[pattchez]

I am looking for your advise and learn what time of the day and how often do your medical-surgical unit take vital signs when it is "routine?" We have 3 Med-Surg units and routine vitals are done at different time of the shift/day -- and I am wondering what is considered a standard time for rountine vital signs. It is confusing when I float from one unit to another so I would appreciate your comments on how it is done where you work. Thanks.

[AuntieRN]

Our Med/Surg units all follow this schedule:
Routine 8a and 8p
BID would be the same as above
QID would be 8a 12N 78 12M
Q4hr 8a-12n-4p-8p-12m-4a

our post-ops are q2hr x6 then they go to q4hr x24h at least
our tele pts are always q4h

[RNinSoCal]

Hello,
Every unit will have its own times for routine vitals. On my unit routine is 0800, 1600, 2400 unless the pt is post-op and then we do Q 4 hour vitals for 24 hours. On the tele unit they do Q 4 vitals on everyone.
On our long term care unit they do vitals before breakfast and before dinner.
Most nurses like to get vitals at the start of shift during assessment so it would vary according to when your shift starts.
Hope that helps

[meownsmile]

The routine vs for our med/surg are at the beginning of each shift. So generally 8-16-23. All new surgicals get q 4s after the initial post op vitals have been resolved, then after 24 hours if there isnt any increase in temp they go to routine (unless otherwise ordered by Dr).

[irish_std/n]

on our 12 hour 8-8 (both night and day shift) we do 10am/pm and 6am/pm if abnormal at 10am/pm we recheck at 2pm/am

[pattchez]

Thanks to everyone who answered. I will share this information with my manager to standarize routine times on the 3 M/S unts.

[Sarah, RNBScN]

VSR 10 and 14 since 0600 hrs. nightshift just did them
Post op q15 min x 1 hr. q1/2 x 1 hr. then q4h. if stable x 24 hrs.

[Spidey's mom]

"Routine" is Q4H . . . so I come on at 0245 and first vitals are at 0400. Unless the physician has written that the patients can sleep through midnight and 0400 vitals.

steph