safety definition

alarm fatigue

occurs when nurses become desensitized to frequent alarms, which can increase risk of missing important alerts and jeopardize safety

barrier restraint

a physical measure, like bed rails, used to prevent a client from moving or leaving a space, often to ensure safety

bullying

repeated negative actions directed towards a person, often creating a hostile work environment

chemical restraint

using medications to intentionally restrict or control a client’s behavior or movement

hourly rounding

regularly checking in on patients every hour to address their needs and improve safety

mechanical restraint

devices used to restrict a patient’s movement for safety reasons

medication reconciliation

comparing a patient’s medications across transitions in care to prevent errors

near miss

an event that could have caused harm but was prevented or did not reach the patient

physical restraint

methods (like bands or belts) that physically limit a patient’s movement

rapid response team

group of health professionals who respond quickly to emergencies in hospitals

restraints

measures used to restrict a patient’s movement, either physically or mechanically, when necessary for safety