Frequency of Assessments

KaroSnowQueen, RN · May 12, 2004

We work 12 hr shifts and we assess at the beginning of the shift and have to chart a re-assessment 8 hrs later.

NeuroICURN · May 13, 2004

Maggiemay....only once every 12 hours?!?!?!? That's crazy and I can't believe it's never been addressed before now! Yikes!!! (Please excuse my shocked look :) )

Anyway, in every hospital I've ever worked in (both Level 1 Trauma Centers), they state that even on the general Medical floors, even if the patient is going home, they should be assessed every 8 hours! I honestly thought this was a nursing standard until I read your post.

Now, in my unit, we do a new assessment at least every two hours, if not sooner (depending on the patient). But, we're an ICU, so the patients are much sicker, of course. Now, on the ICU step-down units, they do assessments every 4 hours.

Hope this helps and I hope you are able to get the kinks worked out of your system for more effective patient care!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 13, 2004

Even on our general Med/Surg unit, we do assessments at least q 6 hours, and q 4 hours for observation patients. In the ICU they're done a minimum of q 4 hours and sometimes every hour if the pt is very unstable.

I can't imagine assessing pts only twice in 24 hours.........things do change even when pts are supposedly stable, and if it's not picked up on for eight or twelve hours, well, I can see why outcomes might not be very good. Good luck in changing this.......your patients' lives may depend on it.

Maggiemay · May 13, 2004

We do have to chart an entry at LEAST every 2 hours, in addition to the full assessments. I am really appreciating all of your help! Nurses are awesome

purplemania, BSN, RN · May 13, 2004

depends on what you mean by assessment. The frequency of a full nursing assessment may be required by your state's Nurse Practice Act. Systems assessments (the system that is currently sick, like respiratory/asthma) should be done per facility protocol, and frequency may depend on patient acuity. We do complete assessments every 12 hr with system assessments prn acuity (q 2 hrs for pedi).

Desred · Jul 13, 2008

We work a 12 hour shift- 7a-7p and we assess at 0800, 1200 and 1600. The morning assessments are very thorough and the 1200 and 1600 are a little quicker. Very little is missed and our outcomes are much better than other floors.