Unit 314: Undertake Physiological Measurements

Course: Adult Care     Level Qualification: Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care                     Unit 314 Undertake physiological measurements   Unit Type: Optional

Physiological
measurements
Version 1: 2015/16
This workbook is to help with understanding of Physiological measurements.
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Please answer the questions in the boxes provided.
Understand relevant legislation, policy and good practice for
undertaking physiological measurements.
Q1. Describe current legislation, national guidelines, organisational policies and
protocols affecting work practice
Current Legislations
The current legislations that affect work practices consist various acts such as
Equality Act 2010, Data Protection Act 2018, Control of Substances hazardous
to Health regulations 2002, Health & social care Act 2012 and The care act
2014. It also includes The Medical Devices Regulations 2002, safeguarding
vulnerable group act 2006 and Mental Health Act 2007.
National Guidelines
The national guideline consist effective factors which should be considered like
respect & dignity, safety, safeguarding from abuse, drink & food, equipment &
premises, complaints, good governance, duty of candour, person centred care
as well as obey ethical principles (Kukolja and et. al., 2014).
Organisational policies & protocols
The policies & protocols includes clinical audit process, data quality
management procedure, assessment & management of self harm action, Risk
assessment, consent to treatment logical argument, maintenance of devices
procedure, transfer, closure as well as discharge of medical scenarios process
along with records of health information examination process.
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Understand the physiological states that can be measured
Q1. Explain the principles of blood pressure to include:
-blood pressure maintenance
-differentiation between systolic and diastolic blood pressure
-normal limits of blood pressure
-conditions of high or low blood pressure
Blood pressure maintenance refers to precautions in daily life such as eat less salty diet,
maintenance of healthy body weight, improve physical exercise routine, reduce intake of alcohol,
ignore smoking, maintain condition of stress intake nutritive food items, medication if required
etc.
Systolic blood pressure occurs at the time of pushing blood outside from heart whereas diastolic
blood pressure take place at the duration of rest of heart among beats (Nagy and et. al., 2014).
Normal limits of blood pressure is known to be in between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.
High blood pressure is considered around 140/90mmHg or higher whereas low blood pressure is
approximately 90/60mmHg or lower.
Q2. Explain the principles of body temperature, to include:
-body temperature maintenance
-normal body temperature
-pyrexia, hyper-pyrexia and hypothermia
Body temperature maintenance is carrying out a pat of brain known as hypothalamus by
evaluating current temperature of body and ensure heat generation to maintain normal body
temperature.
Normal body temperature is known to be 37°C
Pyrexia can be described as a condition which raise high body temperature than normal one i.e.
37°C .
Hyper-pyrexia is known as situation of very high fever that is more than 41.5°C.
Hypothermia refers to a condition when body temperature falls below the safe level and it can be
fatal (Messerschmidt and Brown, 2015).
Q3. Explain the principles of respiratory rates, to include:
-normal respiratory rates
-factors affecting respiratory rates in ill and well individuals
The normal respiratory rate is around 12 to 20 breathes at rest for an adult.
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There are number of components that are responsible for affecting respiratory rates in sick people
that includes dehydration, overdose, acidosis, heart conditions, hyperventilation, lung conditions,
asthma,fever and and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Factors that impact on
respiratory rate of well individuals like running, weight lifting, climbing stair, tracking and stress
(Al-Ali, Kiani and Weber, 2016).
Q4. Explain the principles of pulse rates, to include:
-normal pulse rates limits
-factors affecting pulse rates-raising or lowering
-pulse sites on the body
-the requirement for pulse oximetry
-analysis and implication of pulse oximetry findings
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Normal pulse rate is considered to be between 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm).
Factors affecting pulse rate includes temperature of body, The terrain, dehydration, diminishing
stores of glycogen, inappropriate sleep & nutrition, recent sickness, medicines and anxiety &
emotions.
Pulse sites
Radial pulse on thumb & wrist, carotid pulse on side of neck, brachial pulse found in inner elbow,
temporal pulse located at the temple, femoral is in groin area, popliteal at back of knee, dorsalis
pedis is felt on top of the foot and apical pulse is found near the apex of the heart.
Pulse oximetry is known as non invasive as well as painless test to measure oxygen saturation
level in blood. It is required to evaluate proper functioning of heart of pumping oxygen throughout
the body. It is used to monitor pulse rate in certain condition like pneumonia, lung cancer,
anaemia, heart attack, Asthma, congenital heart defects and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (Lamego and et. al., 2014).
Analysis of pulse oximetry findings consist to ensure that lung medicinal drug is working properly
and assess requirements of assistance breathing. It is helpful to analyse actual requirements of
patient to provide immediate medical facilities and ensure proper effects of medications on
condition of an individual.
Q5. Explain the principles of Body Mass Index (BMI) in relation to weight/dietary control
BMI (Body mass index) can be described as an estimate of entire fat of body based on on height
and weight which can facilitate to identify that a person has an unhealthy or healthy weight (Al-Ali,
Kiani,and Weber, 2014).
Dietary control on relation of BMI can be done through taking several steps including avoid junk
food, ignore temptation, count calories, plan meals in advance, add minutes to plan of physical
exercise, fight for hunger with more filling foods, include dairy in diet and weigh daily to main
entire body weight.
Q6. Explain the major factors that influence changes in physiological measurements
Major factors
Genetic conditions – This consist several individuals having elevated levels of blood pressure &
who is otherwise normal than family history of hypertension should be considered by care
professionals while conducting physiological measurements.
Environmental factors – It includes hot weather corresponds with sweating and thus leads to
electrolyte imbalance and water loss.
Dietary factors – Reading of blood sugar level taken immediately after eating sweets will definitely
have greater value than random blood sugar evaluation.
Accuracy of measuring equipment – The inappropriate condition of machine is responsible for
changing physiological measurements especially in case of ECG (Al-Ali, 2015).
Other factors – This consist absence or presence of noxious stimulus, white coat hypertension and
so on.
Q7. Explain the importance of undertaking physiological measurements
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The physiological measurements includes evaluation of body temperature, blood pressure, heart
rate, respiration rate and weight. It can be considered as significant because of it is helpful to
determine presence of different health problems and their relevant causes. However, determining
issue and their causing factors are important to provide appropriate medication and treatment for
well being of an individual. Moreover, physiological measurements also provide support to ensure
that given medicines or applied clinical practices are sufficiently effective for specific patient or not
to solve particular disease.
Be able to prepare to take physiological measurements
Q1. How would you explain to the individual what measurements will be undertaken and why these
are done?
The prescription can be provided to an individual for conducting required physiological
measurements including certain diagnosing procedures like ECG EEG, CT Scan or MRI and
communicate their importance to them. It is necessary to make patient understand about
significant of these measurements for their well being and improve their comfort level to
cooperatively conduct specific diagnosing procedure. Moreover, pathologist must provide
information to a person about process of diagnosis and make them comfortable for the same
(Lamego and Kiani, 2014).
Q2. How would you reassure the individual during the physiological measurements process?
The individual can be reassured by presence of their family members inside the clinical room at the
time of carrying out physiological measurement process. It is essential to make the environment
more comfortable by communicating to close eyes during the process which reduce fear of patient
and easily complete it. For example, physicians can communicate that a person should lay down
on the table which will slightly move and they should remain their eyes closed during CT Scan
process which can reduce fear of an individual and complete the procedure easily.
Q3. What questions and concerns may you be asked during the physiological measurements
process?
The questions and concerns asked during physiological measurements consist the important and
need of particular process for treating specific heath problem of an individual. It includes that
people asks about respective benefits if particular physiological measurement procedure.
However, individuals has a concerns regarding any kind of pain or injury during the entire process
(Al-Ali and Kiani, 2015). It is important to reduce their fear and make them comfortable about
diagnosing activity to complete it along with gaining proper outcomes for further decision making
of effective treatment.
Q4. Explain the help individuals may need before taking their physiological measurements
The individuals need morale support and confidence to participate in particular physiological
measurement process which can be fulfil by proper communication of care professionals or
pathologist. It is necessary to provide information about the entire procedure to reduce their fear
and make them morally strong to cooperate properly for attaining accurate outcomes. Meanwhile,
professionals are required to help people by clarifying their overall doubts and concerns related to
particular physiological measurement process and make them confident to undergone for the
same.
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Q5. Explain why it may be necessary to adjust an individual’s clothing before undertaking
physiological measurements
The adjustment of clothing is important before carrying out physiological measurements to avoid
mistakes and gain accurate outcomes as information about present medical condition of an
individual. It is necessary to adjust clothing to clearly observe the specific body part to be
diagnosed and gain appropriate information regarding specific concern to make accurate decision
of providing more effective treatment. However, it will facilitate to reduce change of occurring
risky conditions & mistakes along with achieving better patient outcomes respectively (Lamego,
Diaba nd Al-Ali, 2015). For example, when X-ray process conducted then a person should wear a
thin cloth so that rays can reach the each section of particular part that can be clearly visible on
resultant film to evaluate respective injury or problem to be treated.
Q6. Ensure all materials and equipment to be used are appropriately prepared, how would you do
this?
Healthcare technology management term is used for professionals who are liable for managing
operations, analysis as well as enhancement of utilisation for supporting servicing healthcare
technology. They are liable for maintaining appropriate state of repair by which risks of injury can
be avoided. Compatibility of devices must be ensured, they must be tested before they are being
used, they must be maintained and serviced. Power cables must be routed in an appropriate
manner so that are not damaged and protection devices must be also placed in case if any kind of
misshapenness takes place. The equipments must be upgraded with time rather than using the
same devices for longer frame as their functionality may be hindered.
Q7. Confirm the individual’s identity and obtain valid consent
The confirmation of individual's identity is very important to make sure about their actual status
that helps to ensure that they do not have any kind of illegal concern from which they get injured.
It is necessary for overall healthcare organisations to considered a patient by depositing their
identity proof and maintain record of Xerox copy of the same for further purposes (Kranjec and et.
al., 2014). However, many times, patient has criminal record or they run away from policy custody
then identity proof helps them to catch them again.
Be able to take physiological measurements
Q1. How would you apply standard precautions for infection prevention and control?
The standard precautions can be applied by making related policies of organisation in order to
prevent and control the infections. It includes various standards precautions that can be applied
such as prevention of sharps & needle stick injury, disinfection & cleaning, respiratory hygiene
(etiquette of cough), disposal of waste, secure injection practices, maintaining hand hygiene and
personal protective equipment (PPE). However, these practices should be focussed by care
professionals while conducting various clinical procedures including physiological measurements
for prevention and control of infections. Moreover, standards precautions can be put into
organisational policies so that they can be followed by every medical practitioners in proper
manner.
Q2. How would you apply health and safety measures relevant to the procedure and environment?
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Health & safety measures are very important to be considered while conducting procedure of
physiological measurements. It requires several principles that can be considered to apply health
& safety measures including planning, making the workplace safe, use appropriate equipment,
working as planned and final check. Planing consist scope of the task, risk assessment, permits to
work out & lock out systems, time & resources and adequate training to employees to use
equipments for physiological measurements.
Q3. Which appropriate equipment would you select and use at the prescribed time and in which
prescribed sequence to obtain an accurate measurement?
The equipments can be selected according to prescription and complexity of specific health
problem of an individual. For example, if an individual is facing fits problem and then physician
prescribe to conduct CT Scan then pathologist should use advanced technological CT Scan
machine by ensuring its proper condition. However, it is essential to conduct physiological
measurement of brain of patient to determine the cause of occurring fits with them. It is required
to take desired duration of time to carrying out whole process along with making sure safety of an
individual.
Q4. How would you monitor the condition of the individual throughout the measurement process?
Monitoring the condition of an individual can be done by keeping them under observation and
checking their pulse rate and temperature to analyse their actual situation. It consist to perform in
a team while conducting physiological measurement procedure to deal with emergency situation
that may occur during the whole process. However, it is required to focus on overall general
measurements like respiratory rate, pulse rate, temperature and other problems like pain or
anxiety to monitor the condition of an individual.
Q5. How would you respond to any significant changes in the individual’s condition?
The medical condition of an individual may change any time during physiological measurement
process because of not providing proper treatment to them. It is necessary for pathologist to
remain a prepared for emergency situations so that they can deal with the same in correct way.
Meanwhile, it is required to ensure stable condition of a person before starting the diagnosing
process and provide immediate short term treatment for wellness of patient. Moreover, it is
essential to refer an individual to nearest healthcare organisation in response to specific changes
in their condition to improve health properly.
Q6. How would you follow the agreed process when unable to obtain or read a physiological
measurement?
The condition may occurs often when a physician is not able to obtain or read physiological
measurement then symptoms of particular health problem is helpful to make further decision.
Care professionals take appropriate decision of providing particular treatment or medication
according to visible signs of disease to make patient feel relived from them. Basically, if
physiological measurement is not able to read then physicians directly constant to pathologist and
take information verbally from then about an individual to provide proper treatment for their well
being (Al-Ali and et. al., 2015). Moreover, if condition is more complex and not easy to deal with
symptoms then further diagnosis will be conduct and prefer most advanced diagnosing process to
determine actual cause of health issue to solve it accurately.
Q7. How would you identify any issues outside your own responsibility and refer these to other
colleagues?
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Healthcare organisation has a criteria of tasks conduct by professionals according their position
and specialisation. It consist that nursing staff should take care of patients regularly and specialist
physicians should visit twice a day in patient wards to observe conditions of every individual and
ensure their condition. However, if pathologist has been passed away from a ward and observe
critical condition of particular person then they can verbally convey the same to respective in
charge nursing staff to take immediate actions. Moreover, a care professional can verbally convey
relevant information to respect colleague about specific patient for their well being.
Be able to record and report results of physiological measurements
Q1. Explain the necessity for recoding physiological measurements
The recording of physiological measurements is necessary to analyse actual cause of particular
health problem to provide proper treatment. It is important to maintain records of patient data
for future perspectives and it is helpful to understand about improvements in medical situation of
an individual. Basically, these records are supportive to make proper decision in future when
patient is unconscious to make them stable. Meanwhile, these records help to determine chance
of occurring risky conditions that can be prevent by taking precautions to make an individual
healthy. Moreover, patients records of physiological measurement plays an important role in
various future aspects.
Q2. Explain a few common conditions which require recording of physiological measurements
There are various kinds of health problems which requires primary physiological measurements
initially to provide medication for wellness of an individual, it consist number of some condition
that require recording of physiological measurement such as heart problem, stroke, diabetes, high
or low blood pressure, poor eye sight, weight loss or obesity in order to maintain stable situation
of an individual. However, these health issues are responsible to occurrence of sudden changes in
pulse rate, temperature, respiratory rate etc. which should be record to maintain proper healthy
situation of a patient.
Q3. How would you demonstrate the correct process for reporting measurements that fall outside
normal levels?
The process of reporting measurements that fall outside the normal levels includes to conduct
required check ups of an individual in sort period of of time to make records. It is required to
provide information regarding fall of measurements than normal levels immediately to the
respective specialist in order to provide proper treatment for patient to make them stable.
Meanwhile, nursing staff is required to check pulse rate, blood pressure and temperature to make
their records for further medication that is sufficient to make people completely well being.
Q4. Show how you would record physiological measurements taken accurately using the correct
documentation
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The physiological measurements includes to measure vital signs, blood pressure, respiratory rate,
pulse rate, temperature, blood oxygen saturation, body mass index and pain. These all should be
measured and mentioned in records with their proper interpretation so that this recorded data
make sense of making further decisions. However, it is essential to mention date and time of
taking measurement along with mentioning criterion of measurement after or before taking meal
& medication to understand actual condition of patient.
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References
Books and journals
Al-Ali, A. and et. al., 2015. Physiological parameter system. U.S. Patent Application 14/507,415.
Al-Ali, A. and Kiani, M.J.E., Cercacor Labs Inc, 2015. Physiological monitor calibration system. U.S.
Patent Application 14/666,126.
Al-Ali, A., Kiani, J.E. and Weber, W.M., Cercacor Labs Inc, 2014. Configurable physiological
measurement system. U.S. Patent 8,634,889.
Al-Ali, A., Kiani, M.J.E. and Weber, W.M., Cercacor Labs Inc, 2016. Configurable physiological
measurement system. U.S. Patent 9,241,662.
Al-Ali, A., Masimo Corp, 2015. Wrist-mounted physiological measurement device. U.S. Patent
9,113,832.
Kranjec, J. and et. al., 2014. Non-contact heart rate and heart rate variability measurements: A
review. Biomedical signal processing and control, 13, pp.102-112.
Kukolja, D. and et. al., 2014. Comparative analysis of emotion estimation methods based on
physiological measurements for real-time applications. International journal of human-
computer studies, 72(10-11), pp.717-727.
Lamego, M., Diab, M.K. and Al-Ali, A., Cercacor Labs Inc, 2015. Physiological parameter confidence
measure. U.S. Patent 9,167,995.
Lamego, M.M. and et. al., 2014. Cloud-based physiological monitoring system. U.S. Patent
Application 14/203,243.
Lamego, M.M. and Kiani, M.J.E., Cercacor Labs Inc, 2014. Wireless optical communication between
noninvasive physiological sensors and patient monitors. U.S. Patent Application
14/206,779.
Messerschmidt, R.G. and Brown, C.D., Avolonte Health LLC, 2015. Obtaining physiological
measurements using a portable device. U.S. Patent 8,988,372.
Nagy, P. and et. al., 2014. Chemical aspects of hydrogen sulfide measurements in physiological
samples. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-General Subjects, 1840(2), pp.876-891.
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