Competency expectations of nurses in rapid response teams: an interview-based qualitative study

Abstract

Background: The rapid response teams (RRTs) are early intervention Teams made up of physicians, nurses, and/or other designated personnel that conduct early assessment and intervention of patients with changing conditions outside the intensive care unit (ICU) in order to reduce ICU admissions and prevent further deterioration or promote early admission to the ICU in critically ill patients. Numerous studies have shown that RRT can effectively reduce the incidence of cardiac arrest and accidental death in patients. Nurses are the most indispensable members of multidisciplinary teams (MDT), and their ability is closely related to the success rate of RRT. Methods: Using the phenomenological method of qualitative research, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 non-nurse members of RRT, including 6 doctors, 5 anesthesiologists and 5 respiratory therapists, in a third class a general hospital in Shanghai. Colaizzi content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: After analysis and collation, three themes were extracted: professional theoretical knowledge, professional practical skills, and personality traits. Professional theoretical knowledge includes basic medical knowledge and knowledge of rapid response system. Professional practical skills include quick reaction capability, ability to assess illness, first aid skills and communication skills; Personality traits include imperturbable and cooperative spirit of group. Conclusions: Non-nurse members of the RRT expect the response team nurses to possess solid professional theoretical knowledge, skilled professional practical skills, and good personality qualities. Nursing managers should pay attention to the training of professional theoretical knowledge, professional practical skills and personality quality when carrying out the training practice of nurses’ competency in RRT, so as to truly improve the success rate of RRT operation and further promote patient safety.