Week 1 Flashcards
Bed sores have many different names
Pressure ulcers, pressure sores, decubitus ulcers, decubs
Pressure ulcers usually occur over where?
Bony prominences
Pressure Ulcer Stages
Stage I
Epidermis intact
Non-blanchable redness
erythema’s
Stage II (Partial
Thickness)
Involves epidermis or
epidermis and dermis May be an abrasion,
blister or shallow crater
Stage III (Full Thickness) Damage to or necrosis of
subcutaneous tissue
Deep crater with or without
undermining of adjacent tissue
Stage IV (Full Thickness) Extensive destruction, tissue necrosis, damage to muscle,
bone or supporting structures May be undermining or sinus
tracts
Elevate hospital bed no more than _____ degrees.
30 degrees!
Potential safety hazards… what are some
Cleanliness and noise
Hospital beds
Side rails
Call light
Temperature, air circulation, and light
What 3 elements are needed to start a fire
Heat, fuel, oxygen
What’s the acronym to remember in case of a fire… and what does each letter stand for?
R.A.C.E.
R - Rescue Patients FIRST!
A - Alarm
C - Contain fire
E - Extinguish fire
What’s the Acronym to use a fire extinguisher? What does each letter stand for?
P.A.S.S.
P - Pull the pin
A - Aim nozzle at BASE of fire
S - Squeeze handle (obviously)
S - Sweep or use a sweeping motion
In fire prevention, if an O2 tank is NOT in use, what should you do ?
Turn it off! And unless it is secured, do not leave an O2 tank standing up! They can tip over and blast off like a rocket.
If confronted by a potentially violent individual, what should you do?
remain calm
● no sudden movements
● listen
● don’t argue
● Focus on what you can do (win-win)
● maintain a distance
Employee Safety / Occupational Hazards to be mindful of
techniques to remember:
raise patient’s bed height at the start
lower it when finished
back supports (gait belt)
extra help / mechanical lifts
Ergonomics – injury prevention through adaptation
Occupational risk factors:
repetitive motions (lifting)
unassisted lifting
awkward posture and twisting movements
List some ways patients are at a high risk for injury
Medications which can cause disorientation, dizziness, and lethargy.
Physical impairments which include impaired sight/hearing.
Diseases such as diabetes, PVD, immunocompromised
Older patients and the effects of aging - slow reflexes, changes in integumentary system
age associated integumentary changes
Glands less active, decreased circulation, dryness&thinning of skin, thickening fingernails/toenails, loss of subcutaneous tissue layer, loss of elasticity in skin, loss of hair color, development of skin tags moles and warts OLDER PATIENTS ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR PRESSURE ULCER DEVELOPMENT!!
Effective communicators possess a degree of self knowledge and understand their
Biases
Strengths
Weaknesses
Communication Barriers
Rapid speech
Complex terminology
Distracting environments
Language
Fear
Physical impairments - aphasia
Hearing
Vision
