Improving Communication and Response to Clinical Deterioration to Increase Patient Safety in the Intensive Care Unit

Activity Summary

Nurses spend more time at the bedside than any other provider and therefore are especially well positioned to identify subtle changes that may precede clinical deterioration. This article demonstrates how an initiative through the implementation of night multidisciplinary rounds, a case study review, and creation of an escalation note in the EHR, provided a surgical ICU with substantial insight into how to improve team-based care, communication and patient safety.

Objectives

Describe the barriers to communication and escalation of patient decompensation in the intensive care unit setting.
Explain the nurse’s role in recognizing and communicating patient decompensation to providers to ensure early implementation of interventions.
Implement education to reduce communication disparities and prepare nurses to escalate clinical observations directly to the provider.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for {contactHours} contact hours.

Disclosures

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity. Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.