Posted: May 11th, 2023

Patient Safety in Nursing

Patient Safety in Nursing.

Patient safety is a discipline in healthcare that focuses on preventing and reducing risks, errors, and any form of harm that may befall a patient during healthcare provision. This critical field has gained increasing attention in recent years due to its direct impact on patient outcomes and healthcare quality. Healthcare professionals are continually trying to avoid medical errors during practice. The complexity of modern healthcare systems, coupled with human factors, makes this task both challenging and essential. However, the health care system is prone to errors. Despite rigorous protocols and safety measures, the multifaceted nature of healthcare delivery leaves room for potential mistakes.

In fact, medical errors are quite common and can be any medical professional’s worst nightmare when they occur. These errors not only affect patient health but also have significant emotional and professional impacts on healthcare providers. Medical errors range from minor errors to serious mistakes that can be fatal. The severity of these errors underscores the importance of robust safety systems and continuous improvement in healthcare practices. A recent report by John Hopkins University ranked medical errors as the third leading cause of death in the United States in the past couple of years. This alarming statistic has spurred increased focus on patient safety initiatives across the healthcare sector.

Physicians play a crucial role in the treatment process. Their expertise and decision-making are fundamental to patient care and outcomes. But they only spend an average of 30 to 45 minutes a day with their patients. This limited interaction time highlights the need for effective communication and collaboration among all members of the healthcare team. Nurses, on the other hand, contribute immensely to the recovery process of their patients. Their constant presence and hands-on care make them integral to patient safety and well-being.

Nurses are constantly present at the bedside with their patients regularly and directly interacting with not only the patients but also their families and the entire healthcare team. This unique position allows nurses to serve as the primary advocates for patient safety and quality care. As such, the delivery of top quality and safe health care is vital to all nurses. The nursing profession’s ethical standards and core values emphasize the paramount importance of patient safety in all aspects of care.

Because nurses are involved in almost all areas of care delivery, they must prevent harm to patients by providing quality and safe health care to their patients across all settings. This responsibility extends beyond direct patient care to include risk assessment, care coordination, and continuous quality improvement efforts.

Among the roles played by a nurse in ensuring patient safety include monitoring the patient’s recovery process, detecting any clinical deterioration, and communicating with the lead physician regarding any notable changes. These vigilant observations and timely communications can prevent complications and ensure prompt interventions when needed. The nurse also is responsible for detecting errors and near misses, including catching prescription and medication mistakes. This crucial role in medication safety can significantly reduce adverse drug events and improve patient outcomes.

A major factor that hinders patient safety is the improper usage and lack of compliance with medication regimes by the patients. Patient education and support are key components in addressing this challenge. Nurses are tasked with the role of educating the patients about their medications to avoid harm. This education extends to proper dosage, potential side effects, and the importance of adherence to prescribed regimens.

Lastly, nurses also play an important role in preventing falls in the elderly and patients who are too weak to care for themselves. Fall prevention is a critical aspect of patient safety, particularly in hospital and long-term care settings. They can help them directly with their daily activities or educate them and their families about tips to prevent and reduce falls. This proactive approach to fall prevention can significantly reduce patient injuries and associated complications.

Patient safety is essential in the delivery of quality healthcare. It forms the foundation upon which all other aspects of care are built. But while nurses are considered key players in patient safety, the entire healthcare team, including doctors, assistants, and physicians, should also be involved in ensuring utmost patient safety. A culture of safety requires commitment and participation from all levels of the healthcare organization.

Significant improvements can only be realized if the process is viewed as a collaborative effort where the entire healthcare team work together to effect optimal patient safety. This collaborative approach, combined with ongoing education and system improvements, holds the key to advancing patient safety in healthcare.

References:
Kavanagh, C. (2017). Medication governance: preventing errors and promoting patient safety. British Journal of Nursing, 26(3), 159-165.

Oliveira, J. K. A. D., Llapa-Rodriguez, E. O., Lobo, I. M. F., Silva, L. D. S. L., Godoy, S. D., & Silva, G. G. D. (2018). Patient safety in nursing care during medication administration. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem, 26.

Siman, A. G., & Brito, M. J. M. (2017). Changes in nursing practice to improve patient safety.

To add two more recent scholarly references (2022-2024), I’ll need to search for up-to-date information. Let me do that for you.

Based on the search results, I’ll add two recent scholarly references to the list:

Patrician, P. A., et al. (2024). Quality and Safety in Nursing: Recommendations From a Scoping Review. Journal of Healthcare Quality, 46(8), 1-11.

Adu, G., et al. (2024). Contributory factors related to patient safety incidence. BMC Nursing, 23(1), 1-10.

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Tags: Healthcare quality improvement, Medical Error Prevention, Nursing Practice, patient safety