Question

One of the most important responsibilities of a nurse is to ensure patients' safety. Discuss two (2) interventions that a nurse must implement to ensure patient safety in an acute care setting

Answer 1

Acute care means,patients recieve active but short-term treatment for a severe or life threatening Injury, illness, routine health problems, recovery from surgery,or acute excacerbation of chronic illnesses.The goal of acute care is restore the health and stability of the patient.Most important nurses role in acute care settings is patient's safety.

Many different areas where acute care is practiced:

Emergency care.

Urgent care.

Trauma care.

Critical care.

Neonatal and Pediatric intensive care.

Rehabilitive care.

Psychiatric acute care.

Acute care surgery.

Acute care nurses must be able to react quickly and efficiently during high stress situations.

Examples of acute care.

First -

ingestion of poisons.(pediatric)

Example: Acetylsalicylic acid( aspirin).

Overdose may be caused by acute ingestion or chronic ingestion.

Acute: Severe toxicity with 300 to 500 mg/kg.

Chronic: ingestion of more than 100mg/kg per day for 2 days or more, which can be more serious than acute ingestion.

Assessment.

Nausea.

Vomiting.

Thirst.

Confusion.

Convulsions.

Coma.

Oliguria.

Diaphoresis.

Fever.

Hypokalemia.

Tinnitus.

Respiratory failure,and so on.

Interventions.

Prepare to administer activated charcoal to decrease the absorption of salicylate.

Administer IV fluids,sodium bicarbonate, electrolytes,or volume expanders as prescribed.

Administer glucose for hypoglycemia as prescribed.

Prepare the child for dialysis as prescribed if the child is unresponsive to the therapy.

Second - Hyperthermia.

Temperature higher than 105°F, which increases the cerebral metabolism and increses the risk of hypoxia.

Causes include infection,heat stroke, exposure to high environmental temperatures,and dysfunction of the thermoregulatory center.

Assessment.

Temperature higher than 105°F.

Shivering.

Nausea and vomiting.

Interventions.

Maintain a patent airway.

Intiate seizure precautions.

Monitor intake and output and assess the skin and mucous membranes for signs of dehydration.

Monitor lung sounds.

Monitor for dysrhythmias

Assess peripheral pulses got systemic blood flow.

Induce nomothermia with fluids,cool baths,fans,or hypothermia blanket.

Administer medication.

Monitor neurological status.

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Interventions of patients safety in acute care settings.

Diagnosis: Risk for injury.

Altered thought processes lead to impaired judgement and forgetfulness.These changes increased risk for injury.

Interventions.

Impaired judgement, forgetfulness,and motor impairment can make any environment unsafe for the client with AD.

In the home, electrical devices,toxic substances,loose rugs,hot tap water, inadequate lighting,and unlocked doors can be sources of injury.In the inpatient setting,ensure that clients cannot leave the premises without being noticed, that they wear an identification badge in case they become lost,and that doors and windows are secured.Dangerous object should be kept out of reach.