Critical care: The eight vital signs of patient monitoring

Journal article

Elliott, Malcolm and Coventry, Alysia. (2012). Critical care: The eight vital signs of patient monitoring. British Journal of Nursing. 21(10), pp. 621 - 625. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2012.21.10.621
AuthorsElliott, Malcolm and Coventry, Alysia
Abstract

Nurses have traditionally relied on five vital signs to assess their patients: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. However, as patients hospitalised today are sicker than in the past, these vital signs may not be adequate to identify those who are clinically deteriorating. This paper describes clinical issues to consider when measuring vital signs as well as proposing additional assessments of pain, level of consciousness and urine output, as part of routine patient assessment.

KeywordsVital signs; Patient monitoring; Assessment; Quality; Safety
Year2012
JournalBritish Journal of Nursing
Journal citation21 (10), pp. 621 - 625
ISSN0966-0461
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2012.21.10.621
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84862903159
Page range621 - 625
Research GroupSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8v1qx/critical-care-the-eight-vital-signs-of-patient-monitoring

Log in to edit

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 363
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 5
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

“Time and life is fragile” : An integrative review of nurses’ experiences after patient death in adult critical care
Bloomer, Melissa, Ranse, Kristen, Adams, Leah, Brooks, Laura and Coventry, Alysia. (2023). “Time and life is fragile” : An integrative review of nurses’ experiences after patient death in adult critical care. Australian Critical Care. 36(5), pp. 872-888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2022.09.008
Supporting families of patients who die in adult intensive care : A scoping review of interventions
Coventry, Alysia, Gerdtz, Marie, McInnes, Elizabeth, Dickson, Jessica and Hudson, Peter. (2023). Supporting families of patients who die in adult intensive care : A scoping review of interventions. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. 78, p. Article 103454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2023.103454
Optimizing the response to mental health deterioration : Nurses experiences of using a Mental Health Observation Response Chart
Forster, John A., Coventry, Alysia A. and Daniel, Catherine. (2023). Optimizing the response to mental health deterioration : Nurses experiences of using a Mental Health Observation Response Chart. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 32(1), pp. 95-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13062
Assessment and communication excellence for safe patient outcomes (ACCELERATE) : A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial protocol
Rihari-Thomas, John, Whittam, Susan, Goncharov, Liza, Slade, Diana, McElduff, Benjamin, Pritchard, Tanya, McMahon, Jake, Coventry, Alysia, Coughlan, Kelly, Taylor, Joanne, Thornton, Anna, Riddell, Kathryn, Tuqiri, Karen, Olesen, Kim, Dahm, Maria R., Chien, Laura, Kelly, Patrick, McInnes, Elizabeth and Middleton, Sandy. (2022). Assessment and communication excellence for safe patient outcomes (ACCELERATE) : A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial protocol. Collegian. 29(5), pp. 799-805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2022.06.006
Voluntary assisted dying [Position Statement]
Yates, Patsy, Bloomer, Melissa, Karacsony, Sara, Virdun, Claudia, Taylor, Melissa, Hewitt, Jayne, Balson, Jessica, Staaf, Mark, Coventry, Alysia, Jeong, Sarah, Blackburn, Monique and Davis, Paula. (2021). Voluntary assisted dying [Position Statement] Canberra, Australia: Australian College of Nursing.
Optimising person- and family-centred end-of-life care during a pandemic [Position Statement]
Bloomer, Melissa J., Yates, Patsy, Balson, Jessica, Coventry, Alysia, Hewitt, Jayne, Jeong, Sarah Yeun-Sim, Karacsony, Sara, Staaf, Mark, Taylor, Melissa and Virdun, Claudia. (2020). Optimising person- and family-centred end-of-life care during a pandemic [Position Statement] Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian College of Nursing.
A qualitative meta-synthesis investigating the experiences of the patient’s family when treatment is withdrawn in the intensive care unit
Coventry, Alysia, Ford, Rosemary, Rosenberg, John and McInnes, Elizabeth. (2020). A qualitative meta-synthesis investigating the experiences of the patient’s family when treatment is withdrawn in the intensive care unit. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 76(9), pp. 2222-2234. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14416
End-of-life-care in the ICU : A qualitative meta-synthesis investigating the experiences and perceptions of the patients family
Coventry, Alysia, McInnes, Elizabeth Catherine, Resenberg, John and Ford, Rosemary. (2017). End-of-life-care in the ICU : A qualitative meta-synthesis investigating the experiences and perceptions of the patients family. 41st ANZICS/ACCCN Annual Scientific Meeting on Intensive Care. 20 - 22 Oct 2016 Australia: Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2017.02.013
An exploration of end-of-life care in the intensive care unit: A systematic review of qualitative studies investigating the experiences and perceptions of the patient's family
Coventry, Alysia. (2017). An exploration of end-of-life care in the intensive care unit: A systematic review of qualitative studies investigating the experiences and perceptions of the patient's family [Thesis]. https://doi.org/10.4226/66/5a9dbc0f33627
Intensive Care readmission: A contemporary review of the literature
Elliott, Malcolm, Worrall-Carter, Linda and Page, Karen. (2014). Intensive Care readmission: A contemporary review of the literature. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. 30(3), pp. 121 - 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2013.10.005
Adverse events following intensive care discharge: The contribution of system, clinician and patient factors
Elliott, Malcolm. (2014). Adverse events following intensive care discharge: The contribution of system, clinician and patient factors [Thesis]. https://doi.org/10.4226/66/5a976aaf3bab1
Factors associated with post-intensive care unit adverse events: A clinical validation study
Elliott, Malcolm, Page, Karen Nicola and Worrall-Carter, Linda. (2014). Factors associated with post-intensive care unit adverse events: A clinical validation study. Nursing in Critical Care. 19(5), pp. 228 - 235. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12091
Factors contributing to adverse events after ICU discharge : a survey of liaison nurses
Elliott, Malcolm, Worrall-Carter, Linda and Page, Karen. (2013). Factors contributing to adverse events after ICU discharge : a survey of liaison nurses. Australian Critical Care. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2012.07.005
Examining adverse events after intensive care unit discharge : Outcomes from a pilot questionnaire
Elliott, Malcolm, Page, Karen, Worrall-Carter, Linda and Rolley, John. (2013). Examining adverse events after intensive care unit discharge : Outcomes from a pilot questionnaire. International Journal of Nursing Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12087
Using ICU readmissions as a marker of care quality: Time for a rethink?
Elliott, Malcolm. (2012). Using ICU readmissions as a marker of care quality: Time for a rethink? British Journal of Intensive Care. 22(3), pp. 86 - 89.
Reason's accident causation model : Application to adverse events in acute care
Elliott, Malcolm, Page, Karen Nicola and Worrall-Carter, Linda. (2012). Reason's accident causation model : Application to adverse events in acute care. Contemporary Nurse: Health care across the lifespan. 43(1), pp. 14 - 20. https://doi.org/10.5172/conu.2012.43.1.22
Factors associated with in-hospital mortality following ICU discharge : a comprehensive review
Elliott, Malcolm, Worrall-Carter, Linda and Page, Karen. (2012). Factors associated with in-hospital mortality following ICU discharge : a comprehensive review. British Journal of Intensive Care. 22(4), pp. 120 - 125.
End-of-life care in the intensive care unit: A systematic review of qualitative studies investigating the experiences and perceptions of the patient's families
Coventry, Alysia, McInnes, Elizabeth and Rosenberg, John. (2012). End-of-life care in the intensive care unit: A systematic review of qualitative studies investigating the experiences and perceptions of the patient's families. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports. 10, pp. 95 - 106. https://doi.org/10.11124/jbisrir-2012-177
Readmission to intensive care: A qualitative analysis of nurses' perceptions and experiences
Elliott, Malcolm, Crookes, Patrick, Worrall-Carter, Linda and Page, Karen. (2011). Readmission to intensive care: A qualitative analysis of nurses' perceptions and experiences. Heart & Lung: the journal of acute and critical care (print version). 40(4), pp. 299 - 309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2010.04.006
The use of medical orders in acute care oxygen therapy
Wong, Ming and Elliott, Malcolm. (2009). The use of medical orders in acute care oxygen therapy. British Journal of Nursing. 18(8), pp. 462 - 464. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2009.18.8.41808
Do clinicians know how to use pulse oximetry? A literature review and clinical implications
Elliott, Malcolm, Tate, R. and Page, Karen. (2006). Do clinicians know how to use pulse oximetry? A literature review and clinical implications. Australian Critical Care. 19(4), pp. 139 - 144. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1036-7314(06)80027-5
Mapping drug calculation skills in an undergraduate nursing curriculum
Elliott, Malcolm and Joyce, Joanne. (2005). Mapping drug calculation skills in an undergraduate nursing curriculum. Nurse Education in Practice. 5(4), pp. 225 - 229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2004.12.003