%0 Journal Article
%T Realistic Evaluation of a Rapid Response System: Context, Mechanisms, and Outcomes
%A Jacinda L. Bunch
%A Patricia S. Groves
%A Yelena Perkhounkova
%J Western Journal of Nursing Research
%@ 1552-8456
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0193945918776310
%X The purpose of this study was to describe and explore differences between rapid response system events in a Midwestern community hospital through context, mechanism, and outcome factors. The design was a retrospective review of 1,939 adult inpatient events that occurred on medical (62.8%) and surgical units (37.2%) over 92 months. The immediate outcomes of the events were stabilization (59.0%), transfer to a higher level of care (39%), and cardiopulmonary arrest (2%). Nurses activated 94% of all rapid response events; respiratory (38.8%) and cardiac (29.2%) symptoms were the most common triggers, and worry alone triggered 23% of all events. Medical and surgical events were significantly different with regard to antecedents to unit arrival, most common triggers, immediate clinical outcomes, and occurrence during resource-limited times. Understanding rapid response events and differences between medical and surgical units is important to improve early identification of deterioration and thus intervention for vulnerable patients
%K rapid response system
%K rapid response team
%K patient safety
%K realistic evaluation
%K surgical
%K medical
%K acute care
%K descriptive quantitative
%K adults
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0193945918776310