NEWS2

Medical abbreviation · Patient Assessment

NEWS2
Stands forNational Early Warning Score 2
CategoriesMedical

NEWS2 stands for National Early Warning Score 2, a patient assessment abbreviation.

UK standard track-and-trigger score that grades respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, use of supplemental oxygen, systolic blood pressure, pulse, consciousness and temperature to detect deterioration in adults. A total of 5 or more prompts urgent review, and 7 or more an emergency response.

Example: NEWS2 7: escalated to outreach team, sepsis screen started.

Usage notes

Published by the Royal College of Physicians in 2017, replacing the 2012 NEWS, and endorsed across the NHS in England. It adds a separate oxygen scale for patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure and counts new confusion in the ACVPU consciousness item.

More patient assessment abbreviations

  • MAE – Moves all extremities
  • MAEW – Moves all extremities well
  • MEWS – Modified Early Warning Score
  • MMM – Moist mucous membranes
  • NABS – Normoactive bowel sounds
  • NCAT – Normocephalic, atraumatic
  • NIBP – Noninvasive blood pressure
  • NRS – Numeric rating scale
  • NT/ND – Nontender, nondistended
  • NVI – Neurovascularly intact
  • OPQRST – Onset, provocation, quality, region/radiation, severity, time
  • P – Pulse

See all 65 patient assessment abbreviations →

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.