What is patient safety?
Patient safety has become a sort of buzzword in the medical
community. As a nurse or soon-to-be nurse, it’s important you know what
it entails, the role you play and how to prepare yourself to be the best
patient safety advocate you can be.
The purpose of patient safety initiatives is to prevent medical
errors that can lead to undesirable (sometimes fatal) outcomes from
patients. “I define it as conscientious, vigilant patient care that
provides for the best likely outcomes,” says Nick Angelis, CRNA, MSN and
author.
Defining what it exactly entails is a bit complex, as a patient’s
overall safety is in the hands of so many individuals in different
departments. More than just their actual providers and nurses, those
interacting with their health records, working in medical coding and
others all have an impact on the overall safety of a patient.
As a nurse, you will play a vital role in your patients’ safety, as
you are often their most present healthcare provider. You might be the
first person to hear of an issue or pain your patient is experiencing –
you may even be the only person they tell.
Read on to see what other nurses and medical professionals think you should know about patient safety.
6 Things nurses should know about patient safety
You want to enter or solidify your new career knowing what to expect
when it comes to patient safety and what is going to be expected of you.
Learn from the experts who have gone before you so you are properly
equipped to keep your patients safe.
1. You need to be an active listener
Active listening is one of the top skills nurses will need, according to the U.S. Department of Labor
(DOL). This means you’ll need to give your full attention to what your
patients are saying and ask questions to ensure you understand their
comments and concerns.
“It’s important that nurses be active listeners who seek to
understand the patient’s point of view and, together with the rest of
the care team, actively engage the patient in decision-making,” says Dr. William Maples, executive director of the Institute for Healthcare Excellence, LLC and CMO at Professional Research Corporation.
2. Critical thinking is key
Thinking about possible outcomes and considering the best course of
action is essential to both the nursing career and patient safety. Thinking critically and making rational decisions under pressure is an essential part of your job as a nurse.
Part of patient safety is to think about what could go wrong,” says
Angelis. “Does the softer, taller mattress ordered for a patient make it
more likely they'll fall out of bed? Or does giving so many IV
antibiotics at 9:00 a.m. risk cardiac heart failure on a fragile
patient?”
You’ll rarely encounter two identical patient scenarios, which is why
every situation needs to be uniquely assessed. The smallest decision
could result in severe consequences, so it’s crucial to be confident in
your knowledge and training.
3. You are the patient’s advocate
As the healthcare professional who typically spends the most time
with the patient, it’s your job to pay attention. You must be aware of
ways in which you can advocate for the patient’s needs and concerns.
“The best advice I can give to nurses is to realize that the role of
being your patient’s advocate for patient safety is most important,”
says nurse educator Kelly Moed, MSN. She believes patient advocacy should be top-of-mind during every minute you’re on duty as a nurse.
4. You MUST report if things do go awry
Nobody wants to be a tattletale, but it’s extremely important to
report any errors you might witness – even if you’re the one at fault.
Even the smallest mix-up can have detrimental outcomes, which is why
this is a vital part of patient safety.
“Recognizing and reporting situations such as system failure, human
error, drug reactions and breach in infection control can keep your
current patient safe and keep future patients safe from adverse events
or errors,” says Moed.
5. Never disregard prevention measures
“A nurse can help prevent serious injury or death to patients by
actively participating in procedures and programs which are in place to
avoid hospital acquired conditions and adverse events,” says Moed.
Examples of preventive procedures are hand washing, sterilizing tools
and surgical checklists. These measures are put in place for a reason,
so it’s critical you follow them religiously – no matter how tedious
they may seem.
6. Teamwork is essential
“Nurses and the entire care team must also commit themselves to excellence in teamwork,”
Dr. Maples says. With so many different members in a healthcare team,
everyone must band together to ensure exceptional patient safety.
As a nurse, it’s crucial to practice effective communication habits
with other healthcare professionals. Interacting with various medical
personnel and handing off patients to other nurses in between shifts can
open the door to miscommunication and mishaps.
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