In the healthcare environment it is essential that many individuals know how to accurately perform a basic assessment of vital signs. Vital Signs is designed to help learners master the skills and knowledge necessary to complete temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure assessments.

This multimedia program stresses the development of psychomotor as well as cognitive skills. It includes basic information about the body systems involved, including normal readings, variations from normal, methods used to assess each vital sign, and detailed, step-by-step descriptions explaining how to perform the assessment techniques. Each vital sign is divided into four sections: basics, variations, measurement, and assessment.

Vital Signs includes descriptions of sites where vital signs can be assessed; explanations of variations in vital signs, including rate, rhythm, volume and sound disturbances; comparisons of various devices used to assess vital signs, including thermometers, stethoscopes, and sphygmomanometers; demonstration of oral, rectal, axillary and tympanic temperature readings; demonstrations of apical and radial pulse measurement; visualization and auscultation of respiration; mercury and aneroid manometer assessment of blood pressure; and practice in assessing each vital sign, including reading thermometers, counting apical and radial pulses, counting respirations and listening to blood pressures measured on mercury and aneroid manometers. Opportunities for practice, summaries, and quizzes are also included.

Identify the factors that influence vital signs.

Explain variations in vital signs and their significance.

Describe the equipment commonly used to measure vital signs.

Assess vital signs in a skills laboratory or clinical setting with assistance.