[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › Vital signs and assessment

# Vital signs and assessment

How to measure temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and oxygen saturation correctly; pain and early-warning scales.

12 pages

## Procedure

- [**Capillary blood glucose testing** A fingerstick test measures glucose in a drop of blood from the side of a finger, with a…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/capillary-blood-glucose-testing/)

## Safe practice

- [**Cardiac monitoring at the bedside: leads, alarms and rhythm changes to report** Continuous monitoring shows the heart rhythm only if electrodes are placed well and every alarm…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/cardiac-monitoring-at-the-bedside-leads-alarms-and-rhythm-changes-to-report/)

## Assessment

- [**Counting respirations without the patient noticing** Breaths are counted right after the pulse, fingers still on the wrist, so the patient does not…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/counting-respirations-without-the-patient-noticing/)
- [**Early warning scores (NEWS2) and when to escalate** NEWS2 scores six vital signs plus oxygen use; the higher the total, the more urgent the response…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/early-warning-scores-and-when-to-escalate/)
- [**Measuring blood pressure correctly: cuff size, position and common errors** Blood pressure is measured with the right cuff size, the patient seated and rested, the arm…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/measuring-blood-pressure-correctly-cuff-size-position-and-common-errors/)
- [**Measuring body temperature: sites, devices and technique** Temperature is taken by the route that suits the patient best, with the right technique for that…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/measuring-body-temperature-sites-devices-and-technique/)
- [**Measuring the pulse: radial, apical and the pulse deficit** The pulse is counted with the finger pads over the radial artery for a full minute, and checked…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/measuring-the-pulse-radial-apical-and-the-pulse-deficit/)
- [**Neurological checks: level of consciousness, pupils and the Glasgow scale** Neuro checks repeat the same assessment (consciousness, orientation, Glasgow, pupils) at set…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/neurological-checks-level-of-consciousness-pupils-and-the-glasgow-scale/)
- [**Pain assessment scales: numeric, visual analogue, faces, behavioural (FLACC) and in dementia** Pain is measured first by what the patient says; if they cannot say, by a behavioural scale…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/pain-assessment-scales-numeric-visual-analogue-faces-behavioural-and-in-dementia/)
- [**Pulse oximetry at the bedside: placement and pitfalls** A pulse oximeter gives an estimate: it is reliable only on a warm, well-perfused site and read…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/pulse-oximetry-at-the-bedside-placement-and-pitfalls/)
- [**Vital signs in nursing: when, how often and how to record them** Nurses measure vital signs on admission, as often as ordered and whenever the patient changes…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/vital-signs-in-nursing-when-how-often-and-how-to-record-them/)
- [**Weight, height and daily weights** Daily weights are useful only if taken the same way each day: same scale, same time of day and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/weight-height-and-daily-weights/)

## A to Z

- [A](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/a/)
- [B](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/b/)
- [C](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/c/)
- [D](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/d/)
- [E](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/e/)
- [F](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/f/)
- [G](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/g/)
- [H](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/h/)
- [I](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/i/)
- [J](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/j/)
- [K](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/k/)
- [L](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/l/)
- [M](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/m/)
- [N](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/n/)
- [O](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/o/)
- [P](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/p/)
- [Q](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/q/)
- [R](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/r/)
- [S](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/s/)
- [T](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/t/)
- [U](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/u/)
- [V](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/v/)
- [W](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/w/)
- [Y](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/y/)

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Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order.

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/vitals/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/vitals/