Infection
the invasion of body tissues by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites
Safety
the condition of being protected from danger or injury
Hospital Emergency Codes
codes that alert healthcare workers to urgent situations
Code Red
fire in the facility
Code Blue
cardiac arrest
Code Pink
child abduction
Code Black
bomb threat
Disaster
any sudden event that brings great damage, loss, or destruction.
Patient Safety
some patient safety guidelines are universal:
Always identify patient
Explain entire procedure, gain consent
Perform procedures within scope of practice
Observe patient carefully for changes in condtion
Incident Reports
used to document both safety/non safety related documents, must be filled accurately, completely, and immediately after the incident.
5 Rights of Medication Administration
Check you have the right patient
Check the frequency of the ordered medication
Check the physicians order, and appropriateness of dosage
Check the order/appropriateness of the route ordered
Confirm the rationale for the ordered medication
OSHA Hazard communication standard
requires employers to educate employees about chemical hazards in the workplace
Material Safety data sheets (MSDS)
should accompany every chemical used in a healthcare facility
What does a material safety data sheet contain?
Chemical makeup
chemical dilution
Chemicals mixture concentration
Instructions for use
Electrical Safety
failure to observe electrical safety can result in burns, severe skin damage, unconsciousness, or even death. Do not overload any electrical plugs or outlets
Radiation Safety
radiation exposure can occur near any machine that uses radiation.
amount of radiation
Duration of exposure
Distance from source
Type of protection used
ALARA: as low as reasonably achievable
Fire Safety
Fire can occur where the three elements of the fire triangle are present
Fuel
Heat
Oxygen
RACE: Rescue, alarm, contain, extinguish
Body Mechanics
relate to the proper use of body movements to prevent injury via ergonomic practices
Quality Improvement (QI)
Involves monitoring and evaluation services for the purpose of making them better
Infection Control
Healthcare facilities strive to prevent the spread of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that can cause infectious disease
Bacteria
Small, one-celled microorganisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye; can be pathogenic. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics
Viruses
Viruses depend on living cells to survive and cannot reproduce on their own. Antibiotics do not kill viruses. Vaccines have been developed against several viral diseases.
Fungi
can cause disease, including athletes foot and certain lung diseases
Protozoa
Can cause amoebic dysentery, trichomoniasis, and malaria
Rickettsiae
are parasites that can cause diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and types of typhus
Chain of Infection
Illustrated the sequence of events that allows infection t o invade the body. Modes of transmission are…
direct contact
Indirect contact
vectors
Hospital-acquired infections are called nosocomial infections
Hand Hygiene
The single most important way to prevent the spread of infection
Sterilized
To kill all microorganisms on a surface, the surface must be…
What body fluids can transmit harmful pathogens?
Blood, semen and vaginal secretions, amniotic fluid, human tissue
Isolation
separates patients with certain infections from other patients
Airborne Precautions
protect against small airborne droplets or dust particles containing microorganisms
Droplet precautions
protect against large droplet transmission, as in coughing or sneezing
Contact Precautions
protect against the spread of microorganisms through direct or indirect contact
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
protects workers form serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with various hazards. can include face shields, safety goggles, gowns, gloves, and face masks
Needlesticks/Sharps
Needlesticks and other accidental punctures of the skin can spread infection
Sharp objects and biohazard wastes must be disposed of properly
Disposal of Hazardous Materials
hospitals are required to have hazardous-material and waste-management plans or protocols
Donning and Doffing PPE Sequence
hand hygiene, gown, mask, eye or face protection, and gloves. When doffing, hand hygiene must be performed after taking off each item; starting with gloves, eye or face protection, gown and mask.
Two levels of isolation practice are…
standard precautions
transmission based precautions