vital sign help

littlerose · Aug 14, 2005

I was told to lay the arm on the chest like you are still taking the pluse. That way you can feel the resp.

I am starting my Second yr of classes. :eek: :nurse:

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Aug 14, 2005

I usually do respirations and the pulse at the same time, fifteen seconds times four...but I had the same problem at first, what I did was do my pulses for thirty seconds, well kinda. I did the pulse in 15 then Iacted like I was still doing the pulse for another 15 but I was really counting respirations. If you have some one that is really hard you can always tell them you are just going to listen to their heart, then place the stethascope on the back and count the respirations that way...just some ideas :rolleyes:

i am going into my third semester but in clinicals i always have a hard time reading the respiration.for some reason i usually cant see the chest moving. with pulse if the person heart beat is fast i usually get confuse when taking the pulse. so what i am asking for is tips or suggestion. thanks

purplemania, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2005

Men and small children tend to be abdominal breathers. I like to check the overall sound of the lungs and the respiratory rate at the same time by auscultation.

onduty23 · Aug 14, 2005

thanks for the tips

mitchsmom · Aug 14, 2005

I have put my hand on someone's chest before if it was hard for me to see respirations, but I try not to b/c I'm afraid they will alter their breathing if they are thinking about me counting it. I guess I might as well listen with a steth if I'm going to do that.

I usually do it while holding the wrist after taking pulse.

I am still getting vitals down too - but I have a harder time with manual bp's and stupidly enough - temps!! I think I don't put typanic thermometers in far enough, afraid I'm hurting the pt., they are too low alot for me. I guess I'm weird but I love old fashioned mercury thermometers (even though I know they are gone to stay).

student4ever · Aug 17, 2005

For respirations, I usually watch as I'm taking pulse to see if I can see the person's breathing - I don't count or anything, cause that messes me up with the pulse! When I'm done with the pulse, I count the resps. When I first started, I counted for a full minute, then down to 30 seconds, and then 15 - now I can pretty well guestimate just by watching a couple resps, and while I'm taking pulse I check to see that the resps are even. If they are, I can guestimate - if they're uneven or fast, I count for a full minute. Good luck!

MIA-RN1, RN · Aug 17, 2005

I tell them I am listening to their heart, and put my steth on their chest and just listen and count respirations.

I was told to always count for a full minute b/c resps can get irregular.

Then I follow with a little joke "Well your hearts still beating!" If they are open to it.