What it means
To keep checking a client's condition, a lab value or a piece of equipment so that a change is noticed early. Nurses monitor vital signs, intake and output, lab results, wounds and the effects of drugs. As a noun, a monitor is a machine that shows readings all the time, such as a cardiac monitor.
For the nurse
On the exam, "monitor" usually means repeated checks of something already known, while "assessuh-SESTo gather information about a client by looking, listening, asking, measuring and examining.Full entry " means gathering new information. A registered nurse can delegate taking measurements on a stable client to a UAPyou-ay-pee (said as letters)Unlicensed assistive personnel: trained workers without a nursing license, such as nursing assistants, who help with client care.Full entry , but deciding what the numbers mean stays with the nurse.
In a chart
"Continue to monitor urine output hourly; notify provider if below 30 mL/hr."
At a glance
| Spanish | vigilar, monitorear |
|---|---|
| Also written | monitoring, monitors, monitored |
Related terms
assess
To gather information about a client by looking, listening, asking, measuring and examining.
vital signs
The basic body measurements: temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure, often with oxygen saturation and pain.
evaluate
To judge whether care worked by comparing the client's results with the goals that were set.