Clinical exam · General exam and vital signs
Vital signs: what they are and how to record them !
- Topic
Temperature, pulse, breathing and blood pressure: four numbers that show how the body is working right now.
Updated 2026-11-01
See it in 3D: Radial artery · Brachial artery
What it is
Vital signs are the basic measurements of body function: temperature, heart rate (pulse), respiratory rate and blood pressure. Oxygen saturation and pain are often added. Their value lies in the trend: a single reading says little, a series shows whether the patient is improving or worsening. They are taken on admission, with every change in condition and as often as the unit's protocol requires.
Key facts
- Temperature: 36.5 to 37.3 °C (average 37 °C); fever from 38 °C.
- Heart rate: 60 to 100 beats per minute.
- Respiratory rate: 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
- Blood pressure: about 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg.
- Oxygen saturation: 95 to 100% on room air.
- Pain: recorded with a validated scale (0 to 10 in adults).
Step by step
- Review previous readings, history and orders on frequency and call-out parameters.
- Gather equipment: thermometer, watch with a second hand, stethoscope, oximeter and a sphygmomanometer with the right cuff.
- Identify the patient, explain, clean your hands and let the patient rest for a few minutes.
- Take the temperature and note the route (oral, axillary, tympanic, rectal).
- Count the pulse and then, fingers still on the wrist and without saying so, count breaths by watching the chest.
- Measure oxygen saturation and ask about pain with a scale.
- Take blood pressure last and record everything with the time, site and method.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Why are breaths counted without telling the patient?
Because a patient who knows they are being watched unintentionally changes the rate and depth of breathing.
What is done with an abnormal blood pressure reading before reporting it?
Repeat it with correct technique, ideally also in the other arm, and assess the patient for symptoms.
What is the normal resting heart rate in an adult?
Between 60 and 100 beats per minute; trained athletes may have 40 to 60 without disease.
What details should accompany a recorded temperature?
The value with its unit, the route used (oral, axillary, tympanic or rectal) and the time of measurement.
See it in 3D
The structures of Durgical's 3D anatomy where it is found.
Related
- Body temperature and fever patterns
- Arterial pulse: rate, rhythm and amplitude
- Respiratory rate and breathing patterns
- Blood pressure measurement
- Pulse oximetry
- Pain assessment and pain scales
- Early warning scores: NEWS2 and qSOFA
- Vital signs in children: how they change with age
Related conditions
Educational content on the clinical exam; it is learned and practised under supervision. It does not replace assessment by a health professional and is not for self-diagnosis.
Sources: Vital signs: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus), 2025); 7.1 Indicators of Physiologic Functioning - Fundamentals of Nursing | OpenStax (OpenStax, Rice University, 2024); 15.3 Vital Signs - Clinical Nursing Skills | OpenStax (OpenStax, Rice University, 2024).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.