Vital Signs (Cardinal Signs)

Vital signs reflect the body’s physiologic status and provide information critical to evaluating homeostatic balance. The term “vital” is used because the information gathered is the clearest indicator of overall health status.

Vital sign Includes: T (temperature), PR (Pulse Rate), RR (Respiratory Rate), and BP (Blood Pressure)

Key Terminology
- apical pulse - Korotokoff’
               - tympanic
- apex - oral
- apnea - orthopnea
- axilla - palpation
- bradycardia - pedal pulse
- bradypnea - popliteal pulse
- carotid pulse - pulse
- cheyne-stokes respiration - pulse pressure
- cyanosis - radial pulse
- diastole - rectal
- dyspnea - sphygmomanometer
- eupnea - stetoscope
- femoral pulse - systolic
- fever - tachycardia
- hypertension - temperature
- hypotension - thermometer

Acronyms
BP - PR - PO - oc
RR - CVS - B - oF
T - O - BPM

Purposes:
• To obtain base line data about the patient condition
• To aid in diagnosing patient condition (diagnostic purpose)
• For therapeutic purpose so that to intervene accordingly

Equipment
• Vital sign tray
• Stethoscope
• Sphygmomanometer
• Thermometer (glasses, electronic and tympanic)
• Second hand watch
• Red and blue pen
• Pencil;
• Vital sign sheet
• Cotton swab in bowel
• Disposable gloves if available
• Dirty receiver kidney dish