Sustained abnormal vital signs (excluding isolated hypertension) require which level of assessment?

• A. ALS Assessment
• B. BLS Assessment
• C. No assessment
• D. Critical care assessment

Answer: (A)

When vital signs stay abnormal over a period, it signals ongoing physiologic instability that may worsen without prompt, advanced care. That requires an ALS level of assessment because it involves capabilities beyond basic care: thorough, ongoing monitoring and potential interventions such as advanced airway management, IV access, medication administration, and more detailed rhythm and hemodynamic assessment. An isolated hypertension reading isn’t enough to push you to the higher level—there’s no sustained instability or need for those advanced interventions. No assessment isn’t appropriate when the patient shows persistent abnormal vitals, and “critical care” isn’t a standard field assessment level in this context.