Confused, Frustrated and agitated w/VITALS

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I'm going to class to become a CNA and I even studied from the sylabus and book that we were told ahead of time to purchase for the class. I am frustrated because I have already rememberized some of the Vital sign numbers for normal range and reporting range, but the problem is the numbers are totally different from what the teacher says and the "Department of Aging and Disability Services" (Texas Curriculum for Nurse Aides in Long Term Care Facilities) say, so naturally I'm confused.

Is it because each facility is different? Once I get my certificate and find a job, I will be sure and ask, "what are the reporting numbers for vitals", however for the test coming up soon, I need to know exactly the correct numbers. Shoot !! Even when I look online something comes up with different numbers for normal and when to report to the nurse.

This is what I have remembered. (from studying)

Are these numbers correct or not?

Pulse (redial) Normal 76 Report anything below 60 and above 90

Respiration Normal 16 Report anything below 12 and above 22

BP Normal 120/80 Report anything below 100/60 and above 140/90

oral temp Normal 98.6 Report anything below 97 and above 99

Can someone please set the record straight on these vitals and please don't use the word

"about" or "approximately".

Thank you

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It does depend on your facility. Someone stay away from any of your no go words. I will stop here.

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When you are dealing with vitals I am afraid that the ranges CAN be approximate, and a range can be different with each person. You have to take in account the person. for instance myself I can be 112-115/60-65. Very normal for me and I have nurses always ask me if i normally have low blood pressure which when I say Yes they go on and don't assume I am hypo just because I did not reach the 120/80. have never even fainted in my life.

Your numbers are within a normal ranges for an adult. But some text books and teachers will sometimes have slightly different numbers for normal. Vitals are not cookie cutter answers. When it comes to the ranges, sorry. If you are within a certain number you can still be considered right. How far off is your instructors numbers to yours? If it is within a few numbers I wouldn't worry so about it. You can both still be right.

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The problem is that "about" or "approximately" are commonly used words in healthcare.

No two people are the same. One person's "normal" will be another person's "panic value". You can also have a patient with fairly regular vitals that is symptomatic, which warrants reporting. I suggest you get comfortable with the values above (with the exception of the pulse--anywhere between 60 and 100 is considered normal generally speaking) just as a baseline.

The facility you are hired into should have more specific parameters. When I was a CNA, I kept the ranges on the back of my badge.

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It does depend on your facility. Someone stay away from any of your no go words. I will stop here.

not sure what you mean by "no go words"

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The teachers numbers are only off a few numbers. (or I should say MY numbers are off by a few numbers) I just want to make sure I pass the CNA test by answering with accuracy should one of the questions be, at what point do you notify the nurse. When time comes for me to actually work at a facility, I will be sure and know what the RN wants me to report to her with exact number ranges.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I think I would go with the state curriculum numbers as I will assume the certification is based on that. The no go words were approximately and about. Best of luck to you.

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OK, Thank you.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Ha didn't mean to sound so abrupt! I was going to say "do not stress too much" because honestly you remind me of me in the beginning but then I realized if someone had said it to me I would've thought "uh-huh, yeah right . . ." i_smile.gif

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Well as other posters have already said it depends on the person. I work peds and I saw many 90/60 & 38 respirations on newborns. This is normal for peds. Also depends on what the patient is doing. In peds if they are sucking, crying that's going to throw it off so you document that. In our clinic pt's don't have temps until they are over 101.6 depending on age, again matters who you're dealing with. Parents come in say their kid has a fever of 99. Yeah!! Nope not a fever. Now you are doing CNA & the vitals may be different because they are older. Stuff you find online night be normal for a middle age healthy individual.

It's hard to say whose vitals you should follow because yes the DADS is performing the test so they should be right but your in class test is performed by your teacher so it's hard. Then when you get out to the real world everything changes lol.

My old 2003 CNA says normal BP 120/80 & below.

Which is what I was taught in MA school & as a medic on an AF base. So I would just go with the DADS website & the teachers.

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Normal vital sign ranges aren't necessarily an exact science and can vary slightly depending on the textbook, or who you ask. The same thing for what is automatically considered reportable, it would depend on where you work and possibly even the particular patient and their circumstances. So I would go with whatever your teacher says.

It can get a little more tricky if they want to know vital sign ranges for all age groups because they vary for each pediatric age group.

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