NEWS

Question 1

What 6 vital signs form the basis of the scoring system in NEWS?

Answer 1

1. Resp rate
2. Oxygen saturation
3. Systolic blood pressure
4. Pulse rate
5. Level of consciousness or new ‘confusion’
6. Temperature

Question 2

Describe the look of NEWS chart

Answer 2

Each vital sign is allocated a point score with associated colour.

Question 3

If a vital sign is within acceptable limits, what score will it receive?

Answer 3

Score of 0.

Question 4

What ill abnormal measurements score?

Answer 4

1 - yellow
2 - orange
3 - red
Higher the score, greater the abnormality and resulting concern for patients physiological status.

Question 5

What occurs after you have scored all the vital signs?

Answer 5

Points are totalled to give an aggregate score.

Question 6

After a total score is known what should the practitioner do?

Answer 6

Refer to ‘clinical response to the NEWS trigger thresholds’

- aggregate score will guide the practitioner in determining future frequency of monitoring physiological observations.

Question 7

A news score of what and above will necessitate patient transfer to a higher dependency area?

Answer 7

Score of 7 and above