What is NEWS2 and how can it help prevent cardiac arrest?

What nursing students need to know about using the NEWS2 tool, and how it can provide an early warning of deterioration in acutely ill patients

Preventing deterioration to the point of cardiac arrest is the highest priority when caring for an acutely unwell patient in hospital.

This is especially true on a general ward, where there is less likely to be advanced monitoring equipment or specialist input.

Outcomes after cardiac arrest on the ward

According to the Resuscitation Council UK, the average incidence of in-hospital cardiac arrest is 1-1.5 per 1,000 hospital admissions.

Of those cardiac arrests, almost all (85%) are in patients on wards, and only 53% of these people will