Nurses’ management of acute patient deterioration

Nursing staff play a vital role in recognising patient deterioration and calling for assistance via a Rapid Response System (RRS). The demand on RRS is rising within health organisations nationally, raising concerns about the sustainability of current systems. Additionally, Medical Emergency Teams (METs) are increasingly being activated to assess and manage patients with abnormal vital signs, rather than those who require intensive care support. While ward nurses recognise that patients with single-parameter physiological derangement do not require critical care review, organisational policy requires a RRS review for set criteria.

My project aims to address this problem by introducing a nurse-led pathway that enables registered nurses to safely initiate management for a common cause of patient deterioration in the surgical setting. This will reduce the burden on the current MET system and optimise patient safety through timely interventions that prevent further deterioration.

My participation in the MacHSR Fellowship Program will consolidate and expand upon my experience and knowledge of how organisational processes and mechanisms impact healthcare delivery at the RMH. This will be central to translating my PhD research into clinical practice.