Patient Safety &
National Goals
National Goals
What is one of the Joint Commission’s top National Patient Safety Goals related to patient identification?
Use at least two patient identifiers (not room number).
Documentation should be: timely, accurate, and ______.
Complete
What are the “five rights” of medication administration?
Right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time.
What’s the first step if you see an isolation sign missing?
Apply appropriate precautions immediately and notify infection prevention.
Who is responsible for Joint Commission readiness?
Every nurse, every day.
What should you always do before giving any medication, blood product, or procedure?
Verify patient identity using two identifiers and compare with the MAR/order.
What should nurses do when an order seems unclear or inappropriate?
Clarify with the provider before carrying it out.
What should nurses verify before administering a high-alert medication (e.g., insulin, heparin)?
Independent double-check with another licensed nurse.
When should nurses perform hand hygiene during patient care?
Before and after every patient contact, glove use, or procedure.
What should a nurse do if they can’t complete a required safety check before the end of shift?
Escalate to the charge nurse or supervisor immediately.
What is the nurse’s role in preventing medication errors?
Read back verbal orders, clarify unclear prescriptions, and follow the five rights of medication administration.
What must be documented when administering a PRN medication?
Reason given and patient’s response/reassessment (within 30 min IV / 60 min PO).
How should titration orders be written to meet Joint Commission standards?
Specific starting dose, titration rate, parameters, and maximum dose.
What must be done if a crash cart seal is broken or the log is incomplete?
Check contents, replace seal, document, and escalate immediately.
During a tracer, if you don’t know the answer to a surveyor’s question, what should you do?
Be honest, explain your process, and show where to find the policy.
What’s the most effective way to reduce health care–associated infections?
Perform hand hygiene before and after every patient contact.
Why are titration orders a Joint Commission focus area?
They require clear parameters and monitoring to ensure patient safety.
What should you do if the MAR and provider order don’t match?
Hold the medication and clarify with pharmacy or provider immediately.
What should nurses do if they identify a malfunctioning ventilator or suction equipment?
Tag it out of service and report to biomed immediately.
What is a “tracer” in a Joint Commission survey?
A real-time review of a patient’s care to evaluate compliance and safety.
When should you perform a “time-out”?
Before any invasive procedure to verify the correct patient, procedure, and site.
What is a common Joint Commission citation related to nursing documentation?
Missing reassessments, incomplete pain documentation, or illegible charting.
What is one nursing strategy to prevent medication errors during handoff?
Use standardized handoff tools (SBAR) and review active orders together.
What Joint Commission recommendation helps sustain a clean, safe environment?
Ongoing staff education, daily safety rounds, and prompt correction of deficiencies.
What is one way nurse leaders can promote accountability?
Assign ownership, track completion, and provide feedback for missed audits.