bounding = 4 +
  • Full or Strong = 3 +
  • Normal and Expected = 2 +
  • Diminished or Barely Palpable = 1 +
  • Absent = 0

Documentation Example

• Radial pulse 72, 2 + and regular

 

Apical Pulse (Also see the other post here with an excellent video)

Notes

• S1: Tricuspid and Mitral Valves close. End of ventricular filling. Low pitched and dull sound: “Lub”
• S2: Pulmonic and Aortic Valves close. End of systolic contraction. Higher pitched and shorter sound: “Dub”

Documentation Example

• Apical pulse 72; S1, S2 clear without rubs or murmurs noted.