Project Summary

Project Summary

Chamberlain College of Nursing

NR660: Capstone

Spring 2012

Project Summary

The problem of patient safety on the Medical Surgical Units in the hospital is identified and implementing Code 100 is identified to resolve the issue. Code 100 will incorporate a process for the nurses and other staff on the patient care units to identify early signs and symptoms of patient deterioration and contact the hospitalist and Rapid Response Team to start interventions to prevent the patient from advancing into Cardiopulmonary Arrest. Patient safety According to the National Patient Safety Agency and guidelines produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, early identification of clinical deterioration in hospitalized patients is important to prevent subsequent cardiopulmonary arrest and reduce mortality. Understanding where and why the care process fails, resulting in the inability to recognize patient deterioration can help healthcare staff and organizations to prioritize and improve patient safety (Beaumont et al, 2008).

Implementation of the Rapid Response Team will follow Lewin’s theory of change, unfreezing, moving and refreezing (Sullivan & Decker, 2005). The Rapid Response Team consist of specialty trained nurses, respiratory therapist, pharmacist and Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner and doctor on each shift. The nursing staff is trained to keep up to date on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation guidelines, early detection of patient deterioration, performing mock codes and maintaining complete documentation.

The staff is made aware of the problem and why the change is needed. The information gathered about the number of Code Blues, mortality rates outside of the Intensive Care Units and patient satisfaction is presented to the staff and feedback is encouraged. Staff feedback is encouraged to identify resistance so the barriers or resistance can be addressed. The proposal is presented to the stakeholders and resources...