Which vital signs are routinely monitored in PMU settings?

• A. Temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation
• B. Temperature only
• C. Blood pressure and pulse
• D. Height and weight

Answer: (A)

Vital signs give a quick snapshot of how the body is functioning, and in PMU settings you want a complete, ongoing picture. The five routinely monitored signs—temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation—cover the main systems that can change with illness, stress, or treatment.

Temperature tracks fever, infection, inflammation, or environmental influences. Heart rate reflects how the heart responds to pain, anxiety, dehydration, medications, or possible rhythm problems. Blood pressure shows perfusion to organs and helps guide fluid management and medication decisions. Respiratory rate is a sensitive early indicator of breathing problems or metabolic shifts, often changing before other signs. Oxygen saturation reveals how well the blood is being oxygenated, signaling hypoxemia that may need supplemental oxygen or airway support.

Together, these five provide a comprehensive, practical monitoring set; height and weight are useful data points but do not tell you about the patient’s current physiologic status in real time.