How to measure and record vital signs to ensure detection of deteriorating patients

Carole Boulanger1, Marie Toghill

  • 1Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust.

Nursing Times
|January 13, 2010
PubMed

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Vital signs are physiological measurements that help key into the status of the body's essential functions. These include body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, commonly abbreviated as T, P, R, and BP. Some healthcare settings also consider oxygen saturation (SpO2) and, in specific contexts, pain and level of consciousness as additional vital signs.
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