Vital Signs Calculator
Compares patient heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature with adult normal ranges.
Read more about the calculator variables in the text below the tool.
The vital signs calculator can be used to quickly compare patient clinical data with normal ranges for adult patients.
The tool is especially useful for emergency room assessments, as vital signs are often included in them.
The following are the normal value ranges for each of the vital signs:
■ Heart rate: 60 – 100 bpm;
■ Respiratory rate: 12 – 18 /min;
■ Systolic BP: 96 – 140 mmHg;
■ Diastolic BP: 60 – 90 mmHg;
■ Temperature: 36.3 – 37.2 Celsius.
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Steps on how to print your input & results:
1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.
2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.
Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.
Variables considered
The above tool incorporates five of the most commonly measured vital signs and offers an interpretation of their level compared to the normal limits.
The five signs are:
■ Heart rate: measured in beats per minute at the radial artery or carotid artery.
■ Respiratory rate: reported per minute and countable over 60 seconds.
■ Systolic blood pressure: measured in mmHg by a sphygmomanometer.
■ Diastolic blood pressure: measured in mmHg by a sphygmomanometer.
■ Temperature: reported in degrees Celsius, measured with a thermometer.
About vital signs
Vitals represent a group of up to six parameters, which offer information on the basic (life sustaining) functioning of body systems.
Most of these can be performed quickly, without the need of complicated equipment.
Monitoring is often used to check patient progress and vital signs are often included in more complex assessments, such as the National Early Warning Score.
Most vital signs vary with age and gender, weight or general health status.
Heart rate offers information on the rate at which the heart pumps blood through the arteries.
Respiratory rate is the most basic indicator of respiratory function.
Normal blood pressure values are around 120 mmHg for systolic and 80 mmHg for diastolic. Hypertension is established at values beyond 140 mmHg.
Temperature increases, specifically fever, are indicative of infection or inflammation. At admission it is important to establish a baseline for the patient’s normal temperature.
In some organization the above signs are accompanied by pain, as measured on a pain scale. In other settings, parameters that involve subject reporting are considered unreliable.
In some cases, other parameters are included, depending on the specialty the patient is treated in. These include:
■ Pulse oximetry;
■ Blood glucose level;
■ Shortness of breath;
■ Glasgow Coma Scale;
■ Functional status.
The normal values are introduced in the table below:
| Parameter | Normal values |
| Heart rate | 60 – 100 bpm |
| Respiratory rate | 12 – 18 /min |
| Systolic BP | 96 – 140 mmHg |
| Diastolic BP | 60 – 90 mmHg |
| Temperature | 36.3 – 37.2 Celsius |
References
1. Kyriacos U, Jelsma J, Jordan S. Monitoring vital signs using early warning scoring systems: a review of the literature. J Nurs Manag. 2011; 19(3):311-30.
2. Andersen LW, Kim WY, Chase M, Berg KM, Mortensen SJ, Moskowitz A, Novack V, Cocchi MN, Donnino MW; American Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines(®) – Resuscitation Investigators. The prevalence and significance of abnormal vital signs prior to in-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2016; 98:112-7.
3. Armstrong B, Walthall H, Clancy M, Mullee M, Simpson H. Recording of vital signs in a district general hospital emergency department. Emerg Med J. 2008; 25(12):799-802.
Specialty: Traumatology
Objective: Determination
Type: Calculator
No. Of Variables: 5
Article By: Denise Nedea
Published On: April 13, 2017 · 09:25 AM
Last Checked: April 13, 2017
Next Review: April 13, 2023