Module 3: Vital Signs & Patient Intake
Measure vital signs accurately enough for clinical decisions to rest on them, and take a history that captures what the patient is actually experiencing.
What You'll Learn
- Correct technique for each vital sign and the expected adult ranges
- The technique errors that produce inaccurate readings, and their direction
- Which readings require immediate escalation
- Open, closed, and clarifying questions, and why leading questions mislead
Real-World Scenario
You take a blood pressure with an undersized cuff, over a sleeve, with the patient's arm hanging down and their legs crossed. The reading is 152/94, and a provider who trusts it may treat hypertension the patient does not have. Every one of those four errors pushes the number up.
Lessons
Complete each lesson in order. Watch the video, review the notes, and finish the challenge.
Measuring Vital Signs Accurately
Take temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation correctly, and recognize what falls outside expected ranges.
Patient Intake and Medical History
Gather an accurate history, use open and closed questions well, and document what the patient actually said.