Observations and vital signs: ritual or vital for the monitoring of postoperative patients?
Date
2006
Authors
Zeitz, K.
McCutcheon, H.
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Journal article
Citation
Applied Nursing Research, 2006; 19(4):204-211
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Abstract
Patient surveillance during the postoperative period has traditionally consisted of the collection of routine and regulated vital signs, supported by observations of other aspects of a patient's recovery. The purpose of this research was to determine if the frequent collection of postoperative vital signs assisted in detecting postoperative complications in the first 24 hours after a patient has returned to the ward setting. The study involved: (1) a survey of policy documents; (2) observations of postoperative nursing care; and (3) an audit of medical records. Major findings revealed that vital signs are collected based on tradition and are collected routinely, and there may not be a relationship between vital-signs collection and the occurrence or detection of complications.