National Patient Safety Goals
(NPSG)-Part 1
(NPSG)-Part 1
What two patient identifiers must always be used before administering medications, drawing labs, or performing procedures?
Patient’s full name and date of birth (DOB).
What is the single most effective way to prevent Hospital Acquired Infections?
Hand Hygiene
Name 2 Intramuscular (IM) Injection Sites.
Deltoid
Ventrogluteal
Vastus Lateralis
Dorsogluteal
In outpatient settings, what simple action helps prevent falls in waiting areas and hallways?
Keep the floors clean and well lit with no cords or clutter.
During a patient visit, you notice that patient suddenly has trouble forming sentences and you notice facial droop?
-Call Medical Emergency Response or RRT
-Check blood glucose with glucometer
-Give SBAR to ED staff and notify of last well known
-Send patient to ED immediately
Critical lab values must be reported within what timeframe?
Within 60 minutes
[T/F] It is acceptable under NPSG to silence or ignore telemetry alarms if they are frequent and non-life threatening.
False
Which items must be labeled when preparing medications?
Syringes, cups, and basins containing medications.
What are the screening tools used for fall assessment?
Cardiopulmonary Rehab- STEADI
Non-Invasive Cardiac Lab/Healthy Lives- John Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment tools
What is the role of the primary RN during a code?
Stay with your patient and use SBAR to give report to team.
When must soap and water (instead of hand sanitizer) be used?
When hands are visibly dirty, before eating, after restroom use, and when caring for patients with C. difficile.
What is the purpose of a time-out before surgery or procedure?
What is the 'first dose monitoring' requirement?
Observe and document patient response after administering the first dose of a new medication
What should staff do for a moderate fall-risk patient?
Add visual cues (yellow armband/sign), increase rounding, consider bed/chair alarms.
How do you call a Medical Emergency Response or RRT to your unit?
***111
[T/F] According to the NPSG, it is acceptable to delay follow-up on a positive suicide screen until the patient's next scheduled appointment.
False
Rationale: NPSG requires immediate action when suicide risk is identified; delaying follow-up puts patient safety at risk
[ T/F] NPSG requires medication reconciliation in the outpatient setting to ensure that the patient's medication list is accurate and communicated across providers.
True
Rationale: NPSG.03.06.01 requires organizations maintain and communicate an accurate medication list at care transitions, including outpatient visits, to prevent errors and adverse drug events-especially critical in cardiac patients on multiple medications (anticoagulants, betablockers, statins, etc.)
What is the best practice for preventing look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medication errors?
Use ACINCH precautions and double-check by two RNs for high-alert medications
What is required when a high-risk patient uses the bathroom?
Staff must remain with the patient during toileting
What is the difference between Medical Emergency Response and Rapid Response Team?
Medical Emergency Response are for outpatients and visitors and the ED staff will respond. Rapid Response Team is called for inpatients only. A Rapid Response RN will respond with residents and other team members.
Which validated tool may be used for suicide risk screening at admission?
Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).
Can you change alarm parameters on cardiac monitors?
Only with a physician order
- Right Patient
- Right Drug
- Right Dose
- Right Route
- Right Time
What is the first nursing action if a patient falls?
Assess patients condition (Airway/Breathing/Circulation/Injury)
An outpatient arrives to your unit. During assessment of vital signs you notice that heart rate is 135 bpm, respiratory rate 28, and O2 saturation 89% on room air. What should you do first?
Activate Medical Emergency Response Team