Rapid Response Team (RRT): A unique process to decrease adult code blues. “If you're concerned, so are we! “

Purpose:
To describe an extraordinary RRT process to decrease adult cardiopulmonary arrests. The process includes dedicated critical care nurses without patient assignments, specifically timed post Rapid Response Team nursing follow up assessment,and data review.

Significance:
Decreasing hospital cardiopulmonary arrests contributes to saving patients lives and is an outcome of quality patient care, early nursing assessment, and intervention. Rapid response teams support nurses at the bedside in responding to quick changes in patient conditions.

Strategy and Implementation:
Rapid response teams consist of team members who respond to changes in patient conditions. Unique features of our rapid response team include staffing two 24 hour critical care nurses without patient assignments, detailed post rapid response follow up nursing assessments, and thorough data analysis. The flying squad nurse is first to respond offering essential support to the bedside nurse, administering medications, communicating and synthesizing patient information, and documenting patient assessments. Unique follow up nursing assessment occur at two to four hours and 12-15 hours post RRT addressing changes in condition, tests, and critical thinking questions. This follow up process is essential in preventing further deterioration of the patient's condition and unplanned chaotic transfers to a higher level of care. Triggers, interventions, and patient outcomes are retrieved for data analysis. Data is reviewed monthly for trends and areas for improvement.

Evaluation:
Since implementation the average monthly med-surg codes have decreased from 4.4 in 2004 to 1.1 in 2010. Monthly rapid response calls are compared to med surg codes to correlate outcomes.

Implications for Practice:
Dedicated critical care nurses rounding without patient assignments have contributed to one organizations success in decrease medical surgical cardiopulmonary arrests. Nurses play a key role in detecting changes in patient condition and contribute to quality patient care while saving lives.