Vitals, signs that can tell a lot about a patient’s health are key variables examined before any nursing interventions. They consist of blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and breathing rate (Baker et al., 2020). Depending on state nurse practice laws, agency policies, and suitable training, vital sign acquisition for stable patients may be delegated to unlicensed support workers. However, it is always the nurse’s duty to assess vital signs and set up the proper follow-up in the event that irregularities are discovered.
Vital signs may alter as person ages based on a number of variables. Changes in one or more vital signs might result from certain medical issues. Vitals screening assists the healthcare professional in keeping track of the patient’s health and any aging-related medical problems. A significant illness that requires treatment or more medical attention may be present in a person whose vital signs are not within the usual range (Cross et al., 2019). These vital signs, however, may behave differently in older people due to drugs or age-related variables.
Even as people become older, their normal body temperature does not change. However, in some cases, their bodies have a more challenging time responding to changes in temperature. For instance, an elderly person may not sweat as much on a hot day, putting them at risk for heat stroke. Particularly in reaction to drugs they take, or if they engage in strenuous exercise, elderly people’s hearts may beat extremely quickly or slowly (Cross et al., 2019). It could also take some time for the heart at this age to slow down or speed up and return to its regular rhythm. Hypertension can also be a prevalent issue for older persons. In this situation, having a digital blood pressure monitor on hand at home all the time would be great. Blood pressure can readily vary in elderly adults with cardiac issues.
It is important to check vitals as the aging process progresses. These signs are key for determining critical conditions and health problems. Nowadays, with different technologies available, patients can get access to their vitals even easier. The patient can keep in touch with the vitals throughout the day using telemedicine, smartphone, or other technological advances. This will ensure healthy aging and reduce the chances of sudden issues.
References
Baker, S., Xiang, W., & Atkinson, I. (2020). Continuous and automatic mortality risk prediction using vital signs in the intensive care unit: a hybrid neural network approach. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-12.
Cross, R., Considine, J., & Currey, J. (2019). Nursing handover of vital signs at the transition of care from the emergency department to the inpatient ward: An integrative review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(5), 1010-1021.