Download Article
Download Article
When you visit a loved one in the hospital, you're likely to find your eye drawn to the monitor at their bedside. If you're wondering what all those wavy lines, numbers, and abbreviations mean, you've come to the right place! Read on to learn how to read and understand the patient monitor so you'll know what all those values can tell you about your loved one's condition. And if you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask a doctor or nurse on duty.
Things You Should Know
- Read the numbers on the right-hand side of the monitor to learn the patient's pulse rate, body temperature, and blood pressure.
- Use the respiratory and oxygen saturation rates to keep tabs on the patient's breathing and circulatory system.
- Watch the waveforms for any signs of irregular heartbeat or breathing.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Visiting a loved one in the hospital can be an overwhelming experience. Remember to take breaks to recharge. Most hospitals also have counseling services available if you need to talk to someone. [15] X Research sourceThanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Avoid focusing too much on a single number. Doctors and nurses will look at the vital signs together and take the context into consideration. A single number out of normal range usually isn't cause for concern.Thanks
- If the monitor or another piece of equipment starts beeping, call a nurse to come and check it out. [16] X Research sourceThanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002341.htm
- ↑ https://www.columbiadoctors.org/treatments-conditions/vital-signs-body-temperature-pulse-rate-respiration-rate-blood-pressure
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/vital-signs-body-temperature-pulse-rate-respiration-rate-blood-pressure
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-does-sleep-affect-your-heart-rate-2021012921846
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22447-blood-oxygen-level
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/vital-signs-body-temperature-pulse-rate-respiration-rate-blood-pressure
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002341.htm
- ↑ https://www.columbiadoctors.org/treatments-conditions/vital-signs-body-temperature-pulse-rate-respiration-rate-blood-pressure
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002341.htm
- ↑ https://www.columbiadoctors.org/treatments-conditions/vital-signs-body-temperature-pulse-rate-respiration-rate-blood-pressure
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-pressure-test/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2214/
- ↑ https://www.nursespost.com/reading-a-patient-monitor/
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/vital-signs-body-temperature-pulse-rate-respiration-rate-blood-pressure
- ↑ https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Intensive-care-units-ICUs
- ↑ https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Intensive-care-units-ICUs
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 508,724 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "As I'm watching the monitor I'm better able to understand what's going on. And this article enabled me to do just that. Thanks for the info." ..." more
Advertisement