Safety Flashcards
Clinical decision making
Nurses consider safety of the client and colleagues at all points of the nursing process
Infection
The spread of infection within HC settings is a danger to clients and all healthcare staff
Perioperative care
Surgery increases the risk to the client of being exposed to infections, wrong-site surgery, and issues related to anesthesia
Quality improvement
Improving quality of care for clients involves the safety of clients at all times
Reasons for adverse events when providing client care include:
Complicated care
Treatments occurring at different times and across shifts
Coordinating care
Medicine and nursing constantly evolving
Multiple clients needing care at same time
Clients unable to follow treatment plans or understand technology
The most common adverse events in HC include:
Falls Improper use of restraints HAIs Wrong-site surgery Medication errors Hospital readmission Diagnostic errors
Clients at high risk for falls include those:
With impaired memory and muscle weakness
Who use assistive devices such as canes or walkers
Who use multiple prescription and OTC meds
Nursing strategies to prevent falls include:
Remove obstacles from walking path Keep freq. used items in reach Well-lit rooms Footwear with good traction Ensure prescription eyewear is used Utilizing side rails on client beds Physical restraints when needed
Limb restraints
Made of cloth and used to immobilize a limb for a therapeutic purpose such as preventing dislodgement of endotracheal tubes
Belt Restraint
Used to ensure safety when transporting on a stretcher or wheelchair; may be used to protect PT confined to a chair or bed
Mitt or hand restraints
Used to prevent confused clients from self-inflicted skin injuries or to prevent accidental dislodgement of IV catheters or ET tubes; must be removed periodically to assess hand circulation
Commonly used medication restraints
Sedatives
Hypnotics
Neuroleptics
Anti-anxiety meds
Actions that PTs can take to help prevent HAIs
Knowing prescribed treatment and recovery plan
Controlling blood glucose levels
Losing weight prior to surgery
Quitting smoking
Reasons for wrong-site surgery include:
Inadequate client assessment and care planning
Failure to communicate
Insuff. review of medical records
Multiple procedures on multiple parts of client performed during same operation
Failure to include PT and fam when identifying correct operation site
Failure to clearly mark correct operation site
Failure to recheck info before starting operation
Six rights of medication administration:
- Right drug
- Right dose
- Right client
- Right route
- Right time
- Right documentation
