Patient risk assessment tools: a go-to guide for students

Nursing students will come across many risk assessment tools used in clinical practice, often early on in their studies and clinical placements. We decode the abbreviations and acronyms used, from ABCDE, NEWS2 and MUST to GAD-7, and explain the steps involved in each, which patients they are used for and in which clinical settings. We also look at what students needs to be aware of when it comes to limitations and exceptions to these useful assessment tools.