Common Tools and Equipment in Taking Vital Sign Thermometer: Lesson 3

CAREGIVING 7/8
LESSON 3:
Common Tools and Equipment in Taking Vital Sign Thermometer
 When taking the vital signs of patients, it is important that you are knowledgeable and skilled in
each tool or equipment you are using. You need to get accurate results when taking vital signs like
body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and respiration.
 Monitoring the patient’s vital signs let you know his/her condition from time to time. It is likewise
necessary to inform patients about their vital sign results so that they will be responsive in taking
their medicines.
 The thermometer and Sphygmomanometer are used in taking and monitoring the vital signs of a
patient.
Thermometer
 It is an instrument that determines body temperature, which is the amount of heat the body
produces and loses
 Four Common Parts of The Body where body temperature determined:
1. Inside the mouth(oral)
2. Inside the anus(rectal)
3. Armpit(axillary)
4. inside the ear(tympanic)
Different type pf Thermometer

Clinical Thermometer- is inserted in the rectum
through the anus, mouth, where it is placed under
the tongue, and through the armpit.
Digital Thermometer- easily facilitates

the reading of temperature. This thermometer
displays the reading in LCD. It does not use
Mercury.
Digital ear Thermometer- used in taking

body temperature through the ear drum.
Parts of Digital Thermometers
Using a digital Thermometer
1
When taking armpit temperature using a digital thermometer, follow this procedure:
1. Prepare the thermometer
2. Inform the patient that you are going to take his/her body temperature.
3. Check the thermometer if it is free from damage or crack.
4. Wash your hands and clean the pointed end of the thermometer using alcohol or soap and water.
5. If the underarm of the patient is wet, pat it dry with clean towel.
6. Insert the thermometer into the patient’s underarm and place his/her arms across the chest or
abdomen.
7. Leave the thermometer in place for 10 minutes or until it beeps and signal that it has finished
taking the temperature.
8. Remove the thermometer carefully; wipe off the bulb with cotton and alcohol and read the
temperature on the digital display.
9. Record the temperature and place the thermometer in its container.
10. Wash and sanitize your hands
LESSON 4:
Common tools and equipment in taking vital signs (Sphygmomanometer)
 Aside from the thermometer, know too the sphygmomanometer, the appropriate apparatus
used in taking the patient’s blood pressure.
Sphygmomanometer
 A sphygmomanometer, also known as a blood pressure monitor, or blood pressure gauge, is
a device used to measure blood pressure.
 Blood Pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury and recorded in fraction. Blood
pressure is the result of different factors such as the pumping action of the heart, peripheral
vascular resistance and blood volume and viscosity.
 The figure will help you understand and know the different parts of the aneroid and mercury
sphygmomanometer
Parts of Parts of
Aneroid Sphygmomanometer Mercury Sphygmomanometer
Taking the Blood Pressure

Below is the correct procedure in taking the patient’s blood pressure.
2
1. Prepare and assemble the tools and equipment to be used such as the sphygmomanometer
(blood pressure cuff), stethoscope, anti-septic pad, etc.
2. Wash your hands and inform the patient that you are going to take his/her blood pressure.
3. Instruct the patient to lie down or sit on a chair, whichever is more comfortable for the
patient.
4. When using a mercury sphygmomanometer, the measuring scale must be within your eye
level.
5. Roll the sleeves of the patient’s clothes. Let your patient’s arm rest fully extended on the
bed or arm of a chair.
6. Unfold the cuff, release the valve and squeeze the cuff with your hands and eliminate air
completely.
7. Wrap the deflated cuff around the patient’s arm above the elbow, not too tight nor too
unattached.
8. Place the stethoscope appropriately. Disinfect the earpiece with alcohol. Insert the ear
attachments of the stethoscope in your ears. Using your fingertips, find your clients brachial
pulse at the inner part of the elbow, ventral side.
9. Twist the valve screw to close it. Pump the cuff until the sphygmomanometer reds the point
to 30 mm above the palpated systolic pressure.
10. Release the valve on the cuff carefully and let the pressure decrease at a rate of 2 to 3 mm
per second.
11. Deflate the cuff immediately and completely. Remove the cuff from the patients arm and
disinfect the ear pieces.
12. Return the equipment in their proper places.
 Normally the human body temperature is measured and determined based on the patient’s
age and the part of the body where it was taken. Table 1 show the appropriate temperature,
pulse, rate, respiration, and blood pressure based on age.
Appropriate vital signs per age

Oral Pulse (Average Respiration Blood
Temperatur and Rages) (Average and Pressure
Age e in degrees Ranges) (mm Hg)
Celsius
Newborn 36.8 130 (80-180) 35 (30-80) 73/55
1 year 36-8 120 (80-140) 30 (20-40) 90/55
5-8 37 100 (75-120) 20(15-25) 95/57
10 years 37 70 (50-90) 19(15-25) 102/62
Teen 37 75 (50-90) 18-(15-20) 120-80
Adult 37 80(60-100) 16 ()12-29 120-80
Older 37 70 (60- 100) 16 (15-20)
Adult (70)

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CAREGIVING 7/8

Different type pf Thermometer

Digital Thermometer- easily facilitates

Digital ear Thermometer- used in taking

Parts of Digital Thermometers

Using a digital Thermometer

Taking the Blood Pressure

Appropriate vital signs per age

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