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Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us

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Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.8

6,919 reviews

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.8

6,919 reviews

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course

There are 6 modules in this course

The vital signs – heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, respiration rate, and pain – communicate important information about the physiological status of the human body. In this six-part course we explore the anatomy and physiology underlying the vital signs so that you will develop a systematic, integrated understanding of how the body functions. Relevant body systems are reviewed including cardiovascular and respiratory, followed by explanations of how the function of these systems affects vital signs. We discuss normal ranges, normal variants, and the mechanisms that underlie changes in the objective measurement of vital signs. The course also includes demonstrations of appropriate techniques for measuring vital signs in yourself and others.

The course is designed for a broad, general audience but will be particularly interesting for individuals working in healthcare, those considering a career as a healthcare professional, lay caregivers, those with an interest in personal health and fitness, or anyone who simply wants to understand how the body functions.

This week we start our exploration of the vital signs with a look at the heart. We'll study the basic structure of the heart, think about how the heart pumps blood through the body, and learn how clinicians assess and think about heart rate and the pulse.

What's included

10 videos3 readings1 assignment

10 videos•Total 104 minutes
  • 1.1 Basic Heart Anatomy •15 minutes
  • 1.2a Your Beating Heart •11 minutes
  • 1.2b ECG Demonstration •12 minutes
  • 1.3a Heart Valves, Part 1 •9 minutes
  • 1.3b Heart Valves, Part 2 •9 minutes
  • 1.3c Assessing Heart Rate Demonstration •8 minutes
  • 1.4a Cardiac Cycle, Part 1 •7 minutes
  • 1.4b Cardiac Cycle, Part 2 •13 minutes
  • 1.4c Assessing Pulse Demonstration •6 minutes
  • 1.5 Cardiac Output •13 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 1 Lecture Outline•10 minutes
  • Week 1 In-Video Quizzes•10 minutes
  • Lecture Transcripts (SRT Files)•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 1 Quiz•30 minutes

During week 2 we will learn about the anatomy of the blood vessels and how they function. You will have a better understanding of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and assessing blood pressure accurately.

What's included

6 videos3 readings1 assignment

6 videos•Total 65 minutes
  • 2.1 Introduction to the Blood Vessels •8 minutes
  • 2.2 Blood Vessel Structure •15 minutes
  • 2.3 Blood Circulation •10 minutes
  • 2.4a Maintaining Blood Flow •11 minutes
  • 2.4b Assessing Blood Pressure Demonstration •11 minutes
  • 2.5 Blood Pressure Regulation •9 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 2 Lecture Outline•10 minutes
  • Week 2 In-video Quizzes•10 minutes
  • Lecture Transcripts (SRT Files)•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 2 Quiz•30 minutes

This week we will explore metabolism. We will discuss anabolism and catabolism, basal metabolic rate, how the body generates heat. You will also have a better understanding of how health care providers assess metabolic rate.

What's included

5 videos3 readings1 assignment

5 videos•Total 53 minutes
  • 3.1 Introduction to Metabolism •13 minutes
  • 3.2a Cellular Respiration, Part 1 •6 minutes
  • 3.2b Cellular Respiration, Part 2 •13 minutes
  • 3.3 Assessing Metabolic Rate Demonstration •14 minutes
  • 3.4 Metabolic Lab Discussion•6 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 3 Lecture Outline•10 minutes
  • Week 3 In-video Quizzes•10 minutes
  • Lecture Transcripts (SRT Files)•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 3 Quiz•30 minutes

During week 4 you will learn the definition of mean body temperature and how the body regulates temperature. We will discuss hypothermia and the difference between hyperthermia and fever. Lastly, you will learn how to assess body temperature.

What's included

5 videos3 readings1 assignment

5 videos•Total 71 minutes
  • 4.1 Introduction to Thermoregulation•18 minutes
  • 4.2 Maintaining Body Temperature •15 minutes
  • 4.3 Hypothermia & Hyperthermia•18 minutes
  • 4.4 Fever•9 minutes
  • 4.5 Assessing Body Temperature Demonstration •10 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 4 Lecture Outline•10 minutes
  • Week 4 In-video Quizzes•10 minutes
  • Lecture Transcripts (SRT Files)•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 4 Quiz•30 minutes

This week we will learn about pulmonary anatomy, capillary gas exchange, and regulation of respiration. You will have a better understanding of how health care providers assess respiration rate and the quality of lung sounds.

What's included

8 videos3 readings1 assignment

8 videos•Total 87 minutes
  • 5.1 Basic Anatomy of the Respiratory System•11 minutes
  • 5.2 Anatomy of Ventilation•11 minutes
  • 5.3 The Mechanics of Breathing•10 minutes
  • 5.4 Gas Exchange •14 minutes
  • 5.5 Regulating Respiration Rate•22 minutes
  • 5.6 Assessing Respiration Rate Demonstration•7 minutes
  • 5.7 Regulating Respiration Rate Review •6 minutes
  • 5.8 Assessing Breath Sounds Demonstration•7 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 5 Lecture Outline•10 minutes
  • Week 5 In-video Quizzes•10 minutes
  • Lecture Transcripts (SRT Files)•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 5 Quiz•30 minutes

This week we will explore the neurological pathways associated with pain, and the difference between pain tolerance and pain threshold. We will understand what pain is telling us and why accurately assessing and effectively managing pain are important. In addition, we will review how healthcare providers asses pain.

What's included

8 videos3 readings1 assignment

8 videos•Total 86 minutes
  • 6.1 The Anatomy & Physiology of Pain, Part 1 •17 minutes
  • 6.2 The Anatomy & Physiology of Pain, Part 2 •10 minutes
  • 6.3 The Anatomy & Physiology of Pain, Part 3 •11 minutes
  • 6.4 Types of Pain •9 minutes
  • 6.5 Assessing Pain Demonstration •11 minutes
  • 6.6 Social, Cultural & Psychological Influences on Pain •11 minutes
  • 6.7 The Treatment of Pain •16 minutes
  • 6.8 Wrapping Up Vital Signs •1 minute
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 6 Lecture Outline•10 minutes
  • Week 6 In-video Quizzes•10 minutes
  • Lecture Transcripts (SRT Files)•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Week 6 Quiz•30 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.9 (1,897 ratings)
University of Pennsylvania
1 Course•439,632 learners

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Learner reviews

  • 5 stars

    86.26%

  • 4 stars

    11.60%

  • 3 stars

    1.50%

  • 2 stars

    0.28%

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Showing 3 of 6919

AS
·

Reviewed on Jun 19, 2024

This course was well instructed and included questioning that ensured the learner was engaged in the content. Dr. Skanga did an excellent job with the instruction and creation of this course.

JA
·

Reviewed on Oct 10, 2020

I really enjoyed the course. It looked at vital signs in a really different view from the traditional ways of looking at it and it was really informative. The practical sessions too were great. Nice!

SM
·

Reviewed on Aug 9, 2023

Remarkable course and great understanding develop from this course. But only bad thing is that the name is not mentioned on the course of the respective learner that's why i am gonna 4 stars

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