Rapid Response Teams: A Lifeline for Deteriorating Patients

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Introduction “Code Blue”, that the last thing anyone wants to here at the beginning or end of a shift, or for that matter at any time during their shift. With the development of rapids response teams (RRTs), acute care nurses and ancillary departments have a resource available to their disposal when need in uncertain situations. Many times nurses struggle to maintain a patient deteriorating in front of them all the while make a multitude of calls to the physician for orders or concerns. Having a set of “expert” eyes assisting you in these times helps alleviate stress and encourages collaboration amongst staff. (Parker, 2014)
“The RRT concept stems from research indicating that patients often have respiratory, circulatory, and/or neurological signs and symptoms of an unstable physiological condition long before a cardiac or respiratory arrest occur.” (Kapu, Wheeler, & Lee, 2014, p. 51) Being aware of these factors can aid the nurse in recognizing changes in condition that can often save crucial time for the patient. Utilizing our critical thinking and analyzing data, in relation to these condition changes simultaneously, often save patients’ lives and prevent adverse events from progressing. As RRTs have evolved from …show more content…

Like many facilities, nurses are utilizing judgment, and this means making a decision. Nurses are often placed in a so called “hot box” by RRT leads on justifying the call, so in turn, they become skidtish of calling or stretch themselves out on their own scope of practice. With the availability of RRTs, nurses and ancillary staff shouldn’t over analyze themselves or the situation, if there’s a concern, make the call, a life is potentially at

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