Developing a vital sign alert system
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Published on: May 15, 2020
1Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk, VA, USA. bgjones@sentara.com
Overview:
This article describes the implementation of a nurse-designed, automated system for enhancing patient monitoring on medical-surgical and step-down nursing units. The system, which is not derived from any of the early warning scoring systems described in nursing literature, was developed and put into place at a large tertiary hospital in eastern Virginia and found to substantially reduce out-of-unit codes without increasing nurses' workload.
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Preparation:
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The A-R pulse assessment involves simultaneous evaluation of the apical and radial pulses. When the apical and radial pulse rates vary, this assessment helps identify a pulse deficit.
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Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
