title: Nursing observations on ward patients at risk of critical illness.
abstract: Research findings and anecdotal evidence from outreach nurses across the country have suggested that key indicators of critical illness (respiratory rate and fluid balance) are being missed on the wards and that critically ill patients are not being fed adequately. A group of outreach nurses in Kent carried out a survey to confirm or refute these claims and to ascertain the variation in outreach provision in Kent. The survey found widespread deficiencies in nursing care and observations, which represent a serious threat to patients' safety.
authors.affiliation: Kent and Sussex Hospital, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chellel
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fender
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Higgs
authors.forename: Stefa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buras-Rees
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hook
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mummery
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing*; D004739:England; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D011383:Progressive Patient Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012119:Respiration; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance