A 76-year-old woman on the surgical ward has a NEWS2 score rising from 3 to 7 over 2 hours, with increasing tachycardia, hypotension and confusion. Th...

Question

A 76-year-old woman on the surgical ward has a NEWS2 score rising from 3 to 7 over 2 hours, with increasing tachycardia, hypotension and confusion. The nurse asks for your review. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Initiate an ABCDE assessment and call the senior or outreach team urgently

Answer

Review the patient at the next ward round

Answer

Prescribe additional oral fluids and recheck in 6 hours

Answer

Ask the nurse to repeat observations in 30 minutes then decide

Answer

Document the NEWS2 score but take no further action

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Deteriorating patient – NEWS2 escalation

A 76-year-old woman on the surgical ward has a NEWS2 score rising from 3 to 7 over 2 hours, with increasing tachycardia, hypotension and confusion. The nurse asks for your review. What is the most appropriate immediate action?