Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 18 Vital Signs, Height, and Weight 487 Chapter 18 Summary and Review Key Points Reviewing the key points for this chapter will help you practice more safely and competently as a holistic nursing assistant and will help you prepare for the certification competency examination. • Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. Vital signs provide information about health and the possible presence of a disease, infection, or injury. • Body temperature is a person’s body heat in degrees. • Pulse measures the pressure of blood against the wall of an artery as the heart beats it is an indicator of how well the cardiovascular system is working. • Rate of respirations is a measurement of breathing. It indicates the quality of gas exchange and the cycle of inhalation followed by exhalation in the lungs. • Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the body’s arterial walls. • Height and weight are used to determine medication dosage and nutritional status and can indicate overall health status. Action Steps to Holistic Care Review the information in this chapter. Complete the following activities. 1. With a partner, practice the procedure for measuring a radial pulse. Take turns practicing the procedure and evaluating each other’s performance. Note any steps in the procedure that your partner performed incorrectly or forgot. Afterwards, review the procedure to reacquaint yourself with any steps you may have performed inaccurately or forgotten. 2. Prepare a short paper or digital presentation describing how nursing assistants can ensure safe, accurate measurements when taking blood pressures. 3. With a partner, write a song or a poem about counting respirations. Include the normal adult range, when it is done, and actions to take if the rate is high or low. 4. Research the importance of a pulse oximeter for taking vital signs. Write a brief report describing three current facts not discussed in the chapter. Preparing for the Certification Competency Examination To prepare for the nursing assistant certification competency examination, you will need to know content found in this chapter. This content may be tested in the knowledge (written or oral) and skills (hands-on demonstration) portions of the exam. The following areas will be emphasized: • normal ranges of vital signs across the life span • purpose of taking vital signs and the factors affecting these measurements • ways of measuring and recording body temperature pulse (radial and apical), and respirations • use of a pulse oximeter • ways of measuring and recording blood pressure and any related precautions and contraindications • ways of measuring and recording height and weight • the importance of identifying and reporting abnormal findings These sample test questions are similar to ones you will find on the certification competency exam. See how well you can answer them. Be sure to select the best answer. 1. A nursing assistant took Mrs. G’s blood pressure this morning and found that it was 165/110 mmHg, much higher than yesterday’s measurement. What should the nursing assistant do next? A. take the blood pressure again and record only the second measurement B. take the blood pressure again and share both measurements with the charge nurse C. record only the blood pressure taken D. take blood pressure later in the day 2. Where should the stethoscope be placed for taking an apical pulse? A. above the diaphragm and sternum B. at the apex (bottom right) of the heart C. below the diaphragm and sternum D. at the apex (bottom left) of the heart 3. What is the medical term for high blood pressure? A. hypertension B. hypotachia C. hypotension D. hypertachia (continued) Reflective Journal Practice Exam