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Meningitis - Vital Signs for Frontline Nurses
11 November 2002
Meningitis Research Foundation has just produced a new resource for frontline nurses, endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). This was launched at the RCN A & E Association's 30th Annual Conference last week. The resource is available free of charge from the Foundation or can be downloaded from this website by clicking here.
The new resource - Vital Signs for Frontline Nurses - is based on findings from the Foundation-funded study of Health Care Delivery and Outcome of Meningococcal Disease in Children. The study aimed to determine critical stages in recognition and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia which could change the course of the illness and save the life of a child.
One of the areas the study highlighted was the need for a resource focusing on the measurement of vital signs to detect the underlying symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. Vital Signs for Frontline Nurses was developed by Dr Nelly Ninis, Specialist Registrar in paediatric infectious diseases at St Mary's Hospital, London and Linda Bailey, Research Nurse at Imperial College, School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Foundation's Research and Medical Information department.
After initial consultation with senior nurses, the resource was designed as a handy laminated card to fit inside the uniform pocket. About 1,000 were piloted with triage and assessment nurses throughout the UK. From the valuable feedback received, the Foundation produced a final version of the resource, which is now being made widely available.
Said Dr Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing: "The College is pleased to endorse the Foundation's resource for frontline nurses. Early recognition of meningitis and septicaemia is vital in ensuring appropriate treatment in order to save lives and reduce morbidity. We hope that this new resource will aid frontline nurses in their work."
Denise Vaughan, Meningitis Research Foundation's Chief Executive commented: "We believe that research holds the key to the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. This new resource has come about as a direct result of research funded by the Foundation and will hopefully save lives."