How often should vital signs be reassessed in a critical patient?

Vital signs in a critical patient should be reassessed every 5-15 minutes to ensure close monitoring of their condition. This frequent assessment is essential because patients in critical care can rapidly change; early detection of deterioration allows for timely intervention.

The rationale for such close monitoring is rooted in the fact that vital signs—such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation—provide crucial information about a patient's physiological status. In critical care, even slight changes in these parameters can signify a significant shift in the patient's condition, potentially indicating worsening pathology or response to treatment.

In contrast, less frequent monitoring intervals, such as every 30 minutes or every hour, might delay necessary interventions and increase the risk of adverse outcomes. Therefore, rechecking vital signs every 5-15 minutes aligns with the urgent need for situational awareness and responsiveness characteristic of critical care environments.