System Barriers to RN Activation of Rapid Response Teams: New Evidence

By Sylvia Foley, AJN senior editor

Rapid response teams (RRTs) in acute care facilities are there to decrease mortality from preventable complications. But there is evidence that RRT systems “aren’t working as designed, particularly with regard to problems in the activation stage,” according to nurse researcher Jane Saucedo Braaten.

Figure 1. Five Domains of Cognitive Work Analysis and Corresponding Study Questions Figure 1. Five Domains of Cognitive Work Analysis and Corresponding Study Questions (click image to enlarge)

Interested in how hospital system factors influence RNs’ activation behavior, Braaten decided to investigate further. She reports on her findings in this month’s CE–Original Research feature, “Hospital System Barriers to Rapid Response Team Activation: A Cognitive Work Analysis.” Here’s a summary.

Purpose: To use cognitive work analysis to describe factors within the hospital system that shape medical–surgical nurses’ RRT activation behavior.
Methods:
Cognitive work analysis offers a framework for the study of complex sociotechnical systems and was used as the organizing element of the study. Data were obtained from interviews with 12 medical–surgical nurses and document review.
Results: Many system factors affected participants’ activation decisions. Systemic constraints, especially in cases of subtle or gradual clinical changes, included a lack of adequate information, the availability of multiple strategies, the need to justify RRT activation, a scarcity of human resources, and informal hierarchical norms in […]

2017-07-27T14:42:21-04:00February 6th, 2015|nursing perspective, nursing research|1 Comment

AJN’s September Issue: Care of Incarcerated Pregnant Women, Gun Violence, Pressure Ulcer Guidelines, More

AJN0913.Cover.OnlineAJN‘’s September issue is now available on our Web site. Here’s a selection of what not to miss.

Loneliness may be linked to multiple chronic illnesses, decline in positive health practices, and increased risk of death, as described in this  month’s original research article, “Loneliness and Quality of Life in Chronically Ill Rural Older Adults.” Data from the pilot study described in the article suggest that nurses’ assessment and management of loneliness in this population is vital. You can earn 2.5 CE credits with this article. If you’re reading AJN on your iPad, you can listen to a podcast interview with the author by clicking on the podcast icon on the first page of the article. The podcast is also available on our Web site.

In 2004, only 54% of incarcerated pregnant women received some type of pregnancy care, and the quality of that care varied widely. Pregnant women in prisons face other risks, such as poor nutrition and heavy workloads, and often are required to be shackled during labor, despite laws to the contrary. These practices, as well as implications for nursing practice, policy, and research, are discussed in this month’s CE feature, “Care of Pregnant Women in the Criminal Justice System.” Earn 2.5 CE credits by reading this article and taking the […]

2016-11-21T13:06:41-05:00September 3rd, 2013|Nursing|0 Comments
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