Application of modified early warning score (MEWS) on the nursing care of the patients in Emergency Observation Room

Objective To investigate the application of modified early warning score (MEWS) to the nursing care of the patients in Emergency Observation Room, and to explore the relationship between outcome and prognosis. Methods According to the convenience sampling method, 331 patients in Emergency Observation Room from a grade A tertiary hospital were assessed by MEWS. The observation factors included the relationship between MEWS at the first day of entering the room and patients′ observation time, MEWS after three days and prognosis. Results Patients′ MEWS at the first day had no correlation with observation time or prognosis (r=0.052, 0.097; P>0.05); patients′ MEWS after three days was related to prognosis(r=0.550, P<0.05). Moreover, the higher MEWS implied the worse conditions and higher mortality. Conclusions MEWS can imply patients′ illness outcome and prognosis in order to help nurses to make nursing decision. Key words: Emergency Room, hospital; Modified early warning score; Nursing countermeasure