Novel nursing terminologies for the rapid response system.
OBJECTIVE
Nursing terminology with implications for the rapid response system (RRS) is introduced and proposed: critical incident nursing diagnosis (CIND), defined as the recognition of an acute life-threatening event that occurs as a result of disease, surgery, treatment, or medication; critical incident nursing intervention, defined as any indirect or direct care registered nurse-initiated treatment, based upon clinical judgment and knowledge that a registered nurse performs in response to a CIND; and critical incident control, defined as a response that attempts to reverse a life-threatening condition.


METHODS
The current literature, research studies, meta-analyses from a variety of disciplines, and personal clinical experience serve as the data sources for this article.


RESULTS
The current nursing diagnoses, nursing interventions, and nursing outcomes listed in the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International Classification, Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), and Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), respectively, are inaccurate or inadequate for describing nursing care during life-threatening situations. The lack of such standardized nursing terminology creates a barrier that may impede critical communication and patient care during life-threatening situations when activating the RRS.


CONCLUSIONS
The North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International Classification, NIC, and NOC are urged to refine their classifications and include CIND, critical incident nursing intervention, and critical incident control. The RRS should incorporate standardized nursing terminology to describe patient care during life-threatening situations.


CONCLUSIONS
Refining the diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes classifications will permit nursing researchers, among others, to conduct studies on the efficacy of the proposed novel nursing terminology when providing care to patients during life-threatening situations. In addition, including the proposed novel nursing terminology in the RRS offers a means of improving care in such situations.
Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center, Woodland Hills, CA, USA. wong@roadrunner.com
Elizabeth
E
Wong
D002983:Clinical Competence; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis / Q000592:standards; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D000078329:Workforce