Foundations of Nursing Practice: Patient & Nurse Safety

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes covering National Patient Safety Goals, fall risk assessments, restraint protocols, seizure safety, surgical timeouts, and nurse ergonomics.

National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs)

Goals developed to improve patient safety by focusing on preventing mistakes in patient identification, medication safety, communication, infection control, and adverse events.

Acceptable Patient Identifiers

Two specific patient identifiers required before care, treatment, or procedures: patient's name, date of birth, designated hospital number (MRN #), or personal telephone number. Patient room numbers are never used.

SBAR

A standardized staff communication framework consisting of Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations.

Closed-Loop Communication

A technique involving all healthcare team members where verbal orders are repeated back to confirm accuracy.

High-Alert Medications

Medications such as anticoagulants and insulin that require independent double-checking by another nurse to reduce medication errors.

Alarm Fatigue

Sensory overload that occurs when nurses are exposed to excessive equipment alarms, leading to missed alerts or delayed response times.

CLABSI

Central line-associated bloodstream infection.

CAUTI

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection.

SSI

Surgical site infection.

VAP

Ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Surgical Time-Out

A Joint Commission-mandated pause in all activities performed in the procedure room before surgery to verify the correct patient, correct site, and correct procedure.

Morse Fall Scale: No Risk

A Morse Fall Scale score of $0\text{--}24$.

Morse Fall Scale: Low Risk

A Morse Fall Scale score of $25\text{--}50$.

Morse Fall Scale: High Risk

A Morse Fall Scale score of $>50$.

Post-Fall Protocol Steps

Sequential steps to take when a patient falls: 1) Call for help, 2) Assess for injury (LOC, bleeding, broken bones), 3) Move patient to safety if conscious/alert, 4) Take vital signs and further assess, 5) Notify provider, 6) Report and document per policy.

Restraints

Mechanical or chemical measures used only when all reasonable alternative methods have failed and the patient poses an immediate danger to self or staff.

Side Rails as Restraints (Intent Rule)

The rule stating four side rails up are a restraint if the intent is to prevent voluntary exit, but not a restraint if the intent is preventing inadvertent falls or during stretcher transport.

Restraint Monitoring Standards

Requirements stating an RN must perform circulatory/skin checks every $2\text{ hours}$ (ensuring a two-finger space), and the provider order must be reevaluated every $24\text{ hours}$.

Seizure Nursing Interventions

Key actions taken during a seizure: call for help, turn patient to side-lying position, protect head, clear furniture, monitor duration, avoid restraining or inserting objects into mouth, and monitor airway, breathing, and circulation.

Average Blood Sugar Level Range

An average blood sugar level range of $75\text{--}135\text{ mg/dL}$, deviations from which can trigger seizures.

Nurse Ergonomics Rules

Body mechanic practices to prevent injury: use lift devices, squat without bending, avoid twisting, maintain a wide base, ask for assistance, and keep the bed at waist level during patient care.

Rapid Response Triggers

Sudden clinical status changes requiring rapid response initiation, including vital sign shifts, unresolving low oxygen saturation, chest pain, mental status changes, or a seizure aura.