Skip to main content

Early warning systems and rapid response to the deteriorating patient in hospital: a realist evaluation.

Mcgaughey, J., O'Halloran, P., Porter, S., Trinder, J. and Blackwood, B., 2017. Early warning systems and rapid response to the deteriorating patient in hospital: a realist evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73 (December), 3119-3132.

Full text available as:

[img]
Preview
PDF
Mcgaughey_et_al-2017-Journal_of_Advanced_Nursing.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

352kB

DOI: 10.1111/jan.13367

Abstract

AIM: To identify those contexts and mechanisms that enable or constrain the implementation of Rapid Response Systems on acute general hospital wards to recognise and respond to patient deterioration. BACKGROUND: Rapid Response Systems allow deteriorating patients to be recognised using Early Warning Systems, referred early via escalation protocols and managed at the bedside by competent staff. DESIGN: Realist Evaluation. METHODS: The research design was an embedded multiple case study approach of four wards in two hospitals in Northern Ireland which followed the principles of Realist Evaluation. We used various mixed methods including individual and focus group interviews, observation of nursing practice between June - November 2010 and document analysis of Early Warning Systems audit data between May - October 2010 and hospital acute care training records over 4.5 years from 2003-2008. Data were analysed using NiVivo8 and SPPS. RESULTS: A cross case analysis highlighted similar patterns of factors which enabled or constrained successful recognition, referral and response to deteriorating patients in practice. Key enabling factors were the use of clinical judgement by experienced nurses and the empowerment of nurses as a result of organisational change associated with implementation of Early Warning System protocols. Key constraining factors were low staffing and inappropriate skill mix levels, rigid implementation of protocols and culturally-embedded suboptimal communication processes. CONCLUSION: Successful implementation of Rapid Response Systems was dependent on adopting organisational and cultural changes that facilitated staff empowerment, flexible implementation of protocols and ongoing experiential learning. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:0309-2402
Uncontrolled Keywords:early warning systems ; enabling and constraining factors ; escalation protocols ; nursing ; patient deterioration ; patient recognition ; rapid response systems ; realistic evaluation
Group:Faculty of Health & Social Sciences
ID Code:29474
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:14 Jul 2017 09:01
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 14:05

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

More statistics for this item...
Repository Staff Only -