What is a vital sign a CNA should regularly check?

Blood pressure is a crucial vital sign that a CNA should regularly check because it provides important information about a resident's cardiovascular health and overall condition. Monitoring blood pressure can help detect conditions such as hypertension or hypotension, which can lead to serious health issues if not managed appropriately. Regular checks allow for timely intervention if abnormalities are identified.

In a healthcare setting, vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, are routinely measured to assess a patient's immediate health status and to track any changes over time. These measurements can inform decisions regarding treatment, medication adjustments, and other necessary actions to ensure the safety and well-being of the resident.

On the other hand, the length of hospital stay, a patient’s mood, and the height of the resident, while they can all provide useful information, do not qualify as vital signs and are not routinely monitored as part of standard assessments in the same way that blood pressure is. Their relevance is more situational and does not provide the immediate clinical data that vital signs do.