Safe and Effective Care Environment.

Do proper hand hygiene (clean your hands well) before eating and after using the restroom. This helps stop the spread of infection.

Immunocompromised patients (people with a weak immune system) catch infections more easily. So isolation precautions (steps that keep germs away) and hand hygiene (clean hands) are needed to prevent infection.

The nurse is still responsible for the patient's overall care. The nurse must check how the patient responds, even for tasks that are delegated (assigned) to other staff.

Raising the head of the bed lowers the risk of VAP (ventilator-associated pneumonia, a lung infection linked to a breathing machine). It helps prevent aspiration (fluid entering the lungs) and helps the lungs expand.

A Foley catheter (a tube that drains urine from the bladder) is a common source of infection in healthcare, especially when it is not cared for properly.

If a sterile (germ-free) instrument is placed on a non-sterile (not germ-free) surface, fix it right away to prevent contamination (the spread of germs).

Isolation precautions (steps that keep germs away) depend on the patient's condition. But standard precautions (basic safety steps used for every patient) are always needed to stop the spread of infection.

Good resource management means working together with all the health workers who care for the patient. This includes physical therapy (PT, the team that helps patients move and get stronger).

Even with isolation protocols (rules that keep germs away), the nurse should still help the patient eat, while following infection control measures (steps that prevent the spread of germs).

Coordinating care means contacting the right specialists. For example, an anesthesiologist (a doctor who manages anesthesia and pain) for pain management.

Correct the assistant's technique right away. Then explain why proper infection control measures (steps that prevent the spread of germs) are important.

Informed consent is a process. The surgeon explains the procedure, its risks, and its benefits to the patient.

If a sterile (germ-free) item becomes contaminated (touched by germs), remove it right away. Replace it with a new sterile item to keep the sterile field (the clean, germ-free work area) intact.

Healthcare workers should wear gloves when handling contaminated linens (used sheets that carry germs). This helps stop the spread of infection.

A patient with a pressure ulcer (a sore caused by pressure) on the sacrum (the bone at the lower back) who needs frequent dressing changes should not have this task delegated (assigned) to a nursing assistant. Complex wound care needs skilled nursing care.

Prophylactic antibiotics (antibiotics given to prevent infection before it starts) help prevent healthcare-associated infections (infections caught in a hospital or clinic), especially in high-risk patients.

A blood glucose level of 58 mg/dL is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If not treated quickly, it can lead to altered mental status (confusion or reduced alertness), seizures, and loss of consciousness (passing out). So this patient needs help first. A scheduled antibiotic (option a) is time-sensitive, but a 10-minute delay is less risky. Pain management (option b) matters, but it is not immediately life-threatening. Help with toileting (option d) is a comfort measure that can wait a short time while you treat the low blood sugar.

During a power outage, first find the residents whose care depends on electricity, such as those who need oxygen therapy or other electrical medical devices. These residents may need help right away to keep them from getting worse (deterioration). Contacting family members (option a) can come later; it is not the first priority. Moving all residents to a hospital (option c) is too disruptive and usually not needed in a power outage, especially before you check who needs what. Documentation (writing it down, option d) matters, but resident safety comes first.

A patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB, a lung infection) needs airborne precautions plus standard precautions, because TB can spread through tiny airborne droplet nuclei (germs that float in the air). A draining wound with Pseudomonas (a type of bacteria) (option a) needs contact precautions. A urinary tract infection (UTI, option c) usually needs only standard precautions. A history of MRSA colonization (carrying MRSA, a bacteria that resists many antibiotics) two years ago (option d), with no current symptoms, usually needs only standard precautions, though facility policy may differ.

Negligence is the unintentional failure of an individual to perform or not perform an act that a reasonable person would or would not do in the same or similar circumstances. A purposeful failure to perform a procedure would be the opposite of negligence, which is unintentional.Substituting a different medic ation does not fit the description of the situation in the question. Failure to follo w a direct order does not fit the description in the situation in the question.

Fidelity means being faithful to agreements and promises. This nurse is acting on the client's behalf to obtain needed information and report it back to the client. Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm. Veracity refers to telling the truth for example, not lying to a client about a serious prognosis. Beneficenc e means doing good, such as by implementing actions (e.g. keeping a salt shake r out of sight) that benefit a client (heart condition requiring sodium - restricted diet).

To be guilty of negligence, the nurse must have a relationship with th e client that involves a duty to provide care. The relationship is usuall y a compo nent of employment. The nurse did not necessarily do what others would do in t his situation. Although the nurse did not cause the client's injuries, it does not p revent the nurse from assisting in this situation. Although the nurse was off- duty, the nurse could have assisted if motivated to do so.

There was no nurse - client relationship because the nurse was acting as a neighbor and not in an emp loyment capacity. Thus, there can be no duty owed. Intent is not a necessary element of malpractice, because malpractice can occur because of unintended actio ns as well. There was no breach of duty because there was no official nurse - client relationship, which accompanies an employment situation. There was injur y experiences because of this event. The bleeding was caused by the interaction of the aspirin with the anticoagulant.

Autonomy refers to the right make one's own decisions, which is the principle supported in this situation. Justice refers to fairness. Fidelity refers to t rust and loyalty. Confidentiality refers to the right to privacy of personal health inform ation.

Health care providers who prescribe incorrect dosages of medications are liable for their errors. The nurse is open to a charge of negligence for failin g to verify and quest ion the incorrect dose. The hospital can be sued as the resp onsible employing agency, but the health care provider and the nurse can also b e charged with negligence. Terminating the health care provider and nurse from employment would not stop a lawsuit charging negligence for employee actions that have already taken place. Prescribing and administering incorrect doses are not considered events that routinely happen toZ"reasonable person."

NCSBN: Safety and Infection Control | Topics: Infection Control

NCSBN: Safety and Infection Control | Topics: Infection Control

NCSBN: Safety and Infection Control | Topics: General Nursing