8/12/2019 Measuring Vital Signs in Children

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THE NURSING ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE HEALTH OF ILL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

KEN MORALES ALCANTARA

MEASURING VITAL SIGNS

Temperature Pulse rate

Respiratory rate Blood pressure Pain assessment

TEMPERATURE

-normal values in children are thesame as in adults

Normal

Temp.

Description/

Indication

How to

perform

Rectal

99.6F/(37.6C)

-contraindicatedto newborns-used in rareoccasions

-insert athermometeronly to thelength of thebulb ( in.) ininfants & notover 1 in. in olderchildren, & holdit in 5 min.

Oral

98.6F/(37.0C)

-by 4 y/o,children areusually oldenough to closetheir mouth

-put the tip ofthe thermometerunder one side ofthe tongue &toward the back-have your childhold the thermo.in place w/ hislips & fingers(not teeth) for 3min

Tympanic

98.6F/(37.0C)

-ideal forchildren-register w/in 2seconds-may noteffective innewbornsbecause of the

vernix in theears

-insert the tip ofthermometergently into thechilds ear canal-to straightenthe ear canal:2 y/o: pull upthe pinna

Axillary

99.6F/(36.5C)

-most common

site

-place tip of

thermometer inthe axilla & holdthe childs arm

down to the sideuntil it registers

PULSE RATE

as children grow older, heart rateslows

if possible, measure PR/HR at rest

children3 years ofage

Explain the procedure, especially toyoung children

Systolic : sound first appears Diastolic: sound disappears Cuff used should be no more than

two-thirds & not less than the

length of their upper arm

Doppler UTZ BP recording isespecially effective w/ infants

Electronic BP monitoring is mosthelpful when continuous assessment isnecessary; its readings are typically 5mmHg higher for diastolic & 10 mmHg

higher for systolic When assessing BP, pay attention to

pulse pressure (difference betweensystolic and diastolic readings)

o Both>50 mmHg or