The enduring neglect of vital signs assessment: a concept map of contributing factors

Vital signs assessment is a critical component of clinical monitoring and a crucial nursing responsibility. Contemporary and past research has found, however, that this assessment is often neglected and remains an enduring problem. Research has identified various contributing or causal factors but, to date, there has been no attempt to show how these factors interrelate. A concept map highlighting these relationships is presented in this article. The map can be used as a tool for developing educational resources to address the enduring neglect of vital signs assessment.