For well checkups: Length, Wt, FOC, Temp in 36 month olds and under
Height, Wt,Temp, BP, Vision (Snellen +
stereooptic testing) Audiometry in >36mo
For 11 yrs+, same + BP before a minute of
jumping jacks, at two minutes
post j. jacks and at 5 mins. post exercise
For sick visits I leave it up to my nurses, they know the parameters-
depending on what the illness is- with resp. illnesses they often will get
an SaO2 even before I ask for it because it's easier to get it while they
are in the triage area. The VS they most often forget to take is the RR
and I usually will document it myself if I see the child is tachypniec.
I'm not quite sure why they forget but the do even though I've often talked
about the importance of it as a measure of increased work of breathing.
For rechecks - the same, if the child is well with no new problems just a
Temp- I don't know why I even do that though.
----------
> From: Eve, Seth and Amina Switzer <>
> To: Pedtalk <>
> Subject: Vitals and such
> Date: Friday, July 03, 1998 11:56 PM
>
> Hello all - Happy 4th of July. I'm interested in knowing what sorts of
> vitals and measurements you get for all of your patients. Here's a
sample
> of what I am asking for in my office:
>
> acute/same day visits: temp, HR, RR, Wt, BP (if older than 2 yo)
> routine visits (well child exams): weight, height/length, FOC (under 2
> yo), visual screen (over 3
> yo), BP (over 2 yo)
> rechecks: Wt
>
> The reason I'm asking....the MOST frustrating thing about working in an
Air
> Force clinic is the poor staff support. We do not have nurses, but,
> instead, med techs that are airmen basics fresh out of high school.
> Completely unmotivated and uninterested in what they do. I FREQUENTLY
have
> to ask for things to be redone (i.e. a teenager with a BP of 200/130
> because they used the wrong sized cuff and didn't even notice!!). They
> frequently leave off vitals that I specifically ask for. I'm wondering
if
> I'm asking them for too much (obviously, I don't think so) and am
> interested in your comments. Also, because of the lack of motivation, I
> oftentimes have patients brought to the exam room late or not at all and
> have to run out front to ASK for patients to be put into my empty rooms.
I
> SHUDDER to think what this winter will be like. Suggestions?!?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Eve H. Switzer, M.D.
>
>
>
>
>
group.
>