Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
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Review
Clinical relevance of routinely measured vital signs in hospitalized patients: a systematic review.
Conflicting evidence exists on the effectiveness of routinely measured vital signs on the early detection of increased probability of adverse events. ⋯ The results of this research are important for clinical nurses to underpin daily routine practices and clinical decision making.
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This article provides an overview of the implications for patients' health status and care needs when assessments are performed by nurses not licensed or competent to perform this task. The Waterlow scale (Judy Waterlow, The Nook, Stroke Road, Henlade, TAUNTON, TA3 5LX) scenario is used as a practice example to illustrate this case. ⋯ To optimize and ensure safe and quality patient care, risk assessments should be done by a registered professional nurse, who will then coordinate the nursing care of the patient with the assistance of the lower category of nurses.