Environmental Safety Lecture 3 Flashcards
As a nurse what are the primary responsibilities for safety?
Assessment (of both the patient and the environment; chart, patient, and thorough questions and interview)
Education (screen patients appropriately and educate them on proper information in association with what brought them to you.)
What are the factors affecting patient safety
cognition age and development mobility and health status lifestyle sensory perceptual alterations environmental factors safety awareness ability to communicate emotional state
the ability to perceive environmental stimuli and body reactions and to respond appropriately through thought and action. Clients with an impaired function include people lacking sleep, people who are unconscious, disoriented people who may not understand where they are or who they are, people who perceive stimuli that is not there
Cognitive
Through knowledge and accurate assessment of the environment people learn to protect themselves from many injuries.
Age and Development (study over chart on page 641)
Factors that place people at risk for injury include unsafe work environments; residence in neighborhoods that have high crime rates; access to firearms; insufficient income to purchase safety equipment or make necessary repairs; and access to illict drugs
LIfestyle
alterations in this factor is related to paralysis, muscle weakness, diminished balance and lack of coordination place clients at a risk for injury
Mobility and Health Status
People with impaired perception, hearing, taste, smell, and vision are highly susceptible to injury
Sensory - Perceptual Alterations
An extreme state of this factor can alter the ability to perceive environmental hazards. stressful situations can reduce a person’s level of concentration, cause errors of judgement and decrease awareness of external stimuli
Emotional State
Individuals with diminished ability to receive and convey information are at risk of injury.
Ability to communicate
Information is crucial to safety. Clients in unfamiliar environments frequently need specific safety information. Lack of knowledge is a potential safety hazard.
Safety Awareness
Client safety is affected by the health care setting. Depending on the client situation the nurse may need to assess the environment of the home, workplace or community
Environment
What does RACE stand for when considering fire safety
Rescue
Alarm
Confine
Extinguish
What does the PASS acronym stand for ?
Pull the fire extinguisher
Aim hose at the fire
Squeeze handle
Sweep hose side to side
What is the leading cause of injury in older adults?
Falls
Name universal fall precautions in hospital settings
Bed in low position non slip footwear teach patient how to use the call button orient patient to the environment keep the call light in reach use night lights floor surfaces are clean and dry handrails (only 2 siderails) hourly patient rounds
