What vital sign is measured alongside heart rate and respiratory rate?

Oxygen saturation is measured alongside heart rate and respiratory rate as part of the assessment of a patient's vital signs. This is because oxygen saturation provides essential information about how effectively oxygen is being transported through the bloodstream to the body's tissues. It is particularly important in assessing respiratory function and can indicate the presence of respiratory distress or other conditions affecting breathing.

In a clinical setting, oxygen saturation is commonly monitored using a pulse oximeter, allowing healthcare providers to quickly gauge whether a patient is receiving adequate oxygen. Together with heart rate and respiratory rate, which reflect cardiovascular and respiratory function respectively, oxygen saturation contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the patient's health status.

In contrast, while pain level, skin temperature, and body mass index provide valuable health information, they do not serve the same immediate purpose in evaluating respiratory and cardiac function. Pain level is subjective and varies by individual, skin temperature can be influenced by many external factors, and body mass index is a measure of weight in relation to height but does not provide direct insight into a patient's acute physiological state.