What does NEWS stand for?

The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2

What are the 6 physiological parameters are included in NEWS?

1. Respiratory Rate – the number of breaths per minute
2. Oxygen Saturation – this is the percentage of oxygen in the blood
3. Temperature – body temperature is measured in Celsius or Fahrenheit
4. Systolic Blood Pressure – the higher value in the blood pressure readings
5. Heart Rate – the number of times the heart beats per minute
6. Level of consciousness – this is assessed by using the AVPU Scale (Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsiveness)

What are the benefits of the NEWS Scoring system?

• Standardization: NEWS Scoring provides a common medical language for assessing clinical severity as well as enhancing effective communication between healthcare professionals or providers.
• Early identification: early identification helps identify any acute deterioration which includes conditions such as sepsis, allowing timely interventions.
• Continuous Assessment: while tracking NEWS Scores over time, healthcare professionals may analyse patient trends (to check if they are improving or deteriorating).
• Reduce Adverse Outcomes: NEWS Score, when combined with a rapid response has the potential to reduce cardiac arrests and possibly ICU admissions.
• Predictive Validity: NEWS Score has been well validated in different clinical settings and may predict death within 24 hours.

What are the NEWS Score ranges?

Each component of the physiological parameters has to be scored between 0 and 3, below is how it can be calculated:

1. Respiratory Rate

– 0: 9 – 14 breaths per minute

– 1: 15 – 20 breaths per minute

– 2: 21 – 29 breaths per minute

– 3: 30 or more breaths per minute

2. Oxygen Saturation

– 0: more than 96%

– 1: 94% – 95%

– 2: 91% – 93%

– 3: 90% or less

3. Temperature

– 0: 36.5°C – 37.5°C

– 1: 36.0°C – 36.4°C or 37.6°C – 38.0°C

– 2: 35.0°C – 35.9°C or 38.1°C – 38.9°C

– 3: <35.0°C or 39.0°C and more

4. Systolic Blood Pressure

– 0: more than 90 mmHg

– 1: 81 – 89 mmHg

– 2: 71 – 80 mmHg

– 3: 70 mmHg or less

5. Heart Rate

– 0: 50 – 89 beats per minute

– 1: 90 – 109 beats per minute

– 2: 110 – 129 beats per minute

– 3: 130 beats per minute or more

6. Level of consciousness

– 0: Alert

– 1: Voice Response

– 2: Pain Response

– 3: Unresponsive

What interventions are triggered by a specific score?

The NEWS Score can be between 0 and 20, below may be interventions depending on the score:

• NEWS 0 – 4: This would be routine monitoring; no specific interventions are required.
• NEWS 5 – 6: increased monitoring is needed; consider a clinical review
• NEWS 7 – 8: urgent clinical review; oxygen therapy should be considered
• NEWS 9 – 10: an immediate clinical review would be needed; consider supplemental oxygen, fluid balance assessment and blood tests.
• NEWS 11 and more: a rapid response team should be activated; consider clinical care review, a sepsis assessment and implement urgent interventions.

Just a note:

Doing an online NEWS Score Training 2 Course with Train Healthcare, which takes approximately 1 hour to complete, will earn you 1 CPD Point. Once you have completed the course, you would receive a certificate thereof.