| Criteria | Point Value |
|---|---|
| Respiratory Rate (breaths per minute) | |
| ≤8 | 3 |
| 9-11 | 1 |
| 12-20 | 0 |
| 21-24 | 2 |
| ≥25 | 3 |
| Oxygen Saturation (%) | |
| ≤91 | 3 |
| 92-93 | 2 |
| 94-95 | 1 |
| ≥96 | 0 |
| Any Supplemental Oxygen | |
| Yes | 1 |
| No | 0 |
| Temperature in °C (°F) | |
| ≤35.0 (95) | 3 |
| 35.1-36.0 (95.1-96.8) | 1 |
| 36.1-38.0 (96.9-100.4) | 0 |
| 38.1-39.0 (100.5-102.2) | 1 |
| ≥39.1 (≥102.3) | 2 |
| Systolic BP | |
| ≤90 | 3 |
| 91-100 | 2 |
| 101-110 | 1 |
| 111-219 | 0 |
| ≥220 | 3 |
| Heart Rate (beats per minute) | |
| ≤40 | 3 |
| 41-50 | 1 |
| 51-90 | 0 |
| 91-110 | 1 |
| 111-130 | 2 |
| ≥131 | 3 |
| AVPU | |
| A | 0 |
| V, P, or U | 3 |
A low score (NEWS 1–4) should prompt assessment by a competent registered nurse who should decide if a change to frequency of clinical monitoring or an escalation of clinical care is required.
A medium score (NEWS of 5–6) should prompt an urgent review by a clinician skilled with competencies in the assessment of acute illness – usually a ward-based doctor or acute team nurse, who should consider whether escalation of care to a team with critical-care skills is required (ie critical care outreach team).
A high score (NEWS ≥7) should prompt emergency assessment by a clinical team/critical care outreach team with critical-care competencies and usually transfer of the patient to a higher dependency care area.
