A survey of nurses' knowledge and opinions about using the Emergency Response Team during a clinical deterioration

Abstract Background: The Emergency Response Team (ERT) is a healthcare professionals’ team who bring critical care expertise to clinically deteriorating patient in hospitals. The ERT impacts on critical care bed utilisation,... [ view full abstract ]

Abstract
Background: The Emergency Response Team (ERT) is a healthcare professionals’ team who bring critical care expertise to clinically deteriorating patient in hospitals. The ERT impacts on critical care bed utilisation, critical care patient outcomes and patient safety in wards. However, its success is dependent on its utilisation. ERT is activated and used by nurses and their lack of knowledge and experiences of ERT in addition to their ‘fear of criticism’ are identified as barriers to its utilisation.
Aim: The aim of this study was to explore nurses’ knowledge of and opinions about using the ERT in a clinical deterioration.
Methods: A quantitative descriptive research design was used. The sample comprised nurses working in a Dublin hospital where ERT is used. Ethical approval was obtained from the School of Nursing & Midwifery Research Ethics Committee, Trinity College Dublin. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire, previously used by Radeschi et al. (2015). Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (SPSS version 23).
Findings: Nurses (N=144) have good knowledge and positive opinions regarding using the ERT during clinical deterioration. Nurses reported that, ERT enhances patient safety, improves their skills in managing sick patients and does not increase their workload. Nurses also reported that its availability made them feel safer at work and that they prefer working in a hospital with an established ERT. However, barriers to its use, such as contacting the primary physician prior to calling ERT were also identified.
Conclusion and Implications: This study demonstrated that nurses have good knowledge and positive opinions about ERT. However, congruent with the literature, barriers in its utilisation were also identified. Ongoing education regarding ERT use may help minimise these barriers. ERT implementation should be considered in other Irish hospitals in order to improve patient safety and retain nursing staff.