Lesson 2: Safety & Infection Control
I. Safety
A. The Quality & Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project
1. QSEN’s goal: meet the challenge of preparing future nurses who will have the knowledge, skills
& attitudes (KSAs) necessary to continuously improve the quality & safety of the healthcare
systems within which they work
2. KSA for Safety: minimize the risk of harm to patients & providers through both system
effectiveness & individual performance
3. Safety is the primary concern when caring for clients
B. Fire, Electrical & Radiation Safety
1. Fire Safety
a. Prevention
b. Types of fire extinguishers & their uses
c. Response to fire
d. Examples of facility rescue plans:
i. P-R-C
Protect clients from injury
Report the fire
Contain the fire
ii. R-A-C-E
Rescue or remove clients
Activate fire alarm system
Contain fire by closing doors & windows
Extinguish flames (with fire extinguisher)
2. Electrical Safety
3. Chemical Safety: for all health care institutions, the Occupational Safety & Health
Administration (OSHA) suggests following its Material Safety
C. Poison Control
1. High risk groups are young children and older adults
*** REMEMBER***
Do not induce vomiting if the poison contains alkaline or acid agents. Such poisons include lye,
household cleaners, oven cleaner, furniture polish, metal cleaners, battery acids, or petroleum
products
2. Goals of therapies
a. Before the body absorbs poison, remove it, (either through vomiting or gastric lavage) or
neutralize it (using activated charcoal)
b. Give supportive care, i.e., manage shock, seizures, aspiration
c. Give the correct antidote to neutralize poison
d. Speed the elimination of any absorbed poison
D. Fall & Injury Prevention
1. Assesses client for risk factors
***REMEMBER***
Use the mnemonic FRAIL MOM & DAD for assessing the geriatric client in primary care
setting:
Falls
Relative or caregiver strain
Activities of dialing living
2. Guidelines to prevent client falls
3. Assess age-specific safety risk factors
4. Safe patient-handling & movement
a. Principles of manual client handling (to be used in conjunction with “safe patient handling”
techniques when handling & moving clients)
i. widen the base of support, keeping feet apart
ii. place bed at correct height (waist level)
iii. keep work directly in front of you (to avoid twisting the spine)
iv. keep client as close to your body as possible to minimize reaching
b. “Safe patient handling”
i. use principles of body mechanics (above)
ii. know how the equipment works & match to the needs of the client & limitations of
the room/area
5. Sharps injuries
***REMEMBER***
If you are stuck by a needle or other sharp object or get blood or other potentially infectious
materials in your eyes, nose, mouth, or on broken skin, you should immediately flood the
exposed area with water & then clean any wound with soap & water or available skin
disinfectant
Report the incident to your employer & seek medical attention right away.
6. Biohazards
a. Examples of biohazards in the workplace include chemotherapeutic agents, exposure to
latex, bloodborne pathogens
b. Refer to OSHA for guidelines on handling & disposing of hazardous materials
E. Security Plan
1. Required by the Joint Commission
2. Purpose
a. To manage the physical & personal security of clients, staff (including addressing the risks
of violence in the workplace) & individuals coming to the organization’s facilities
b. Security of the established environment, equipment, supplies, & information
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