Medical-surgical nurses' experiences as first responders during deterioration events: a qualitative study.

Aim And Objective: To explore and understand the experiences of medical-surgical nurses as first responders during clinical deterioration events.

Background: Nurses are key players in identifying and responding to deterioration events to escalate the level of care essential to address specific needs of patients. Delays in recognising signs and symptoms of patient deterioration and activation of Rapid Response Teams have been linked to a lack of nontechnical skills (leadership, teamwork, situational awareness) resulting in increased patient morbidity and mortality.