Nursing Blog

The normal temperature varies by person, age, time of day, and where on the body the temperature was taken. The average normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). Your body temperature is usually highest in the evening. It can be raised by physical activity, strong emotion, eating, heavy clothing, medications, high room temperature, and high humidity. Daily variations change as children get older: In children younger than 6 months of age, the daily variation is small. In children 6 months to 2 years old, the daily variation is about 1 degree. By age 6, daily variations gradually increase to 2 degrees per day. Body temperature varies less in adults. However, a woman's menstrual cycle can raise temperature by one degree or more. For information on when to call a doctor due to specific temperatures and ages, see the article on fever.

Weight in pounds: Weight is another important factor where the health of children is concerned. Weight in pediatrics, especially of the newborns is recorded in pounds. So what is the normal range of weight for children? Here is an overview of the normal weight of an individual at each stage from birth to adulthood. Newborn: The normal weight of a new born is between 4.5 to 7 pounds. If its premature, then the weight can be lesser. Infant: An infant normally weighs between 9 and 22 pounds. Toddler: At this age usually children grow very rapidly. So the normal weight for a toddler is between 22 and 31 pounds. Pre-school children: Pre school children again, are at a stage where they grow very fast. So the normal weight for them could fluctuate anywhere around 14 and 18 pounds. School going children: School children are in a stage of flux. They are running around, doing a lot of physical activities and create trouble for their mothers! But on a serious note, school going children weigh som...

Heart Rate : Heart rate is always recorded in heart beats per minute. Too high or too low number of heartbeats per minute can be problematic. Check out what are the normal ranges of this vital signs on children and infants. Newborn: For a newborn, the heart rate is between 80 and 180. The average or the mean is 140. Infant: As the baby grow, the heart rate decreases. An infant has a heart rate of 70-170 heartbeats per minute and the mean is around 135. Toddler: Normal heart rate for a toddler is 90-150. There could be a slight variation, according to the constitution, which could mean that the mean heart rate for a toddler is 120. Pre-school children: In pre-school children, the heart beats per minute vary between 65 and 135. The mean heart rate for pre-school children is 110. School Children: Normal heart rate is for school going children is between 60 and 120. The mean fluctuates between 85 to 100 for pre-school children. From 12 years to adulthood: The individuals who a...

Respiratory Rate : Respiratory rate is a one of the very important pediatric vital signs. It checks the breaths of an individual per minute. Newborn: Ideally a new born should not be recording more than 30 to 60 breaths per minute. In case it is not, well, then, there could be a problem. Infant: An infant can be supposed to be normal if it is between 30 to 50 breaths per minute. Toddler: A toddler has a respiratory rate of 24 to 40 breaths per minute. Pre-school children: Pre school children have an even lower respiratory rate. The maximum breaths per minute school children have is around 35 and the least is 22 breaths per minute. School Children: A normal respiratory rate for the school children is even lesser. It is between 16 to 30 breaths per minute. From 12 years to adulthood: From 12 years and above, Adults have a respiratory rate of between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. Normal Respiratory Rate for Pediatric

Normal Systolic Blood Pressure for Pediatric This, in a layman's term is the lower limit of blood pressure. It is the blood pressure on the walls of the blood vessels when the heart chambers contract while driving the blood out of the heart. So lets check out age wise what should be the normal range of systolic blood pressure. Newborn: For a new born baby to be diagnosed as normal, the systolic blood pressure should be between 50 and 70 mm Hg. If its not, then, an alarm could probably ring in the doctor's mind. Infant: If an infant is the subject of a check up for systolic blood pressure, then, the normal range of blood pressure should be between 70 mm Hg. Toddler (1-3years): A perfectly normal systolic blood pressure for a toddler would be again in the same range as the infant, but a bit higher. Ideally it should be around 70-76mm Hg. Pre-school age: A child of a preschool age, that is between 3 to 5 years, is around 80 mm Hg. School Children: Children who are in the age group...

Orthostatic Vital Signs Orthostatic vital signs are a series of vital signs of a patient taken standing, supine and sometimes sitting to form a baseline for analysis and comparison. Used to identify orthostatic hypotension, orthostatic vital signs are commonly taken in triage medicine when a patient presents with vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain; with fever; with bleeding; or with syncope, dizziness or weakness. Orthostatic vital signs are not collected where spinal injury seems likely or where the patient is displaying an altered level of consciousness. Additionally, it is omitted when the patient is demonstrating hemodynamic instability, which term is generally used to indicate abnormal or unstable blood pressure but which can also suggest inadequate arterial supply to organs. Orthostatic vital signs are also taken after surgery. The process of taking orthostatic vital signs is also called a "tilt test". A tilt test is judged to be "positive" when the bl...