VITAL SIGNS STEPS

1. Wash hands.
2. Knock on door and ask: May I come in?
3. Introduce myself: Hello, my name is, Im going to be the nurse
taking care of you today. Can I take a look at your band please?
Could you tell me your first and last name please? ok and your
DOB? ok.
4. Proceed to explain the procedures: Im going to take your vitals
in a moment, but first I would like to know if you have smoked
recently? ok, did you have any hot or cold beverage recently?
Ok, Are you in pain? Perfect.
5. Well Im gonna wash my hands, gather the supplies and Ill be
back with you in a moment. (At the same time check arm
circumference to determine cuff size)
6. GO wash hands again
7. Collect:
-Kidney dish
-Thermometer
-2 Thermometer sheaths
-Alcohol swabs
-Gloves
-Sphygmomanometer (appropriate cuff size)
-Stethoscope
8. Knock door again and ask: May I come in?
9. Proceed to explain the procedures more in detail: Well Im gonna
start by taking your temperature and then I will proceed to take
your pulse, respiration and blood pressure, is that ok?
10. Take thermometer, check that is below 96 F but shake anyways.
The small lines count as 0.2. Insert thermometer inside sheath
and ask: could you open your mouth please? And put it SL (under
the tongue).
11. Proceed to take the pulse and respiration for 1 min each. Make
sure the arm is resting on a table. If the patient is lying on a bed
then put arm across chest.
12. Keep measurements in mind and proceed to PUT ON GLOVES!!

13. Take thermometer off; retire the cover sheath, CHECK

TEMPERATURE!!! Put thermometer on kidney dish and proceed
to take off the gloves as learned. Drop gloves in trash and
PROCEED TO SANITIZE YOUR HANDS!!!!
14. Proceed to take BP. Explain: now Im gonna take your BP. Im
gonna pump up the cuff to get a base line, and then I will pump
up again a second time. Is that ok? With the alcohol swabs I
proceed to clean the earpieces and the diaphragm. The first step
is to establish a set point.
-Palpate brachial artery and align pressure cuff arrow with this
artery.
- Palpate radial artery and proceed to inflate the cuff. The moment
I stop feeling the radial pulse I STOP and take mental notice of the
measurement on the pressure manometer. Ex: 100. I add 30 to
that #, Ex 130 and that indicates the highest point to inflate the
cuff.
-Deflate the cuff fully and wait few seconds. Take those seconds to
ask: Are you ok, let me know if you feel any discomfort please.
15.
Place stethoscope in ears, relocate brachial artery and
place bell over it. (It cant touch the cuff)
- Close valve of pressure bulb clockwise until tight
-Inflate cuff to 30 mmHg above patient estimated systolic
pressure.
-Slowly release pressure valve.
16.
Start collecting everything back. Explain: Well thats gonna
be all for now. Before I leave, I would like to know if there is
something else I could do for you? Ok. Thank you for your time
Ms/Mr
17.
Put everything in place and WASH HANDS AGAIN!!!