What Is an RRT Nurse? Overview and FAQ
A rapid response team (RRT) nurse is the one you want by your side if a patient is unresponsive or has alarming new symptoms. Rapid response nurses have a honed sense of clinical judgment, helping manage patients who are deteriorating or who need a higher level of care. If you’re good at making informed decisions quickly, you might excel in this role.
In a hospital, a rapid response team is an interdisciplinary group of experienced clinicians who come to see patients on the floor when urgent new issues arise. For example, if a nurse on an oncology unit notices that their patient suddenly has facial drooping, the RRT is called to help evaluate the patient and create a new plan of care. If the patient is becoming more unstable, the RRT may help coordinate a move to intensive care for closer monitoring.
Rapid Response Nursing: An Overview
An RRT nurse is an essential member of the rapid care team and may be the first to arrive when this group is called. Units throughout the hospital rely on these nurses, who may also be called rounding nurses or rapid response nurses.
Here are some of the essential responsibilities of this role:
- Evaluate and assess patients.
- Provide support to the clinical team during emergencies.
- Educate patients, families, and other clinicians about the RRT model and plan of care.
- Consult with unit nurses on high-risk patient care.
- Provide care coordination to organize team members and move patients when necessary.
- Support team management and decision-making.
Unlike unit nurses who are assigned a specific patient group for the duration of a shift, RRT nurses are on call to the rest of the hospital, ready to respond when units need support. Note that ICUs do not call the RRT since their patients are already attended to by critical care teams and nurses.
RRT nurses may respond to issues on a range of units within one shift. These can include the following:
Essential Qualities of a Rapid Response Nurse
A great rapid response nurse has the following traits:
- Calm under pressure: When others might be losing their cool during an emergency, RRT nurses are able to make sound decisions and think quickly to help patients.
- Communication: RRT nurses have to be in contact with team members, family, and patients during emergencies, often communicating difficult information quickly.
- Patience: This role requires the ability to educate, support, and encourage other team members in high-pressure situations.
- Confidence: RRT nurses are an essential resource for the entire hospital. This role requires you to trust your gut and your nursing experience.
Rapid Response Nurse Salary
The average RRT nurse salary is about $91,000 per year. Certifications, experience, and professional development could help you earn more in this role.
Your location also helps determine your nursing salary. Check out roles in the states with the highest pay for RNs:
How to Become an RRT Nurse: 5 Steps
It takes at least two years, and often longer, to become a nurse. RRT nurses also need at least two years of experience and training in intensive care or the emergency department, so it will take at least four years to meet the qualifications for this role.
Step 1: Nursing School
Start by earning either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). While an ADN is a quicker route into the workforce, a BSN may give you an edge when applying for competitive acute care roles. Learn more about choosing between ADN vs. BSN degrees.
During nursing school, you’ll take essential classes like anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and more, while clinical rotations will introduce you to a variety of hospital units. You may also participate in simulated learning programs, where you can practice emergency management skills like Basic Life Support (BLS) protocols.
Step 2: Become an RN
After graduating, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Exam for RNs (NCLEX-RN) to gain licensure. The exam evaluates your readiness to practice safely and competently as a new nurse. Before or after the exam, there will likely be an additional state licensure application, which generally includes a fee, background check, and submission of your nursing degree.
Step 3: Gain Intensive Care Experience
It takes confidence, experience, and excellent critical thinking skills to be an RRT nurse, meaning that this is not a role you can be hired into as a new graduate. Once you’re licensed, apply for roles in acute care units, where you’ll take care of sick patients and learn essential time management skills. Some ICUs and EDs hire new graduates through residency programs, which can help you transition from student to professional nurse.
As you’re gaining experience, consider pursuing additional training to build your emergency management skills. Training and certifications that could help with this role include:
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
Step 4: Transition into the Rapid Response Team
Once you’ve gained experience, it’s time to apply for RN jobs in rapid response. Some facilities may offer internal transfers to the RRT for experienced nurses. Use our resume writing guide to help you apply, and prepare for interviews with our sample prep questions. Be ready for the interviewer to evaluate your clinical judgment, experience, and team coordination skills. Soon, you’ll be responding to unit emergencies as a rapid response nurse.
RRT Nurse FAQ
What are other rapid response team roles and responsibilities?
Alongside the rapid response nurse, this team also typically includes:
- Respiratory therapist: Manage ventilators, administer oxygen therapy and nebulized medications, run diagnostic tests, and respond to respiratory emergencies.
- Critical care physician: Also called an intensivist, these doctors specialize in the care of critically ill patients and may manage life-support systems, medications, and care plans.
RRT vs. code team: What’s the difference?
Code teams are another type of interdisciplinary group in a hospital, but their role is strictly to respond to code blue emergencies. In contrast, an RRT responds to a broader range of patient issues, including vital sign changes, allergic reactions, stroke symptoms, and more. They work towards preventing further complications and keeping patients out of the ICU.
When should RRT be called?
This team gets called when a patient’s health status is deteriorating. Sometimes the nursing team may feel that something just doesn’t seem right with a patient. Potential reasons for calling the rapid response team may include:
- Sudden drop in blood pressure
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- New or worsening difficulty breathing
- New chest pain
- Altered mental status or new confusion
- Seizure
- Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
- Significant bleeding
- Signs of stroke
- Nurse, patient, or family concerns
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