RRT initiated by family/patient

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

My hospital is about to embark on the "patient/family initiated RRT." Instead of the call going directly to the RRT staff, these calls will go to the Nursing Coordinator.

I know other places have begun similar practices. How does it work at your facility? And how well does it go?

Thanks.

[PICNICRN, BSN, RN]

We/ve been doing it since we started the RRT- about 2 years. Our calls go to the hospital operator and get called overhead like the CODEs do.... we do not carry a pager or anything, we just respond as we hear the overhead page.

Responders are one of us(PICU RN) a PICU RT, the PICU charge RN, and the house supervisor. I think that in the 2 years we've had only 2 family initiated RRT calls. You would think that families might abuse the system, but we have not seen this at all. Both cases were infants with respiratory issues that felt the nursing staff on the floor were not responding appropriately(nursing was waiting for a call back from a Doc in one situation and I can't remember the other.) Both ended up being admitted to PICU.

If your calls are going to the Coordinator, do they then go and assess the situation themselves before calling the RRT?

[RNKPCE]

We have it and it is called Code Help it came from a case back on the East coasthttp://www.josieking.org/

When we first implemented it we had a few inappropriate calls, needing a box of Kleenex etc. I haven't heard of it being used much at all. We have to explain it to patients and families on admission which is always sort of strange. It goes something like this " We have a system in place called "Code Help" and it is there if you feel you or your family member has a significant change in condition and the staff isn't responding to it, it was developed out of a case in another hospital, we don't anticipate that you will need it but here is the information if you do" Then we show them the information .

[Southern Fried RN]

My hospital includes a blurb about how and when to call a RRT. I have never been called by a family member when working on the RRT and to my knowledge none of the other RRT nurses have either.

[lkf569]

the hospital i work for has had this for about a year. it's very helpful for the floor nurses to get the critical care help they need. our rrt has standing orders to start care and evaluate. patent while getting the doctor on phone or floor. this has resulted in fewer codes on med/surg. floors and less morbidity rates, kudos to them.

[RNKPCE]

I think the OP is referring to pt or families initiating the rapid response team not the direct care nurses right?

[lkf569]

Patents and family also calls some times from lobby

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I think the OP is referring to pt or families initiating the rapid response team not the direct care nurses right?

Yes. We've had the nurse-initiated RRT in place since I've been working at my facility (coming up on four years).

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

we have it too and the guidelines are given to the patients and their families in the little hospital info folder.

some of the reasons they may call an RRT though are iffy to me. one is "an issue you feel is not being handled properly or in a timely manner by the nursing staff on the floor"

ok so, shortness of breath and chest pain.. yes. but if i take too long to get your gingle ale, please dont feel free to activate the rapid response line... it takes time away from people who really need it.

i'm new @ this facility and i haven't seen it used by a family member YET.... but i'm sure i will.