Impact of Dual Intensive Care Unit and Rapid Response Team Nursing Roles on Service Delivery in the Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Rapid response teams generally consist of multidisciplinary specialist staff members with advanced knowledge and skills to manage deteriorating patients outside of the intensive care unit. These teams consist predominantly of intensive care unit nurses, who often undertake intensive care unit and rapid response team duties concurrently. Little has been published on the impact of these nurses' absence while attending a rapid response call on the nursing workforce, patient care, and resource allocation in the intensive care unit.