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Document Type
DNP - University Access Only
Award Date
2017
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Graduate Nursing
First Advisor
Nicole Gibson
Keywords
modified early warning score, MEWS, patient deterioration
Abstract
The use of a Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) was studied as a method to prevent adverse health outcomes in hospitalized patients. Parameters used in the MEWS tool were respiratory rate, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, temperature, urine output, and neurological status. Participants in the intervention and comparison groups were primarily white/Caucasian with a mean age approximately 60 years. Patients were included if their admission diagnosis was sepsis, malignant neoplasm of the prostate, or morbid obesity due to excess calories. Implementation was 30 days long. Outcomes were measured for the intervention period as well as a retrospective period from one year prior and included rapid response team (RRT) activations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, code blue calls, and nursing knowledge, attitude, and practice. The number of RRT activations increased and ICU admissions decreased in the intervention group. Two questions from the nursing survey were statistically significant, and clinical significance was also demonstrated as a result of this project. The MEWS intervention allowed for earlier detection of patient deterioration, thereby promoting timely intervention. MEWS also improved communication between nursing staff and providers, as well as increased attentiveness to patients of higher acuity as displayed by MEWS scores.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Hospital patients
Outcome assessment (Medical care)
Nursing assessment
Patient monitoring
Description
Includes bibliographical references (pages 60-64)
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
80
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/
Recommended Citation
Welbig, Miranda, "Implementing a Modified Early Warning Score Intervention to Evaluate Patient and Nursing Outcomes on a Medical-Surgical Unit" (2017). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practice Innovation Projects. 78.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/con_dnp/78