Safety - Healthcare Lecture Notes

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering key safety concepts, developmental factors, hazards, prevention, and safety culture from the lecture notes.

Safety

The condition of being safe from harm; a basic human need. Nurses attend to the safety needs of clients in all healthcare settings and to healthcare workers themselves.

Infants and Toddlers (developmental safety)

Cannot recognize danger, engage in tactile exploration of the environment, and are totally dependent on caregivers.

Preschoolers (developmental safety)

Outdoor play is common and they are more adventurous; supervision is essential to prevent injuries.

School-age Children (developmental safety)

Tend to try new activities without practice and spend more time outside the home; caregiver awareness of stranger danger is important.

Adolescents (developmental safety)

Often have false confidence and engage in risk-taking behaviors; many lack adult judgment.

Adults (developmental safety)

May be exposed to workplace injuries; lifestyle choices affect health; some decline in strength while others maintain fitness.

Older Adults (developmental safety)

Loss of muscle strength, joint mobility, slowing reflexes, and sensory losses.

Individual factors affecting safety

Lifestyle, cognition, sensoriperceptual status, ability to communicate, mobility, physical/emotional health, and safety awareness.

Poisoning

Ingestion of household chemicals, lead, medicines, or cosmetics; prevention includes cabinet locks, storing poisons high, and having the Poison Control number; treatment depends on poison ingested.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Poisoning from carbon monoxide produced by burning fuel; prevention with CO detectors; treatment is 100% humidified oxygen.

Scalds and burns

Caused by hot water, grease, sunburn, or cigarettes; prevention includes guardrails, turning pot handles, careful candle use, sunscreen, and microwave safety.

Fires

Caused by cooking, smoke inhalation, or heating equipment; prevention includes smoke alarms, caution with cigarettes, a fire extinguisher, not leaving candles unattended, safe holiday lights, and safe electrical cords.

Falls

Prevalent in those over 65; hazards include slippery floors, stairs, tubs, low toilet seats, and high beds; prevention includes nonskid shoes, tidy clothing, proper lighting, grab bars/rails, and removing scatter rugs.

Firearm injuries

Associated with youth suicides and domestic violence; prevention includes firearm safety education, locked storage, and keeping ammunition separate.

Suffocation / asphyxiation

Drowning, choking, and smoke/gas inhalation; high risk for ages 0–4; prevention includes removing small parts, cutting food, monitoring mobiles/strings/cords, installing pool barriers, and knowing the Heimlich maneuver.

Take-home toxins

Pathogenic microorganisms, asbestos, lead, mercury, and arsenic; prevention includes workplace precautions, removing work clothing, showering, and using gloves.

Motor vehicle injuries

Causes include not using seat belts, alcohol, pedestrian accidents, and airbags not deploying; prevention includes avoiding distractions, using a designated driver, seat belts, and age-appropriate restraints for children.

Pathogens

Foodborne and vector-borne pathogens; prevention includes proper storage, cleaning, cooking of foods, clean surfaces, and avoiding unsafe folk remedies.

Vectors and disease prevention

Strategies to prevent vector-borne illnesses: drain standing water, use insect repellents, protect skin, and eliminate breeding areas.

Pollution

Air, water, noise, and soil contamination; prevention includes proper disposal/recycling, environmentally safe products, carpool/public transport, and ear protection.

Weather hazards

Being aware of weather events and developing a disaster plan with a designated shelter location.

Never events

Serious, preventable clinical errors in healthcare that should not occur; prompt root cause analysis and a culture of safety.

Root cause analysis

A systematic process to identify the underlying causes of errors or adverse events.

Culture of safety

An environment that promotes team empowerment, open communication, transparency, and accountability to prioritize safety.

Alarm fatigue

Desensitization to alarms due to excessive or nonactionable alarms, leading to missed or ignored alarms.

Equipment-related accidents

Accidents involving medical equipment due to malfunction or misuse.

Falls in the healthcare facility

Falls occur in healthcare settings; prevention includes clear pathways, appropriate lighting, handrails, and proper assistive devices.

Back injury (healthcare workers)

Common hazard for caregivers; prevention through proper body mechanics and safe patient handling.

Needlestick injury

Injury from sharps; prevention includes sharps awareness, proper disposal, and safe handling practices.

Radiation injury

Exposure to radiation hazards; prevention includes adherence to radiation precautions and protection principles.

Violence (in the workplace)

Potential for physical or verbal abuse toward healthcare workers; prevention involves safety training and awareness of environmental factors.

Sharps disposal

Safe disposal of needles and other sharps to prevent injuries.

Socratic Reasoning

A method of questioning used to stimulate critical thinking and collaborative discussion about safety in the workplace.

Socratic Reasoning (application to teamwork)

Encourages teamwork and collaboration by prompting questions that promote shared problem-solving and safety culture.