Term
| Factors Affecting Safety: Developmental Considerations |
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Definition
-Exposure of the fetus to toxic substances during pregnancy
-recognizing abuse of children or women
-childhood accidents due to motor skill development
-high risk sexual activity amongst adolescents
-abuse of the elderly |
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Term
| Factors Affecting Safety: Lifestyle |
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Definition
-occupations:exposure to workplace hazards, hazards in the OR, excessive noise, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome.
-social behavior: failure to where safety belts, stress, substance abuse
-Environment: pollutants, high crime, acts of aggression, terrorism |
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Term
| Factors Affecting Safety: Mobility |
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Definition
Limited mobility and unsteady gait leads to falls.
Being in an unfamiliar setting may increase risk
supportive devices require teaching to be used safely |
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Term
| Factors Affecting Safety: Sensory Perception |
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Definition
Alterations in sensory perception can have devastating effect on safety.
Visual changes can lead to falls.
Hearing impairments prevent patients form hearing alarms, sirens, or healthcare instructions.
Tactile changes may prevent the pt from detecting temperature changes leading to injury |
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Term
| Factors Affecting Safety: Knowledge |
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Definition
| Lack of knowledge can make using new medical equipment or implementing a new medication regimen a safety concern. |
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Term
| Factors Affecting Safety: Ability to communicate |
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Definition
| Alterations in communication can prevent the patient from accurately perceiving events. |
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Term
| Factors Affecting Safety: Physical Health State |
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Definition
| any ill or weakened state increases the chance for injury to the patient. |
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Term
| Factors Affecting Safety: Psychosocial Health State |
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Definition
| stressful situations tend to narrow a person's attention span and make him or her more prone to accidents. |
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Term
| Common Safety Risks that Nurses Should Assess |
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Definition
-Falls(65+, history of falls, impaired vision, altered gait, certain med. regimens, postural hypotension, confusion, impaired mobility, weakness, unfamiliar environment.)
-Fires
-Poisoning
-suffocation and choking
-firearm injuries |
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Term
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Definition
| physical devices used to limit a person's movements(side rails, geriatric chairs w/attached trays, appliances tied at wrist, ankle, or waist, drugs used to control behavior) |
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Term
| Alternatives to Restraints |
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Definition
-assess for pain
-use a position-sensitive electronic device
-ask family to stay w/patient
-use low-height beds
-move pt closer to nurses station
-place floor mats next to bed
-use therapeutic touch
-offer diversional activities
-conceal tubing for care and anchor tubing as necessary
-investigate possibility of discontinuing bothersome treatment devices |
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Term
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Definition
RACE
Rescue anyone in immediate danger.
Activate fire code system.
Confine the fire by closing doors and windows.
Evacuate patients and other people to a safe area. |
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Term
| National Patient Safety Goals |
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Definition
| These goals are established based on sentinel events that have been reported and include corrective actions recommended as a response to these sentinel events. |
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Term
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Definition
precautions used in the care of all hospitalized individuals regardless of their diagnosis or possible infection status.
Applies to blood, all body fluids, secretions, and excretions except sweat, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes.
New additions to Standard Precautions include Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, safe injection practices, and directions to use a mask when performing high-risk prolonged procedures involving spinal canal punctures. |
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