Keywords
Nursing
Early warning scores
Emergency services
Clinical judgment
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Abstract
Objective: To identify in the current literature the applicability of clinical deterioration scores used by nurses in care practice within emergency services. Methods: This is an integrative literature review conducted in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and PubMed databases, including articles published between 2015 and 2025. The search was performed on March 25, 2025, and included articles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The inclusion criteria were studies that addressed clinical deterioration in emergency services, with an emphasis on the role of nurses. Results: The final sample consisted of 15 articles, which showed that clinical deterioration scores such as NEWS2, MEWS, and EWS play an important role in the early assessment of patients at risk of deterioration. These scores help standardize care, improve decision-making, and strengthen patient safety. Final considerations: The use of clinical deterioration scores in emergency settings improves the effectiveness of care and communication among the healthcare team; however, their application requires continuous professional training and adaptation to specific clinical contexts. The integration of clinical judgment with the objective data provided by the scores is essential to optimize clinical outcomes.
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