[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › [Vital signs and assessment](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/vitals/) › Vital signs in nursing: when, how often and how to record them

# Vital signs in nursing: when, how often and how to record them

- Assessment

Nurses measure vital signs on admission, as often as ordered and whenever the patient changes, and record each value with its context.

Updated Nov 5, 2026

## Key points

- The ordered frequency is the minimum: the nurse may measure again at any time.
- Any change (a new symptom, a new finding, a concern from the patient or family) calls for a full set of vital signs, even if the last set was recent.
- Abnormal vital signs are often the first warning that a patient is deteriorating: track the trend, not only the number.
- A value that does not fit the patient's age or trend is repeated before drawing conclusions (other arm, other device, other route).
- Assistive staff may measure, but the registered nurse is responsible for interpreting the values and acting on them.

## What it is

For nursing, vital signs are a routine with rules: they are measured at first contact to set a baseline, then as often as the order and the protocol say, and again whenever something changes. The order sets the minimum; nursing judgement can ask for more. A single value says little: it is compared with the same patient's earlier values, repeated if it does not fit, and recorded with the route, site, method and what was done. This page covers the routine; each sign has its own technique page.

## Reference values

- Oral temperature in adults: about 35.8 to 37.3 °C.
- Heart rate: 60 to 100 bpm in adults at rest.
- Respiratory rate: 12 to 20 breaths/min (the NEWS2 band that scores 0).
- Blood pressure: normal below 120/80 mmHg; hypotension below 90/60 mmHg.
- Oxygen saturation: adult target 94 to 98 %; often 88 to 92 % in chronic lung disease such as COPD.
- Children have higher rates: newborn heart rate 100 to 160 bpm; school age 70 to 100 bpm.

## What you need

- Thermometer, watch with a second hand, stethoscope, pulse oximeter and a correctly sized blood pressure cuff.
- The order and the facility protocol with the frequency and the call-out parameters.
- The patient's previous values and history (for example an arm that must not be used for blood pressure).
- A pulse oximeter sensor that fits: finger clips are too large for newborns and young children, so the sensor is taped on.

## How to measure it (and why)

- Check orders, previous values and history — the trend and site restrictions change how and where you measure.
- Identify the patient, explain and allow a few minutes of rest — exertion and anxiety change pulse, breathing and pressure.
- Measure the full set, each sign with its own technique — an incomplete set cannot be scored for early warning.
- Compare each value with the patient's age and trend — a «normal» value can be abnormal for this person.
- Repeat any value that does not fit with another device, arm or route — this separates measurement error from real change.
- Record value, unit, route or site, limb, manual or automatic and time at once — without context the value cannot be compared.
- For an abnormal value, assess, act per protocol, report, and record who was told and what was done — the record shows the response, not just the number.

## How to read it

- With NEWS2, a score of 0 calls for monitoring at least every 12 hours, and a score of 1 to 4 every 4 to 6 hours.
- A NEWS2 score of 5 to 6, or 3 in any single parameter, calls for at least hourly monitoring until the patient is reviewed.
- A heart rate of 96 bpm is normal in general but deserves attention in someone whose usual rate is 65.
- If the patient is unresponsive, the order changes: check the carotid pulse first to decide whether CPR is needed.
- Automatic monitors do not replace assessment: the nurse is responsible for the data recorded.

## Next step: when to call for help

- Call the nurse in charge or the provider if a value crosses the call-out parameters in the order or protocol.
- Call if the trend worsens even though each value is still «in range», or if the early warning score rises.
- Nursing students tell their instructor or the supervising nurse at once about any out-of-range value.
- When you call, have the full set of signs, the trend and what you have already done.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What does the vital-sign frequency in the order mean?

It is the minimum frequency. The nurse may measure more often based on clinical judgement or a change in the patient.

## What do you do if a patient has a new symptom an hour after the last set?

Measure a full set of vital signs again, without waiting for the next scheduled time.

## What is recorded besides the value of each vital sign?

The unit, route or site, limb, manual or automatic method, time and, if abnormal, what was done and who was told.

## Why is each value compared with the patient's earlier values?

Because the trend matters more than a single value: a value that is normal for the population may be a major change for this person.

[Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/nursing/vital-signs-in-nursing-when-how-often-and-how-to-record-them/)

## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- [Vital signs: what they are and how to record them](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/vital-signs-what-they-are-and-how-to-record-them/)

## Connections

## Related 6

- [Early warning scores (NEWS2) and when to escalate](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/early-warning-scores-and-when-to-escalate/)
- [Measuring body temperature: sites, devices and technique](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/measuring-body-temperature-sites-devices-and-technique/)
- [Measuring the pulse: radial, apical and the pulse deficit](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/measuring-the-pulse-radial-apical-and-the-pulse-deficit/)
- [Counting respirations without the patient noticing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/counting-respirations-without-the-patient-noticing/)
- [Measuring blood pressure correctly: cuff size, position and common errors](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/measuring-blood-pressure-correctly-cuff-size-position-and-common-errors/)
- [Pulse oximetry at the bedside: placement and pitfalls](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/pulse-oximetry-at-the-bedside-placement-and-pitfalls/)

[← All of nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/)

Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order.

Sources: [Nursing Skills (Open RN), 1.3 Vital Signs](https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Nursing/Nursing_Skills_(OpenRN)/01%3A_General_Survey/1.03%3A_Vital_Signs) (Open RN, Wisconsin Technical College System (LibreTexts), 2021); [Nursing Skills (Open RN), 3.2 Blood Pressure Basics](https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Nursing/Nursing_Skills_(OpenRN)/03%3A_Blood_Pressure/3.02%3A_Blood_Pressure_Basics) (Open RN, Wisconsin Technical College System (LibreTexts), 2021); [National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2](https://www.rcp.ac.uk/improving-care/resources/national-early-warning-score-news-2/) (Royal College of Physicians, 2017); [National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2: executive summary and recommendations](https://www.rcp.ac.uk/media/ctulqqbn/news2-executive-summary_0.pdf) (Royal College of Physicians, 2017).

## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

---
Source: https://durgical.com/en/nursing/vital-signs-in-nursing-when-how-often-and-how-to-record-them/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/vital-signs-in-nursing-when-how-often-and-how-to-record-them/