Rapid Response Nurses: A Resource for Nurses, Families and Patients

An interesting story about nurses appeared in our local newspaper this morning.

It explained to readers about “rapid response” nurses and teams, whose goal it is to stop big trouble like Code Blues before they happen.

The teams give permission to floor and unit nurses to call for a second opinion when they feel there have been critical changes in patients that could lead to worse things, even though the nurses may not be able to pinpoint the problems exactly. In our area, all the major hospitals have rapid response teams -- one since 2006; another since 2007. One is just getting the team off the ground.

As one supervisor put it, the teams empower staff nurses to say, “Something just doesn’t seem right, but I don’t know what (it) is.”

These team nurses don’t just sit around and wait for the call; they are proactive. They will review the vital signs of every patient in the hospital at the beginning of the shift, looking for telltale patterns or small problems that could foretell of larger ones. They may troll the halls, dropping in on anyone at any time.

The teams also give credence to nurse-intuition, which can be a powerful thing sometimes. I’ve heard many stories from nurses who “had a feeling,” acted on it and saved a life. According to one chief of the medical staff, Code Blues at his hospital have gone from six or seven a month to an impressive one or two.

What also seems remarkable about these rapid response teams is that their services are available to patients and families. If either feels the need for reassessment, they, too, can call in a member of the team. According to one of the hospitals’ director of the Center for Nursing Excellence, there is increasing evidence that family members and patients can be a valuable resource because they know when things aren’t going as they should – perhaps before anyone else.

Giving this much “power” to patients and families might make some in the hospital very nervous, but in at least one of these institutions, no one is placing an emergency call to find out what happened to the lunch tray or to empty bed pans.

“What we’re finding is that, when patients are empowered, they don’t abuse it,” said one chief of staff.

Do you have a rapid response team in your hospital or medical center?

If so, how is it working?

Do you feel more confident knowing the team members are there?

Are the teams’ services available to patients?

Tell us about it.