Vital Signs Skills Return Demonstration

Bedside_Life RN · Mar 7, 2015

I would contact your instructor for clarification on which resource you should use. Most of the time it will be a required textbook. It should be as simple as that.

Good Luck

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2015

Is there any way you can practice this in lab prior to the check off? This is kind of weirdly worded. I guess I can give you my experience with the skills check off (except we didn't state abnormals).

We were given a scenario regarding our pt. I was extremely lucky to have the diabetic pt who was being evaluated for a wound infection. The assessment required that I do vitals and then hunt for the wound. Once I found the wound, I had to measure it and state that information to the instructor.

As far as abnormals go, what BP reading does one get when a pt is considered hypotensive? What about hypertensive? What is the starting value for tachycardia? Tachypnea? Bradycardia? Bradypnea? Febrile? You can ask a patient if they are experiencing any pain but you MUST follow up with a question that gives you some way of measuring their pain so that you can reassess their pain level after intervention. So, as long as it is appropriate, the 1-10 scale is typically okay to use.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

apedrique · Mar 7, 2015

Yeah. I am waiting on a response. As for now, I want to have a back up plan.

Thanks for the help!

apedrique · Mar 7, 2015

Ours is set up oddly. The professor will place all students names in a hat and then she will draw pairs. We will be graded based on our skills performed to our partner. My chances of being paired with a Male with a nice LOUD blood pressure is 1:6. My odds aren't very good, but I will still pray! My biggest issue is all the noises coming from over 20 students while taking blood pressure. I am not sure how it will be on exam day, but I have 3 opportunities. I am assuming it won't be as stressful once I learn the ropes... hopefully.

babeinboots, MSN, NP, CNM · Mar 7, 2015

I think you know more than you think, don't psych yourself out. You stated that you know the normal ranges, the abnormal ranges are values that fall outside the normal range. For example if a normal heart beat is 60-100 bpm then you know anything less than 60 or greater than 100 is considered abnormal, with 59 and below being bradycardia and 101 or higher being tachycardia. Good luck!

virgo7598 · Mar 7, 2015

I know how nerve wracking skills test out can be; I just finished my vitals test out a few weeks ago! As far as abnormal ranges, I suggest looking at your textbooks for that. I got mine out of our Fundamentals of Nursing textbook. For pain assessment, I always say "Are you in any pain today?" if they are, then I'd say "On a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being no pain at all and 10 being the worst pain you've ever felt, how do you feel today?" Then from there you'd ask the PQRST questions. For verifying orders, we had to look at the electronic medical record for the "patient" during test out.

The main thing though is to practice as much as you can. We had vitals and oral med test out in one simulation. I can't even tell you how many hours I spent practicing during open lab hours. I even went on the weekends to practice.

Good luck!

Jenngirl34RN · Mar 7, 2015

You said you know the normal ranges for vitals. Anything above or below the normal range would be considered abnormal. You don't have to memorize everything that would be considered abnormal for skills testing.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2015

Good day:

Check with your professor(s) as previously shared. We were given the following:

Vital areas of concern: 10 32; 55 120; 90 170; 95 103; O2

SpO2

As well as the need to know the terminology of above, below, etc.

Thank you.

Mr. Murse · Mar 7, 2015

I'm a little confused as to why you're asking us what the normal ranges are......did you not get a text book or were not told in class?

Every question you asked should be in your book and/or presented in class.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

Ours is set up oddly. The professor will place all students names in a hat and then she will draw pairs. We will be graded based on our skills performed to our partner. My chances of being paired with a Male with a nice LOUD blood pressure is 1:6. My odds aren't very good, but I will still pray! My biggest issue is all the noises coming from over 20 students while taking blood pressure. I am not sure how it will be on exam day, but I have 3 opportunities. I am assuming it won't be as stressful once I learn the ropes... hopefully.

Um, please realize now that sex has nothing to do with how loud a person's BP is. I have little ol' ladies that have practically busted my eardrums and college level athletes who's sounds were practically non-existent. You just never know what you're going to hear

apedrique · Mar 8, 2015

Mr. Murse

There's an enormous amount of information in my textbook and notes. Some people use this website to assist one another on certain tasks to help save eachother time seeing as we all know how much work and time is spent in school. This way we can focus on the many other assignments we have. In addition, the vital signs skills check off could be performed in many different ways, so what is the problem getting insight from others who are further along in the program. The last thing i will address with you is how sad i find it that some people use this site as a way to help one another in a positive manner then there are those like yourself who feel entitled to give your unhelpful negative opinions. For what? Isnt it a waste of your time? Do you have nothing better to do? Clearly that isnt the case... thank you for your help anyhow.