Lecture Notes: Safety in Nursing Care

Introduction to Safety in Nursing

• Core Idea: Good care in nursing is synonymous with safe care.
• Safety should be at the forefront when interacting with patients, families, groups, or communities.
• Emphasis on safety both in the patient's environment and in the care provided.

Code of Ethics and Safety

• American Nurse Association (ANA) Code of Ethics:
  • Provision Three: Nurses promote, advocate for, and protect patient rights, health, and safety.
• Ethical Principles:
  • Beneficence: Do good; act in the patient's best interest.
  • Non-maleficence: Do no harm; avoid actions that compromise patient safety.

Safety in Nursing Curriculum

• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:
  • Foundation for nursing programs, focusing on physiological and safety needs.
  • Nursing care aims to enable patients to achieve wellness by addressing unmet physiological or safety needs.

Types of Safety Events

• Never Events:
  • Serious, preventable, and reportable events leading to severe disability or death.
  • Cause linked to failure of following safe practices.
• Sentinel Events:
  • Serious, possibly fatal events that may or may not be preventable.
  • Include never events and unexpected adverse outcomes.
• Near Misses:
  • Events that could have led to serious harm but were averted.
  • Require internal review to prevent future occurrences.

Root Cause Analysis

• A systemic approach to identifying factors leading to safety events.
• Focuses on systems and human errors, not blame.

Safety Initiatives

• Medication Safety:
  • Error-prone abbreviations, confused drug names, high alert medications, and do not crush lists.
  • Aim to reduce medication-related errors.
• Procedure-Related Safety:
  • Surgical checklists to ensure no steps are missed.
• Communication:
  • SBAR/ISBAR for structured communication.
  • Handoff Reports ensure continuity of care.

National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG)

• Published by the Joint Commission, reviewed annually.
• Goals focus on patient identification, medication safety, fall prevention, and healthcare equity.
• Applicable to different healthcare settings (e.g., hospitals, home care, labs).

Conclusion

• Patient safety is a fundamental aspect of nursing care.
• Nurses play a crucial role in executing and advocating for safety initiatives.