Time of Day for Routine Vital Signs

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by pattchez
Oct 27, '06   Views: 31,433   Comments: 10

  1. 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.
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    About pattchez

    Joined: Jan '06; Posts: 38; Likes: 1

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  3. by AuntieRN
    Oct 28, '06
    Occupation: RN Specialty: Med/Surg ; Joined: May '05; Posts: 690; Likes: 111
    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
    Last edit by AuntieRN on Oct 28, '06
  4. by RNinSoCal
    Oct 28, '06
    Occupation: RN Specialty: 13 year(s) of experience in Home health, Med/Surg ; Joined: Sep '03; Posts: 136; Likes: 14
    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
    Last edit by RNinSoCal on Oct 28, '06 : Reason: typo
  5. by meownsmile
    Oct 31, '06
    Occupation: med/surg/ortho RN Joined: Oct '01; Posts: 2,617; Likes: 161
    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).
  6. by irish_std/n
    Nov 5, '06
    Joined: Dec '05; Posts: 63; Likes: 4
    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
  7. by pattchez
    Nov 6, '06
    Joined: Jan '06; Posts: 38; Likes: 1
    Thanks to everyone who answered. I will share this information with my manager to standarize routine times on the 3 M/S unts.
  8. by Sarah, RNBScN
    Jan 8, '07
    Occupation: Reg.N., BSc.N. Joined: Jan '03; Posts: 547; Likes: 8
    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.
  9. by Spidey's mom
    Jan 8, '07
    Joined: Dec '02; Posts: 41,761; Likes: 48,078
    "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
  10. by NONIE-RN
    Aug 30, '09
    Occupation: Maternal Health Specialty: 18 year(s) of experience in Ed, Maternal, Cardiac, Renal, Hospice ; From: US ; Joined: Aug '09; Posts: 1
    There are no such things as "routine" vital signs. "Routine" is unit specific and may be regionally specific as well. As a general rule "routine" means every shift. This could be every 8 hours or every 12 hours. However, if the unit acuity is relatively high, "routine" may be more often; such as every four hours. Post operative patients may have a "routine" such as every 15 minutes x 4, every 30 minutes x 2, 1 at the next 60 minute mark, and then every 4 hours x 4, then every shift. There should be a policy and procedure on your unit or in your facility addressing this issue. If there is not, this is the perfect opportunity for you to be a part of performance and quality improvement.
  11. by crystalcnd
    Oct 12, '09
    Joined: Oct '09; Posts: 9; Likes: 3
    Our vitals are usually obtained
    Q4
    RT (1 time per shift)
    Q8
    Q6
    or sometimes we may have a patient come form ER that is Q2 x6 or Q2 x4 (usually depends on the admitting dr.).

    I also work some in CCU and there we obtain vitals Q2.
  12. by OrthoRN09
    Oct 17, '09
    Joined: Mar '09; Posts: 78; Likes: 38
    Post op vitals are done q15 min x2, q30 min x2, q1hr x4, then q4 hour x48 hr total. TID are done 6/12/18. Unit transfers are q4 hr x48 hr. No set time for those, just starting from the time they arrive on our unit.

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