Vital Signs Assessment

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Vital signs assessment plays a significant role in identifying acute changes of patient’s condition. It facilitates the recognition of signs of any improvement or deterioration, and in the matter of deterioration alternative or emergency care to be commenced. It is crucial that nurses understand the basis of monitoring vital signs and they are measured and documented, communicated and acted upon as the assessment of these clinical parameters plays a fundamental role in detecting early deterioration in patients. In spite of the importance of monitoring the vital signs, studies demonstrate these clinical parameters are not being assessed or recorded consistently or acted upon in the acute hospital setting. A number of researches have emphasized …show more content…

The respiratory rate is a primary indicator among the other components of vital signs that helps health professionals to assess the effectiveness of on-going ventilatory function and to recognise possible physiological clinical deterioration. Tachypnoea and increased tidal volume could indicate the body’s attempt correct hypercapnia and hypoxemia. Specifically, tachypnoea is a specific predictor of life-threatening adverse events such as cardiac arrest and unintended admissions to Intensive. Despite its’ clinical importance respiratory rate has been the least recorded vital sign often.

This proposal will address the reasons for the clinical neglect of respiratory rate assessment in acute setting despite of its importance such as detecting early deterioration in patients. Reasons include, inadequate knowledge and skills, patient acuity and lack of time.
Does it reflect the dimensions of quality (Week 4 Lecture) is it safe, effective, person-centred, timely efficient and …show more content…

As a result, the ability to identify clinically deteriorating patients and clinical outcomes will be improved. The PDSA (Plan, Do, Study and Act) cycle will be utilised to achieve a continuous improvement and monitor the effects of positive change in the quality of care. It encourages commencing with small changes, which can be built into larger improvements quickly. PDSA cycle emphasises starting unambitiously, reflecting and building on

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