How often do you do vitals and I&Os?

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 9, 2008

ICU stepdown: Q4H v/s unless on certain drips then Q1H or less if titrating. I&O's Q4H unless specified more frequently and Q4H assessments.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Dec 9, 2008

We do vitals and I&Os q4h, but will often go up to q15min hr/rr/bp/spo2 with the monitor.

Dionyonce · Dec 9, 2008

Every patient is different and every unit is different. I work in Peds and there are some vitals i need to do q1...now of course i hate that but if its on the doctors order form than i have no choice. it depends on the Doctors oreder form..you need to go in the chart and see if the doctor specifies how often Vitals need to be done for which ever patient.

meadow85 · Dec 9, 2008

I currently work on an Oncology Unit and we primarily do VSR and I/O q8h. When I worked on a Surgical Unit we did VS q4h and I/O QS.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Dec 9, 2008

For vag deliveries after transfer from L/D we do q30min x3, q4h x 3, then BID. For c/s after transfer, we do q30min x 3, q4h x 48hrs, then qshift. Antepartums are generally qshift. If membranes are ruptured they get q4 temps. I/O generally is done qshift, but only if they have an IV. Once they are eating/drinking/peeing post NSVD, the IV comes out. Post c/s the IV comes out either once the 24hr Duramorph is up or once the epidural comes out and their intake is good & they're peeing.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Dec 9, 2008

PICU

Vitals and I&O's Q1 hour

RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 9, 2008

Q4 for everything. sometimes not to wake if they are good to go or if there is no reason to wake them if they are stable. more if they are started on PCA

-H-RN

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Dec 9, 2008

med/surg- q4 for most. Q 8 for very stable, q24 hr for swing beds.

Farmer Jane · Dec 9, 2008

It depends so much on the patient. Yesterday I did them every 30 minutes.

meandragonbrett · Dec 9, 2008

ICU---Minimum q1h Vitals and I/Os. Vitals are done more often depending on acuity and situation.

Spring152 · Dec 9, 2008

On my med/surg/oncology floor: vs q8hr, i&o q8hr

On my telemetry floor: vs q4hr or more often if on a cardizem drip, i&o q8hr

JAMIE__0421 · Dec 10, 2008

Hello! I was just browsing through posts and I came across this one. What exactly do all the "Q" and other letters stand for? I am a pre-nursing student completing prerequisite classes before i can apply to my schools nursing program. Anyways, I have just noticed that there are many abbreviations and stuff like this and I try to ask what they all mean whenever possible. So I can start getting acustom to what seems like a "foreign language" to me right now. Thanks!