title: Nurses' perceptions of accessing a Medical Emergency Team: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical Emergency Teams (METs) have been developed and implemented with the aim of improving recognition of and response to deteriorating patients. Yet, METs are often not activated or used effectively by nursing staff. The reasons for this are not fully understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore nurses' experiences and perceptions of using and activating a MET, in order to understand the facilitators and barriers to nurse's use of the MET.
  
  
  METHODS
  An interpretive qualitative approach was adopted to explore nurses' experiences and perceptions of using and activating the MET. This study was set in a large public teaching hospital in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Fifteen registered ward nurses who had cared for patients who had deteriorated on the ward, and as a result of this deterioration were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as an unplanned admission, were interviewed about their experiences and perceptions of using a MET.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ward nurses who had cared for a patient who had deteriorated. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interviews were analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes relating to the participants' experiences and perceptions of using a MET emerged from the data. These themes were: (1) sensing clinical deterioration; (2) resisting and hesitating; (3) pushing the button; and (4) support and leadership.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work identifies why nurses do not activate METs appropriately. This delay in MET activation potentially exposes the deteriorating patient to suboptimal care and increases the risk of adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences 2 (G16) 2.49, School of Nursing and Midwifery - Gold Coast, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia. Electronic address: d.massey@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences 2 (G16) 2.62, Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing (NCREN), School of Nursing and Midwifery - Gold Coast, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia. Electronic address: w.chaboyer@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chaboyer
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences (N48) 2.09, School of Nursing and Midwifery - Nathan, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, QLD 4111, Australia. Electronic address: l.aitken@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aitken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D057209:Hospital Rapid Response Team; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011793:Queensland
keywords: Clinical deterioration; Medical Emergency Teams; Patient deterioration; Patient safety