Pediatric Community

In your facility, what do you consider Vital signs (BP, HR, RR, Temp and pain) and how often are they checked? Do you check all of them every time?

Trying to figure out if our policy needs some updates ...

Thank you

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David Eclaircy RN
Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator
Boise ID
(208) 381-4498
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Hi David,

At our pediatric EDs, the expectation is a full set of vital signs upon arrival and within 60 minutes of disposition. Full set includes, HR, RR, temp, b/p, and pulse ox. Pain is looked at separately, but we do have guidelines for pain assessment in the pediatric ED as well. 

In terms of frequency during the ED stay, we have a guideline stating the frequency of vital signs is dependent on the patient's stability and acuity--but at a minimum, a patient should have vitals taken at least every 4 hours. We also give examples in the guideline of when more frequent vitals should occur, i.e. trauma, cardiac, etc. We also recommend in the guideline that any abnormal vital signs need to be reassessed and vitals and assessments should occur after any intervention. 

Hope this helps!

------------------------------
Ivelisse Sanchez, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-P, CPN, CPEN
CNS-APRN Coordinator, Pediatric Emergency Departments
Advocate Children's Hospital
Oak Lawn & Park Ridge, IL
email: ev_sanz@yahoo.com
email: ivelisse@ecsmediallc.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-30-2025 03:01 PM
From: David Eclaircy
Subject: Vital signs in the ER

In your facility, what do you consider Vital signs (BP, HR, RR, Temp and pain) and how often are they checked? Do you check all of them every time?

Trying to figure out if our policy needs some updates ...

Thank you

------------------------------
David Eclaircy RN
Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator
Boise ID
(208) 381-4498
------------------------------

hi Ivelisse

Thanks for your insight on this, I have tken charge over new Pediatric emergency, so frequency of vital sign monitoring have been topic of discussion in my unit. if you have any guidelines or share some. would be grateful, it will help me develop one for my unit as well.

thank you

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Kiran Diyali BSN
Clinical - Flight Nurse
Thimphu
+975-77358481
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2025 10:03 AM
From: Ivelisse Sanchez
Subject: Vital signs in the ER

Hi David,

At our pediatric EDs, the expectation is a full set of vital signs upon arrival and within 60 minutes of disposition. Full set includes, HR, RR, temp, b/p, and pulse ox. Pain is looked at separately, but we do have guidelines for pain assessment in the pediatric ED as well. 

In terms of frequency during the ED stay, we have a guideline stating the frequency of vital signs is dependent on the patient's stability and acuity--but at a minimum, a patient should have vitals taken at least every 4 hours. We also give examples in the guideline of when more frequent vitals should occur, i.e. trauma, cardiac, etc. We also recommend in the guideline that any abnormal vital signs need to be reassessed and vitals and assessments should occur after any intervention. 

Hope this helps!

------------------------------
Ivelisse Sanchez, DNP, APRN, ACCNS-P, CPN, CPEN
CNS-APRN Coordinator, Pediatric Emergency Departments
Advocate Children's Hospital
Oak Lawn & Park Ridge, IL
email: ev_sanz@yahoo.com
email: ivelisse@ecsmediallc.com

Original Message:
Sent: 07-30-2025 03:01 PM
From: David Eclaircy
Subject: Vital signs in the ER

In your facility, what do you consider Vital signs (BP, HR, RR, Temp and pain) and how often are they checked? Do you check all of them every time?

Trying to figure out if our policy needs some updates ...

Thank you

------------------------------
David Eclaircy RN
Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator
Boise ID
(208) 381-4498
------------------------------