Regulatory & Environmental Safety
True or False: The nurse has 60 minutes to notify a provider of a critical lab result.
What is False?
Critical results must be verbally communicated to the appropriate licensed provider within 15 minutes.
This escalation tool begins with: 'I am Concerned. I am Uncomfortable. This is a Safety issue.'
What is CUS?
CUS creates urgency and signals safety concern.
This standardized survey measures patient perspectives on hospital care.
What is HCAHPS?
Results affect public reporting and reimbursement.
This acronym stands for Wildly Important Goals.
What is WIG?
WIGs focus on the few goals that most impact patient outcomes.
This disinfectant is used to clean glucometers.
What is bleach?
Proper disinfection prevents cross-contamination.
This acronym guides your actions during a fire emergency: Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish/Evacuat
What is RACE?
RACE reduces panic during emergencies. Early action protects patients and staff.
This safety behavior means maintaining awareness of the patient, your team, and the environment.
What is situational awareness?
Situational awareness includes cross-monitoring and watching each other’s backs.
This hospital-wide expectation requires team members to stop and assist any patient in need.
What is No Pass Zone?
If you see it, you own it.
These are the three WIG focus options available to teams.
What are patient experience, length of stay, and hospital-acquired infections?
Units align efforts to improve these outcomes.
This type of isolation is required for suspected or confirmed measles.
What is airborne isolation?
Requires negative pressure and N95 protection.
This document provides hazard, handling, storage, and emergency information for chemicals used in the workplace.
What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
OSHA requires SDS access. Know where they are located on your unit.
Skipping a safety step because 'nothing bad has happened before' is called this.
What is normalized deviation?
Drift happens gradually. Standard work protects patients every time.
Leaving a patient in stool or urine violates this fundamental patient right.
What is dignity?
Protecting dignity prevents harm and preserves trust.
This is the single most effective way to prevent hospital-acquired infections.
What is proper hand hygiene?
Clean hands save lives.
This hand hygiene method is required for patients with C. diff.
What is soap and water?
Alcohol gel does not kill C. diff spores.
When using a fire extinguisher, this acronym reminds you of the correct technique: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
What is PASS?
Only extinguish small fires if trained and you have a clear exit.
This structured learning session reviews what happened after a safety event in a psychologically safe environment.
What is a HEAL session (Harm Event and Learning)?
HEAL focuses on process improvement, not blame.
This communication technique asks patients to repeat information in their own words.
What is Teach-Back?
Teach-back improves understanding and reduces errors.
These serious events are tracked monthly and reviewed to ensure system learning.
What are Serious Safety Events (SSEs)?
Transparency drives prevention and accountability.
This is our 2026 system hand hygiene goal percentage.
What is 95%?
High reliability requires consistent compliance.
This type of extinguisher is used for wood, paper, cloth, flammable liquids, and electrical fires.
What is an ABC fire extinguisher?
ABC extinguishers are most common in patient care areas.
A team member speaks up even when unsure. The culture that supports this is called this.
What is psychological safety?
Patients are safest when staff feel safe to speak up.
Proactively rounding and responding quickly reduces this driver of dissatisfaction and falls.
What is poor staff responsiveness?
Anticipating needs improves safety and trust.
C. diff testing must occur within this timeframe from admission to be community-acquired.
What is within 72 hours?
Early testing protects patients and ensures accurate metrics.
When every team member sees preventing infection as their responsibility, this culture exists.
What is a culture of safety?
Infection prevention is everyone’s job.