Checking and assessing vital signs

Correctly measuring blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation, temperature and level of consciousness — and above all assessing and passing them on correctly.

Content created with AI assistance from public clinical sources (RKI, AWMF) – may contain mistakes; if in doubt, your textbook is right

Translated from the German original, which is authoritative. The exam itself is in German.

Material

• Blood pressure monitor with a cuff of the right size, stethoscope
• Watch with a second hand, pulse oximeter, thermometer
• Documentation sheet or chart (Kurve), early warning score if used

Typical mistakes in the exam

• Measuring blood pressure on the shunt arm
• Counting the pulse for only 15 seconds when the rhythm is irregular
• Estimating the respiratory rate instead of counting it
• Documenting abnormal values but not reporting them

What examiners ask afterwards

• Which values do you report immediately, and how do you word the report?
• Why is the respiratory rate such an important early warning parameter?
• What does an SpO2 of 89 % mean in a person with COPD?

Sources

• Deutsche Hochdruckliga: Empfehlungen zur Blutdruckmessung
• Royal College of Physicians: National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2