Nursing documentation prior to emergency admissions to the intensive care unit

Respiratory failure was the primary cause of emergency admission of in-patients to the ICUs with respiratory rate the least documented vital sign. Nursing documentation according to the MEWS was insufficient. CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses need to be alerted to the necessity of documenting early signs of deterioration of patients, particularly the respiratory rate. With better monitoring and documentation of physiological parameters, emergency admission to the ICU might be avoided.