Vital Signs: Vital Signs: TemperatureTemperature

Health Science InternshipHealth Science InternshipC. ScrogginsC. Scroggins

Vital Signs: Everyone Needs Vital Signs: Everyone Needs ThemThem TemperatureTemperature PulsePulse RespirationsRespirations Blood PressureBlood Pressure T,P, R, & BPT,P, R, & BP

The 5The 5thth Vital Sign? Vital Sign?

Can you guess what this might Can you guess what this might be?be?

Answer: PainAnswer: Pain

Measurement ScalesMeasurement Scales

One to TenOne to Ten

Pain Faces rating scalePain Faces rating scale

Alteration in Vital SignsAlteration in Vital Signs

First indicator of change in First indicator of change in patient’s statuspatient’s status

Discuss how these may changeDiscuss how these may change Temperature Temperature RespirationsRespirations Pulse Pulse BPBP

Temperature: Physiology Temperature: Physiology ReviewReview Measurement---Balance Measurement---Balance

between heat lost & heat between heat lost & heat producedproduced

How is heat lost from our How is heat lost from our bodies?bodies?

AnswerAnswer

In humans---heat is lost via:In humans---heat is lost via: PerspirationPerspiration

RespirationRespiration

Excretion (urine & feces)Excretion (urine & feces)

Physiology Review continuedPhysiology Review continued

Heat productionHeat production

Body temp regulationBody temp regulation

Individual differencesIndividual differences

Temperature VariationsTemperature Variations

DiurnalDiurnal

LocationLocation

Normal ParametersNormal Parameters

Oral: 98.6 FOral: 98.6 F Normal range: 97.6 to 99.6 Normal range: 97.6 to 99.6

Rectal: 99.6 FRectal: 99.6 F Normal Range: 98.6 to 100.6 FNormal Range: 98.6 to 100.6 F

Parameters ContinuedParameters Continued

Axillary (under the armpit): Axillary (under the armpit): 97.6F97.6F Normal Range: 96.6--98.6 FNormal Range: 96.6--98.6 F

Groin: 97.6 FGroin: 97.6 FNormal Range: 96.6--98.6 FNormal Range: 96.6--98.6 F

Some More, Folks!Some More, Folks!

Aural / Tympanic (ear):Aural / Tympanic (ear): Why use the ear to measure Why use the ear to measure

temp? temp?

Temporal: 99.6 FTemporal: 99.6 F Normal range: 96.4—100.4 FNormal range: 96.4—100.4 F

Why is this site used?Why is this site used?

Table 6-1 TemperatureTable 6-1 Temperature

Most Common Sites: Simple Most Common Sites: Simple & Convenient& Convenient OralOral

Aural—do you remember where Aural—do you remember where this site is located?this site is located?

TemporalTemporal

Review of Medical Review of Medical TerminologyTerminology FebrileFebrile

AfebrileAfebrile

HypothermiaHypothermia

HyperthermiaHyperthermia

AccuracyAccuracy

Most accurate---rectal, aural, Most accurate---rectal, aural, temporaltemporal

Least accurate--axillaryLeast accurate--axillary

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Oral tempOral temp When should you not use this When should you not use this

method?method?

What might interfere with What might interfere with accuracy?accuracy?

Other DisadvantagesOther Disadvantages

Rectal tempRectal temp Contraindicated for use inContraindicated for use in

Cardiac PatientsCardiac Patients Rectal bleeding/ surgery/hemorrhoidsRectal bleeding/ surgery/hemorrhoids NewbornsNewborns

Disadvantage—Aural/Disadvantage—Aural/Tympanic (ear)Tympanic (ear) InsertionInsertion

TechniqueTechnique

It’s the Pits: Disadvantage of It’s the Pits: Disadvantage of Axillary Temp MeasurementAxillary Temp Measurement Measures variable skin surface Measures variable skin surface

temptemp

Altered by perspirationAltered by perspiration

Influencing factorsInfluencing factors

Those which increase temp:Those which increase temp: ExerciseExercise Environmental tempEnvironmental temp IllnessIllness InfectionInfection Excitement/ AnxietyExcitement/ Anxiety

More influencing factorsMore influencing factors

Those which decrease temp:Those which decrease temp: SleepSleep FastingFasting Cold exposureCold exposure Certain illnessesCertain illnesses Mouth breathingMouth breathing DepressionDepression

Think about itThink about it

Your 78 year old patient is Your 78 year old patient is recovering from hip surgery. recovering from hip surgery. His temporal temp in the early His temporal temp in the early morning is 100.5 F and he is morning is 100.5 F and he is very restless.very restless. what should you do?what should you do?

Try cooling measuresTry cooling measures Nothing, just watch itNothing, just watch it Call the healthcare providerCall the healthcare provider

Let’s DocumentLet’s Document

98.698.6 99.6 Rectal99.6 Rectal 97.6 Axillary97.6 Axillary 99.8 Temporal99.8 Temporal 100.2 Aural100.2 Aural