The goal of a rapid response team is to:

Rationale: A. Ensure that emergency equipment (code cart, defibrillator) are working properly is incorrect because while equipment readiness is important for patient safety, this is not the primary goal of a rapid response team (RRT). B. Decrease critical care unit admissions is partially correct in that early intervention by an RRT can sometimes prevent deterioration that would require ICU transfer, but this is a secondary benefit, not the primary goal. C. Increase hospital length of stay is incorrect because longer hospitalization is not an objective of RRTs. The focus is on patient safety, not prolonging stay. D. Prevent cardiac and respiratory arrest is correct because the primary purpose of a rapid response team is to identify and intervene early in patients showing signs of clinical deterioration on general wards. By providing timely assessment, monitoring, and intervention, RRTs aim to prevent progression to life-threatening events such as cardiac or respiratory arrest, improving patient outcomes and safety.