The Big Picture
Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and SpO₂ if possible. Measuring them helps detect changes in normal body function.
Vital-sign readings also give information about a client’s response to treatment and possible life-threatening events. Accurate measuring, recording, and reporting matter because even small changes in a client’s condition might appear in the readings.
Look for Nova Scotia CCA Notes throughout this page for current provincial guidance.
Quick tip: Tap, click, or press Enter on any term with a dotted underline and an ⓘ icon to see its plain-English definition.
Start Here If You’re Overwhelmed
Focus on these core ideas:
- Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and SpO₂ if possible.
- Many factors affect vital-sign readings, including illness, activity, medications, sleep, food, fluids, smoking, pain, and emotions.
- Unless otherwise ordered, measure vital signs while the client rests and lies down or sits.
- Compare new readings with the client’s baseline reading and previous measurements.
- Immediately report readings that changed from the previous measurement or fall above or below the normal range.
- Record the client’s name, date, time, and vital-sign measurement clearly and accurately.
Jump to:
Course Notes: Key Ideas You Need to Know
What Are Vital Signs?
Vital signs are temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and SpO₂ if possible.
Vital signs help detect changes in normal body function. They form part of the assessment process. Their readings also give information about response to treatment and possible life-threatening events.
What Affects Vital Signs?
Vital signs vary within certain limits. Many things affect the readings.
These include:
- medications
- pain
- illness
- activity and exercise
- sleep
- foods and fluids
- smoking
- emotions such as excitement, anger, fear, and anxiety
These factors matter when looking at changes in a client’s readings.
When Are Vital Signs Measured?
Vital signs are measured at different times depending on the client’s situation, condition, orders, and care plan.
They are measured:
- during physical examinations
- when a client is admitted to a facility
- several times a day for hospital clients and clients in subacute care units
- before and after surgery
- before and after complex procedures or diagnostic tests
- after certain care measures, such as ambulation
- after a fall or other injury
- when a client takes medication with the potential to affect the respiratory or circulatory system
- when the client reports pain, dizziness, light-headedness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, or not feeling well
- as often as the client’s condition requires
- as ordered by the doctor
- as stated on the care plan, usually daily or weekly
- as instructed after the client receives medication to relieve a fever
Accuracy Matters
Even small changes in vital signs matter because they might show a change in the client’s condition.
Safety: Measure, record, and report vital signs accurately.
If you are unsure whether your measurement is accurate, promptly ask your supervisor to take the measurement again.
Unless otherwise ordered, take vital signs while the client is at rest and lying down or sitting.
Compare Readings
Always compare each reading with the client’s baseline reading.
A baseline reading is the first recorded set of vital signs obtained from the client.
What to Report Immediately
Immediately report:
- any vital sign that changed from the previous measurement
- any vital sign above the normal range
- any vital sign below the normal range
The word immediately matters. These readings require prompt reporting.
Nova Scotia CCA Note
In Nova Scotia, the current Continuing Care Assistant Occupational Standards of Practice places vital-sign measurement within care plan application . A CCA measures vital signs, records the information, and follows documented escalation and reporting directions identified by a regulated healthcare professional . (novascotiacca.ca)
Sorrentino’s Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker, 5th Edition gives the general reporting rules above. Nova Scotia adds a role boundary: a CCA uses observational point-of-care assessment to notice changes and know when to escalate them, but does not perform the comprehensive assessment used to analyze information and make care-planning decisions. (novascotiacca.ca)
Why this matters in Nova Scotia: Measuring and reporting vital signs fits the CCA role, but the CCA follows the care plan and documented escalation directions rather than making the broader clinical assessment decision.
Official source: Continuing Care Assistant Occupational Standards of Practice
Last checked: September 16, 2026
Recording Vital Signs
Employers use different systems for recording vital signs.
A workplace might use:
- graphic flow sheets with vital signs graphed in red and blue ink
- books with pages divided into columns
- computer records
No matter which system the employer uses, the required information must be clear and accurate.
Record:
- the client’s name
- the date
- the time the vital sign was measured
- the vital-sign measurement
Some employers require changed or abnormal vital signs to be circled in red or highlighted in another way.
The nurse or physician then compares current and previous measurements.
Exam Clue Words
- Immediately: Report a vital sign right away when it changed from the previous measurement or falls above or below the normal range.
- Must: The client’s name, date, measurement time, and vital-sign measurement must be recorded clearly and accurately.
- Unless otherwise ordered: Measure vital signs while the client rests and lies down or sits unless different instructions apply.
- Always: Compare readings with the client’s baseline reading.
Fast Review
Focus on these facts when you need a quick review:
- Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and SpO₂ if possible.
- Medications, pain, illness, activity, exercise, sleep, food, fluids, smoking, and emotions affect vital-sign readings.
- Vital signs are measured in many situations, including examinations, facility admission, surgery, procedures, injuries, certain care measures, and changes in how a client feels.
- A baseline reading is the client’s first recorded set of vital signs.
- Unless otherwise ordered, take vital signs while the client rests and lies down or sits.
- Ask your supervisor to repeat the measurements promptly when you are unsure of their accuracy.
- Immediately report a reading that changed from the previous measurement.
- Immediately report vital signs above or below the normal range.
- Record the client’s name, date, measurement time, and vital-sign measurement clearly and accurately.
- Employers use different recording systems, but the client’s name, date, time, and vital-sign measurement must be recorded clearly and accurately.
Final Pep Talk
There are several times, rules, and reporting points to remember here. Focus first on baseline readings, accurate measurement, and the three situations that require immediate reporting, then build the smaller details around those core ideas.