Comments on: My Manager…the Epitome of the Idiots… http://anniec898.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/my-managerthe-epitome-of-the-idiots/ Life as a Telemetry Technician... Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:01:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: trauma junkie http://anniec898.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/my-managerthe-epitome-of-the-idiots/#comment-49 trauma junkie Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:45:53 +0000 http://anniec898.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-49 It sounds like it will probably consist of ER nurses (ACLS certified), the nursing supervisor who usually does all the documentation, and either an ER doctor or a PA or NP who is on duty for the ER. I felt the exact same way when we initiated our RRT. I thought it was just a team who knew what they were doing, helping those who didn't. So you're not the only one... At my facility they have considered assigning a CNA to the code team and rapid response team to play the role of runner for supplies or take over chest compressions. I think this would be a great addition to the team because it really takes time away from the urgent even when the key staff (ICU nurses, RTs) have to leave the rapid response for supplies. It sounds like it will probably consist of ER nurses (ACLS certified), the nursing supervisor who usually does all the documentation, and either an ER doctor or a PA or NP who is on duty for the ER.

I felt the exact same way when we initiated our RRT. I thought it was just a team who knew what they were doing, helping those who didn’t. So you’re not the only one…

At my facility they have considered assigning a CNA to the code team and rapid response team to play the role of runner for supplies or take over chest compressions. I think this would be a great addition to the team because it really takes time away from the urgent even when the key staff (ICU nurses, RTs) have to leave the rapid response for supplies.

]]> By: anniec898 http://anniec898.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/my-managerthe-epitome-of-the-idiots/#comment-44 anniec898 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:17:59 +0000 http://anniec898.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-44 I had no idea that Rapid Response or Pre-code teams were legitimate and utilized resources. I honestly thought this was something my ineffective management contrived because the new nurses aren't getting an appropriate orientation to the Med-Surg unit. I trust your opinion and will try very hard to be supportive of the movement, and less ignorant about it. So your RRT sounds like a very effective team. I am just wondering in our small hospital how this will work. At night we only have one Respiratory Therapist for the entire hospital, and he or she is always busy because they cover all of the floor treatments, the ER EVERYTHING. Also, we only have one ICU nurse who really can't leave the unit...I'm wondering if our RRT will consist of all of the ER staff? It will be interesting to see how my management has set up the team and how the team evolves...because anything new undergoes change until it runs at its most efficient. Thanks so much for enlightening me..I always feel knowledge is power, so to speak and it seems I need to work a little harder to ensure I am in the know. Have a beautiful day! I had no idea that Rapid Response or Pre-code teams were legitimate and utilized resources. I honestly thought this was something my ineffective management contrived because the new nurses aren’t getting an appropriate orientation to the Med-Surg unit. I trust your opinion and will try very hard to be supportive of the movement, and less ignorant about it. So your RRT sounds like a very effective team. I am just wondering in our small hospital how this will work. At night we only have one Respiratory Therapist for the entire hospital, and he or she is always busy because they cover all of the floor treatments, the ER EVERYTHING. Also, we only have one ICU nurse who really can’t leave the unit…I’m wondering if our RRT will consist of all of the ER staff? It will be interesting to see how my management has set up the team and how the team evolves…because anything new undergoes change until it runs at its most efficient. Thanks so much for enlightening me..I always feel knowledge is power, so to speak and it seems I need to work a little harder to ensure I am in the know. Have a beautiful day!

]]> By: trauma junkie http://anniec898.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/my-managerthe-epitome-of-the-idiots/#comment-42 trauma junkie Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:01:32 +0000 http://anniec898.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-42 He sounds like a dope if you ask me. However, I have to agree to disagree on one thing. There has been a lot of research done regarding "Pre-Code" or "Rapid Response Teams" and the findings are in favor. As I'm sure you know, in Med-Surg, pts can crash within minutes. Since the initiation of the team, I believe our last employee newsletter said we had only 2 Code Blues (cardiac arrest), compared to 13 in the previous quarter or whatever time frame they use. That's what...a 70% decrease? The idea of a RRT is not to get more experienced nurses in the room to help a flaky new nurse before her pt crashes. For instance, our rapid response team is 2 ICU nurses, an ER nurse, an RT, and the Pulmonologist or ER doc on call. It is an excellent thing. I've seen many "rapid responses" in the past year and all ended with the patient alive. Granted, it's not always this way, but sometimes when a patient is about to code and the nurse is so flustered, it really helps to get a bunch of brains in there. I also remember the administration saying that JCAHO (now the Joint Commission) has proposed this as a patient safety goal: Pilot and implement a rapid response team. Maybe they are just getting a head start? However, the fact that new nurses are receiving 3 days of orientation is absolutely CRAZY. At our facility, they get at least 4, but I think it is 6 weeks. It seems that this is probably always going to be an ongoing conflict. Administrators telling clinicians how they should take care of patients, what policies should be enforced, and how to do their jobs, but administration does not take care of patients so they typically are not aware of the impact of their decisions. Hope it gets a little better. He sounds like a dope if you ask me.

However, I have to agree to disagree on one thing. There has been a lot of research done regarding “Pre-Code” or “Rapid Response Teams” and the findings are in favor. As I’m sure you know, in Med-Surg, pts can crash within minutes. Since the initiation of the team, I believe our last employee newsletter said we had only 2 Code Blues (cardiac arrest), compared to 13 in the previous quarter or whatever time frame they use. That’s what…a 70% decrease?

The idea of a RRT is not to get more experienced nurses in the room to help a flaky new nurse before her pt crashes. For instance, our rapid response team is 2 ICU nurses, an ER nurse, an RT, and the Pulmonologist or ER doc on call. It is an excellent thing. I’ve seen many “rapid responses” in the past year and all ended with the patient alive. Granted, it’s not always this way, but sometimes when a patient is about to code and the nurse is so flustered, it really helps to get a bunch of brains in there.

I also remember the administration saying that JCAHO (now the Joint Commission) has proposed this as a patient safety goal: Pilot and implement a rapid response team. Maybe they are just getting a head start?

However, the fact that new nurses are receiving 3 days of orientation is absolutely CRAZY. At our facility, they get at least 4, but I think it is 6 weeks.

It seems that this is probably always going to be an ongoing conflict. Administrators telling clinicians how they should take care of patients, what policies should be enforced, and how to do their jobs, but administration does not take care of patients so they typically are not aware of the impact of their decisions.

Hope it gets a little better.

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