Section 3.2 • Temperature, Pulse, Blood Pressure and Respiration

1. Match the words and definitions

1 fever     2 wrist     3 pulse rate     4 rhythm     5 blood pressure     6 sputum

a ___ the regular pattern of heartbeats
b ___ mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract
c ___ body temperature above normal
d ___ the joint between the hand and the forearm
e ___ the number of heartbeats per minute
f ___ the pressure of blood against the walls of arteries

2. Read and complete the observation chart

At 8 a.m., Nurse Emma checks Mrs Green’s vital signs. Her temperature is 38.4 °C. Her pulse is 96
beats per minute and regular. Her blood pressure is 128/78 mmHg. Her respiratory rate is 22 breaths
per minute. Mrs Green says, “I feel hot and tired. I have a headache and I don’t feel like eating.”
Emma records the measurements and reports the patient’s symptoms to the nurse in charge.

3. Check your understanding

Write T (true) or F (false). Correct the false statements.
1 ___ Mrs Green’s pulse is irregular.
2 ___ She reports loss of appetite.
3 ___ Emma measures how many times Mrs Green breathes in one minute.
4 ___ Emma records only the temperature.

4. Match the breathing terms

1 apnoea     2 dyspnoea     3 orthopnoea     4 shallow breathing
5 hyperpnoea     6 stertorous breathing

a ___ breathing that is not deep
b ___ noisy, snoring breathing
c ___ a period when breathing stops
d ___ difficulty breathing
e ___ increased depth of breathing, often with an increased rate
f ___ difficulty breathing when lying flat, relieved by sitting upright


5. Complete the nurse–patient conversation

Use each expression once: take your temperature • hold out your wrist •
roll up your sleeve • breathe normally • short of breath

Nurse: Good morning. I’m going to check your vital signs. First, I’ll (1) __________
Patient: All right.
Nurse: Could you (2) ____________________________________, please? I’ll check your pulse.
Patient: Like this?
Nurse: Yes, thank you. Now please (3) ____________________________________. I’ll measure your blood
pressure.
Patient: Should I hold my breath?
Nurse: No, please (4) __________________________________________________.
Nurse: Have you felt (5) _______________________________________________?
Patient: Yes, especially when I walk to the bathroom.