Basic of Patient Safety
What is the primary goal of patient safety in healthcare?
To prevent patient harm and reduce risks associated with healthcare.
You notice water on the floor near a patient's bed. What should you do?
Keep patient away from the hazard and promptly clean it up or arrange for it to be cleaned.
What is the purpose of quality improvement in healthcare?
To identify problems, improve healthcare processes, and achieve safer, better patient outcomes.
What resource outlines the legal scope of nursing practice in your state?
The Nurse Practice Act
A nurse prepares medication and notices that the dose is higher than expected. What should the nurse do first?
Hold the medication and verify the order before administering it.
A nursing unit notices an increase in patient falls. What should the team do first to improve safety?
Review fall data and identify contributing factors, such as patient risks, environmental hazards, and current prevention practices.
What national organization establishes National Patient Safety Goals to help healthcare organizations improve patient safety?
The Joint Commission
During handoff, the nurse notices that a patient's allergy information is missing. What should the nurse do?
Clarify and verify the patient's allergies and ensure the information is documented before medications or treatments that could cause harm are given.
What is root cause analysis used for after a serious patient safety event?
To identify underlying factors that contributed to the event and determine ways to prevent similar events.
A nurse realizes they made a medication error. What should the nurse prioritize first?
Assess the patient for harm and provide immediate care as needed, then notify the appropriate healthcare team members and follow reporting procedures.
A patient who was previously alert becomes newly confused and has difficulty breathing. What is the nurse's priority?
Immediately assess the patient, support airway and breathing, and activate the appropriate emergency response based on the patient's condition.
A hospital introduces a new fall-prevention protocol. How can the team determine whether the change is effective?
Track and compare fall rates before and after implementation, evaluate adherence to the protocol, and adjust the process based on results.