title: Nursing observations: knowledge to help prevent critical illness.
abstract: Early warning scoring systems have made some progress in facilitating the earlier identification of critical illness. Nurses should, however, take a professional responsibility to ensure that they can understand the significance of the patient observations that they have recorded. The authors have illustrated, through the use of a case study, how an understanding of the physiological processes that influence trends in the patient's observations could be vital in the prevention of a serious life-threatening event. Conclusions drawn from analyzing these observations with a problem-solving approach can be effectively communicated to the multidisciplinary team and lead to more appropriate care delivery.
authors.affiliation: University of Central England, Birmingham.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kisiel
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D019370:Observation; D010092:Oximetry / Q000451:nursing; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D012016:Reference Values; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012769:Shock / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology