5 Basic Comprehension of Lab Values and Vital Signs
Understanding normal values for vital signs is helpful when determining if a patient is medically stable for therapy. Abnormal resting vital signs may indicate modifying or deferring intervention on a given day.
Vital Signs Guidelines
Resting Values:
- Heart Rate: (HR) 50-120 bpm
- Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP): 80-180
- Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP): 40-110 mmhg
- SpO2: > 90%
- Respiratory Rate: 12-20bpm
If you mobilize a patient whose vital signs fall outside of the “normal” parameters, treatment should be terminated if any of the following symptoms are observed:
- Dizziness not resolved within 60 seconds of obtaining an upright posture
- Increase in patient’s HR of 30bpm over baseline
- A change in the patient’s systolic blood pressure of 30mmHg or a change in the diastolic blood pressure of 10mmHg
- Blurred vision
- Dilated pupils
- Anginal pain
- Shortness of breath
Consider the following:
- What is the trend in vitals over the last 24 hrs?
- Is the patient asymptomatic?
- Are there other factors involved, like pain, low hemoglobin, sepsis, or medications?
- Could interventions provided by nursing help with evaluation and treatment (i.e pain meds, BP meds, suctioning, position change, anti-anxiety meds)?
- Is the patient’s BP indicating Orthostatic Hypotension?
- Defined as a decrease in SBP of 20mmHg or more; DBP of 10 mmHg or more within 3 minutes of standing up
- Measure HR and BP with 2-3 min between positional changes: Supine, Sitting, Standing