Does anyone know how to read vital signs - is this anything to worry too much about

rn2b10 · Dec 10, 2009

low BP and high HR may indicate shock from some sort of hemorrhage or bleeding also

fibro2003 · Dec 10, 2009

Im clueless! argh.
Vital signs for an elderly 80 year old lady: BP 85/50; HR 120; RR 20; SpO2 98%

To me the blood pressure is too low but I need to know her history because if the lady is on blood pressure medicine or blood thinners she should skip her b/p medication and her heart rate is abnormal so either the patient is going into AFib or she's over medicated either way the out look is not good.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Dec 10, 2009

For some people these VS would be perfectly normal- depending on what is usual for the particular pt- but *generally speaking* the BP is a little low, the pulse is a little high, and the resps are a little high.

The pt could be a little dehydrated, could have had an inappropriate dose of a BP med, could be in the early stages of shock, could be bleeding- or may be having side effects of a med- such as nitroglycerin. She could even have just stood up too quickly.

Early nursing education teaches us what generally is normal or abnormal. Critical thinking and later nursing education teaches us to interpret specific information to determine if something is really abnormal or not- and why or why not- and what to do about it- or not. :)

showmegirl · Dec 10, 2009

Remember also when in question you can always ask the pt what there norms ( most know this) or go look at the chart and see what the last few have been. I know after my B/P meds kick in m,y heart rate will still be a little high as my pressure levels off. Sometimes doc may have to start another med to regulate the heart rate.