The nurse is caring for a patient admitted the previous night with exacerbation of chronic heart failure. The patient was stabilized with treatment that included bedrest, IV diuretic therapy, oxygen by 40% mask, and continuous monitoring with telemetry and pulse oximetry. When answering the patient’s call bell on the evening shift, the nurse notices the patient is breathing rapidly and appears anxious. The patient states he is having difficulty breathing. The nurse places the patient in a full Fowler’s position and auscultates the lungs to find rales halfway up the back. The nurse stat pages the patient’s physician and carefully monitors the patient, watching an increasing respiratory rate and decreasing pulse oximetry reading. After waiting 10 minutes with no answer, the nurse calls an RRT.

1.

What aspects of this situation support the decision to call an RRT?

2.

What expectation might the nurse have about the team members that may respond and the care that might be rendered?