chapter 27: patient safety Flashcards
AHRQ key features for a culture of safety
- acknowledge risk of environment and need to maintain safety
- blame-free environment where ppl feel ok to report errors
- encourage collab across levels of employment
- organize resources to address safety concers
Environmental safety
- includes physical and psychosocial factors
- Meets basic needs, reduces hazards, and reduces transmission of disease
-vulnerable populations at risk for no safety include: babies, kids, elderly, those with chronic disease, mental disability, issues with communicating, low income, and homeless
Basic human needs
- physiological needs which must be met before physical and psychological and security
- includes Oxygen, Nutrition, and comfortable Temperature
Oxygen
- Supplemental O2 is sometimes necessary, but be careful bc its super flammable
- Careful of CO poisoning from unvented furnace, fireplace, or stove’
- CO binds with hemoglobin, preventing O2 to bind and get to tissues
Nutrition
- Important to know healthy food and how to store
- lots of ppl get sick bc they don’t know how to store food and it causes illness (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria)
- make sure enough water to drink, wash produce, and wash dishes
Temperature
- Hypothermia: old ppl, young ppl, those with heart probs, those who’ve had drugs/alc, and the homeless
- Extreme heat (heat stroke): old, young, chronically ill, marathon runners
Common Environmental Hazards
- motor vehicle accidents, poison, falls, fire, disasters
- nurses need to educate on how to avoid these preventable injuries
Motor vehicle accidents
- backwards til about 2 yrs old; booster til 4’9”; don’t ride in front until over 12 yrs old
- 16 to 19 yr olds get in the most accidents due to unsafe behavior
- old adults are at risk because of cognitive and vision changes –> should drive during the day, have eyes checked plan route b4 driving, don’t tailgate, avoid distractions, exercise regularly
Poison
- kids are particularly at risk: ingest cleaning supplies, meds etc…
- lead poisoning is a big one –> present in old houses, soil, and water –> fetuses, babies, and kids are more sucesptible to the neg effects
Falls
Old ppl have highest risk or serious injury or death from a fall
others at risk:
- working at elevated heights
- alc and drugs
- poverty, crowded house, single parent, young mom
- underlying med conditions
- meds
- inactivity and loss of balance
- poor mobility, cognition, and vision
- unsafe environments
- foot probs
Fire
- usually from cooking and heating (stoves and space heaters)
- fires happen in health care facilities too
- nurses need to be prepared and educate ppl
Disasters
Includes Bioterrorism
Hospitals have to be prepped and monitor these six factors:
- communication
- resources and assets
- safety and security
- staff responsibilities
- utilities management
- patient clincal and support acivities
Transmission of pathogens
-Immunization
WASH YOUR HANDS
- Some parents are worried ab autism; some are worried that 2 month and 4 month vaccines cause SIDS
- poor and black kids are least likely to be fully vaccinated
- Older adults should get influenza and pneumonia vaccine (possibly shingles)
- Health care workers at risk of exposure should get hep B vaccines
Infant/ Toddler/ Preschooler dvlpmntl stage risk
infants and toddlers put stuff in mouth –> poison and choking
- babies need to sleep on back in safe crib
- preschoolers are less reckless, but uncoordinated and prone to falling and drowning
School aged kids dvlpmntl stage risks
- playing sports recklessly
- getting into fights at school
Adolescent dvlpmntl stage risks
-experiment with substances –> increases risk of drowning and car crashes
Suicide
-risk factors: means, bullying, alc/drugs, psychiatric issues, recent loss, sexual identity stuff, neglect, fam history
Adult dvlpmntl stage risks
linked to habits:
alc = car crash or injuries
smoking = CV or pulmonary disease
stress = headaches, GI issues, infections
Old adults dvlpmntl stage risks
- interactions of multiple meds
- cognitive changes (mind wandering increases fall risk)
- chronic diseases
DEMENTIA –> esp wandering behavior
Individual risk factors
workplace culture, lifestye, impaired mobility, economic resources, lack of safety awareness, sensory, cognitive, or communication impairment