What vital sign measure is essential for ongoing monitoring of a patient requiring continuous telemetry?

The essential vital sign measure for ongoing monitoring of a patient requiring continuous telemetry is heart rate. Continuous telemetry is primarily used to monitor the electrical activity of the heart, allowing healthcare providers to observe real-time changes in heart rhythm and rate.

Heart rate is critical in assessing cardiac function and can indicate various conditions such as arrhythmias, ischemia, or other cardiac events. Continuous monitoring of heart rate allows for quick interventions if the rate becomes too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia), both of which may require immediate medical attention.

Although blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature are important vital signs that provide valuable information about a patient's overall health, they do not provide the specific, continuous evaluation of cardiac rhythm and heart activity that telemetry is designed for. In telemetry, heart rate is the primary focus, as it is most directly related to the function of the heart and the effectiveness of its pumping action.