British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
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the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (2007) states that 'respiratory rate is the best marker of a sick patient and is the first observation that will indicate a problem or deterioration in condition'. It is therefore crucial that staff are confident that respiratory rates are recorded accurately. ⋯ essential clinical information is not being used, as clinical staff lack confidence that it has been assessed correctly. Furthermore, inaccurate recordings could be actively misleading clinical care.
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The law has long recognised that providing continued life-sustaining treatment to very sick and critically ill patients may be futile. The courts have consistently rejected an absolutist approach to care and treatment that requires doctors and nurses to continue with futile treatment right up to the point of death. ⋯ It is essential that nurses know when care and treatment becomes futile to ensure they are acting lawfully if a decision is taken to withdraw that care and treatment. In this article the author considers the Court of Appeal's recent test for determining when treatment becomes futile and its impact on nursing practice.