Rapid Response Team

our ICU nurse did some research on the topic and created a PowerPoint with evidence based information that was presented to the Medical Staff. Protocols were then approved and a policy was written. We decreased the number of codes called in our facility by 80% the first year.

That's a LOT of people in one room.

The purpose for the RRT team is to get your experience at the bedside and I know on my night shift it is VERY green! We are in a 130 bed hospital with ave census of 90-95 and have resp therapist and nursing supervisor 24 hours a day. We have those two along with a ICU nurse respond to our RRT calls. Our first difficulties that we had to overcome were
1. Staff not wanting to call it for fear of looking stupid and being sure those who responded did not question or chide staff for calling it. We set the expecation right away that it was a learning expereince and giving anyone a hard time about calling it would not be tolerated.
2. People wanted to turn it into a code team. It is not a code team it is a team to help identify and address a situation before it becomes the code. We had to teach our ICU staff and supervisors to help and teach, not to take over. Otherwise the less experienced staff never learn how to recognize or handle the situation if they encounter it again.

Once we got those areas addressed we saw a HUGE decrease in codes outside of ER and ICU, or mortality dropped significantly and my new grad nurses are so much more comfortable and are learning more then trying to figure it out on their own.

I am the DON in a 65 bed community hospital. We implemented our RRT about 3 years ago. It is the ICU RN and an RT. It has been very successful. It important that you start somewhere - it doesn't have to be perfect- just start. We go months without a code on the floors because we rescue early. It will go well. We often have minimal staffing in ICU, so the Admin sup helps out.

I've got some powerpoint slides on this. PM or email if you would like a copy.