question

Dplear · Nov 17, 2001

Pain is the fifh vital sign

P_RN, ADN, RN · Nov 17, 2001

Yep PAIN. Should be higher up the scale, as it affects the rest of the vitals.

http://www.nurseweek.com/features/99-7/pain.html

nur20 · Nov 18, 2001

THAT'S TRUE !!!!!!

Adrena · Nov 18, 2001

I thought that it was the oxygen saturation level.

ERNurse752, RN · Nov 18, 2001

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooo PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Sorry, I'm pretty loopy after 4 hours of sleep...and I work again tonight )

ucavalpn · Nov 18, 2001

yep it's pain

KatWright · Nov 18, 2001

I have always heard it was pain too, but then I read this...

In the early 1990s, Fiore introduced the concept of the fifth vital sign; that is, considering a patient's smoking status along with blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respiratory rate. (11) This approach provides an important opportunity to gain information at each patient visit about the patient's tobacco status and an opportunity to promote smoking cessation. The AHCPR incorporated this 5th vital sign into the Clinical Guideline on Smoking Cessation (See Table 1) as a means to identify tobacco use at every patient visit. (12) Tobacco use is routinely assessed upon inpatient admission, but may only be assessed with initial ambulatory or home visits.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 1: Fifth Vital Sign

VITAL SIGNS

Blood Pressure__________________________

Pulse_________________ Weight__________________

Temperature___________________________________

Respiratory Rate________________________________

Tobacco Use: Current Former Never

(circle one)

Fiore (1991). (11)

So every so often you may hear that smoking status is the fifth vital sign

Interesting, huh?

Kat