Individuals in health and social care residential settings are at risk of physiological deterioration, which cannot always be predicted. Therefore, residents, except for those at the end of their life, can benefit from initial and routine clinical observations, including the recording of vital signs (physiological monitoring) such as:

• oxygen saturation
• heart rate
• respiratory rate
• blood pressure

Not recognising early signs of deterioration can lead to unfavourable outcomes, serious incidents and/or the death of a resident.