what vital signs do I need to perform?

AaronsMommyxx · Oct 30, 2011

I would say you would at least need a pulse/resp & temp & ask about any pain. & then afterwards, take temp bp pulse/resp & ask about pain again..

thats just my opinion.

andrian · Oct 30, 2011

I agree. I would do everything except maybe BP but for sure ask about pain because if they're in pain even before you start taking the staples out you should look into giving them some sort of pain killer.

healthstar, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2011

I would do all VS, it takes less than 2 mins and they don't harm the pt. T, RR, P, BP,P.OX , VS can also tell you that pt is having pain, very helpful.

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2011

why would some of you leave b/p out? just wondering... like pp said it takes all but 2 minutes and doesnt hurt the patient, and can be a good indicator of pain. i cant remember a time when i needed to get vitals on someone and didnt do all of them unless it was an infant and i didnt do b/p for that reason..

jesskidding, LPN · Oct 30, 2011

I would also take all VS: Temp, RR, P, BP, O2. Assessing pain is now the "sixth" VS.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Oct 30, 2011

Vital signs are that, the vital signs. Take them all, as frequently as necessary and at least at the beginning of your shift for a baseline.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 30, 2011

DEFINITELY take all of the V/S

If you do not, and need to call the Doc for something r/t pt, and Doc asks for vitals... Well, you get my drift.

Don't get caught in that trap.

All the best,

Diane

Sanuk · Oct 30, 2011

I sense a consensus here

Really, though, if you're ever in doubt about what VS to take, take them all.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 30, 2011

I would do all the vitals if i'm doing vital signs. While doing them, I often check mental ststus as changes there can often be the first sign that something is starting to change for the worse. Sometimes that check is just conversating with the patient. Someone can be alert to person, place, time, and situation and still be "off" from baseline...

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2011

Hello;
I have a scenario that I'd like to have some comments on;
Patient has an NG tube, and needs staples removed from knee incision. Do I just need to check temperature? I'm trying to be as efficient & practical as possible.
Sorry, I don't have much info to supply here. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated.
Best
Eohippus

Is this LTC, or a hospital?

What are the staples from?

I realize you don't have much info- but if you don't have this, it's unfair to you :)

Unless you're supposed to be assessing him, to get more info.

At any rate, If I've got to take vitals, I take them all. A sub-normal temp can be a sign of sepsis- and if you don't take a BP, you won't know how bad things are; if the pulse is high, and resp rate shallow and increased- but you get a low temp, you could think that he's a variant of normal- but if you get a low BP, with recent infection, or s/s building infection, you have a big problem. That's why I asked what I did :)

And NEVER call a doc about a patient without the full set of vitals, and most recent labs AVAILABLE (ie- chart in front of you; you may not have to tell him/her- but you have it ready.....a doc can get real snippy really fast if you don't have all of the info :))

Eohippus · Oct 31, 2011

Hello to all & thank you for your time in replying;

It was good to hear all the opinions. The scenario I posted is a practical test I have to perform. I have a 20 min time limit. That's why I was trying to ascertain whether I have to perform all VS. Just trying to find ways to beat the clock.

Best

Eohippus