Sister

Consider the algorithm for measuring human height as one of the basic skills that a nurse should have. Height measurement is one of the measuring methods of anthropometry. The purpose of this process - diagnostic - is to assess the physical development or dynamics of the patient's condition.

Indications for measuring height:

• control over the physical development of the patient (child, adolescent, adult);
• endocrinological diseases (obesity, osteoporosis, impaired pituitary functions);
• admission of the patient to the hospital;
• doctor's appointment.

Equipment for measuring height:

• height meter vertical;
• clean oilcloth;
• container with disinfectant;
• gloves;
• rags for disinfection of the stadiometer and oilcloth;
• everything you need to fix the result: accounting documentation, a writing pen, if necessary - a computer.

Before measuring height, we ask the patient to take off their shoes and headgear without fail.

The algorithm for measuring the patient's height has 3 stages.

Stage I. Preparation for the procedure

• We establish a trusting relationship with the patient, explain to him the purpose of the planned study.
• We wash our hands and put on gloves, thus ensuring infectious safety.
• Lay an oilcloth on the height meter platform.
• We stand on the side of the stadiometer and raise the folding seat. We move the measuring bar of the height meter above the expected value of the patient's height.

When measuring height in a sitting position, we do not raise the folding seat, we put the oilcloth on the seat surface.

Stage II. Performing a procedure

Standing height measurement

• We ask the patient to stand on the platform of the height meter, covered with oilcloth. We explain that you need to straighten your back and, while measuring height, touch the vertical bar with four points: the back of the head, shoulder blades, buttocks and heels.
• We check the position of the patient's head along the line connecting the outer corner of the eye and the upper edge of the ear - it should be horizontal. This provision ensures the reliability of the data of the study.
• We lower the measuring bar on the patient's crown and press it against the patient's scale.
• We ask the patient to get off the platform of the height meter.
• We take readings on the stadiometer scale on the right (light) side.
• We fix the result in medical documentation on paper and / or electronic media, ensuring the continuity of information.
• We inform the patient about the results of the study, ensuring his right to information about his condition.

Sitting height measurement

• We ask the patient to sit on the folding seat of the height meter, covered with oilcloth (or we transplant the patient from the wheelchair with the help of other personnel). We explain that the patient must touch the vertical bar with a scale of 3 points: the back of the head, shoulder blades and buttocks.
• We check the position of the patient's head in the same way as described above.
• We lower the measuring bar on the patient's crown, press it against the scale, ask the patient to stand up or transfer the patient to a wheelchair.
• We take readings on the left (dark) side of the scale and lower the bar.
• We also record data and inform the patient.

Stage III. End of procedure

• We remove the oilcloth from the platform or the surface of the folding seat of the stadiometer.
• We disinfect the oilcloth with a rag moistened with a disinfectant solution twice.
• Remove gloves, dip them in a container of disinfectant and wash your hands.

This algorithm for measuring the patient's height helps to quickly and accurately act during the execution of a seemingly simple manipulation. However, one should not underestimate the responsibility of the nurse, on the correctness of whose actions the reliability of the data depends. And this, in turn, affects the quality of the treatment process.

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