Supportive observations is the practice of closely monitoring patients who are acutely unwell in order to keep them safe. There are no formal guidelines for nursing staff on what to observe during observations.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.