Miles I, Anderson M, Ren D, Coker T, Fennimore L. Use of the Modified Early Warning Score by Medical-Surgical Nurses to Initiate the Rapid Response Team: Impact on Patient Outcomes.
J Nurs Care Qual 2023;
38:171-176. [PMID:
36729965 DOI:
10.1097/ncq.0000000000000680]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cardiac arrests are often preceded by several hours of physiological deterioration that may go undetected.
LOCAL PROBLEM
Cardiac arrests frequently occurred on medical-surgical units without prior rapid response team intervention.
METHODS
A pre/postintervention design was used to evaluate a protocol to guide the use of the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) by medical-surgical nurses to escalate the care of deteriorating adult patients.
INTERVENTIONS
Following staff education, the MEWS protocol was implemented across 8 medical-surgical units.
RESULTS
There was a significant increase in patients experiencing a rapid response prior to a cardiac arrest after implementing the MEWS protocol ( P < .0001).
CONCLUSION
Implementing a consistent review of MEWS values allows medical-surgical nurses to initiate assistance from a rapid response team that may prevent an inpatient cardiac arrest.
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