In response to Rapid Response and Strictly Clinical articles
Dr Gelinas, DNP, RN, CPPS, FNAP, FAAN,
I am writing to let you know of articles which I enjoyed and have used in my teaching. They were the articles entitled “Strictly Clinical – Rapid Response”. I have kept a large number of the articles. During almost all of my seventh semester, Acute/Critical Care, clinical post conferences, I read the beginning of the article. When the article notes a change in the patient, I ask the students: “What would you do now (or first)?”. As I read a little more of the article, I stop and ask, “What would you do next?” or “What would you expect the Rapid Response Team to do first/next?” When we finish, I give the students a copy of the article to keep. The students do better with each post conference, and if I ask similar questions in the hospital, the students are good with their answers.
After several semesters of doing this with my seventh semester students, I decided to try doing this with my fifth semester, Foundation, students. I began halfway through each semester and was amazed at how well the Foundations students answered the questions. In fact, one of my Foundation students, who was a CNA at a local hospital, told me one day that when at work she used my questions when a patient was not feeling well. She did a visual assessment, took vital signs, and then got the patient’s nurse.
I would love to see these articles continue.
Beverly Wheeler, MSN, RN
San Antonio, TX
