Marjon Borgert

46 Chapter 3 ABSTRACT Objectives. Cardiac Arrest Teams (CATs) are frequently activated by nurses when patients experience ‘false arrests’ (FAs). In those cases activation of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) might be more e cient. We determined the level of urgency of FAs to nd a scope for improvement in e ciency within emergency care. Methods. CAT-activations for FAs in a university hospital from September 2009 to 2012 were retrospectively analysed and classi ed as urgent or less-urgent. Results. In 26% (107/405) the CAT was activated for FAs. Calls were classi ed as urgent in 43% (46/107). Less urgent calls comprised 57% (61/107) of the FAs, di erence 14% (95%CI: 1% to 26%). Conclusions. A signi cant part of the CAT-activations for FAs were less urgent and an RRT-activation might be more e cient. To minimise the CAT-activations for FAs, nurses need to recognise early patients who clinically deteriorate. Therefore, nurses should use the Modi ed Early Warning Score correctly.