This essay aims to provide a discussion on vital signs and their relevance to contemporary nursing practice. This is done by:• Discussing what vital signs are and when are they used in practice.• Why are vital signs relevant to contemporary nursing practice?• How skills are practiced taking into account the code NMC Conduct Guidelines (2008).• Discuss potential risk issues associated with the use of an automated blood pressure/pulse device in relation to contemporary practice. • Summary of the main points discussed and statement of my interpretation on its relevance to contemporary professional nursing practice. Vital signs are the observation of the body's vital functions and their display as proof of the person's state of health. It is used as an assessment by nurses to assess the patient's blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiration (Ackbarally, 2012). This initially happens upon admission or when they arrive at different health care facilities such as: transfer from hospital to nursing home, during an emergency situation to help observe the condition of the person, before and after the operation, before, during and after treatment, when the patient's general condition deteriorates and also depending on local or national data collection (Endacott et al, 2009) Nurses play an important role in influencing patient safety in daily tasks and progressively obtaining patient vital signs is increasingly seen as a chore instead of collecting clinical evidence. This then creates extreme danger for the patient, as irregular monitoring of vital signs has prevented early detection of deterioration in the patient's condition, delaying transfer to the intensive care unit (Kyriacos U et al Boulanger, 2009). For this reason, a...... middle of paper ......itoring vital signs in infants, children and young people [WWW] RCN . Available at http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/114484/003196.pdf [Accessed 26/03/2013].SMITHS, S, DUELL, D and MARTIN, B (2008 ) Clinical nursing skills, basic to advanced. New Jersey: Person Education Inc. STEVENSON, R (2012) Atrial Fibrillation. Nursing standards. 27 (14) p.59.TREMAYNE, P and PARBOTEEAH, S (2006) Fundamental aspects of adult nursing procedure. London: MA Health care Limited. WILLIAMS, A. (2001) A study of practicing nurses' perceptions and experiences of intimacy within the nurse-patient relationship. Journal of Advanced Nursing. pp.188-96.WILLIAMS, P and POULTER NR et al (2004) Guidelines for the management of hypertension: report of the fourth working group of the British Hypertension Society. British Hypertension Society, pp... 139-85