What does a “Safe environment” consist of
(1) Basic human needs are met,
(2) physical hazards are reduced or controlled,
(3) transmission of disease is limited, (4) recovery of illness or injury is promoted,
(5) Everything is sanitary
(6) Poisons, toxins and pollutants are controlled
How could alterations to a person’s musculoskeletal system affect their safety?
Limitations with mobility are unsafe, and an increased risk of falls.
How could alterations to a person’s sensory perception affect their safety?
Reduce someone’s sensitivity to their environment, increasing their risk of harm.
How could a bad ability to communicate affect a person’s safety?
Fatigue, stress, administration of the wrong medications.
What are the causes of communication barriers?
Language barriers, aphasia, disabilities
How could alterations to a person’s Neurological system affect their safety?
disturbed or violent behaviour should be monitored- could affect their own safety.
How could fatigue affect a person’s safety?
slow reflexes, and reduces the ability to function in day-to-day life.
How could alterations to a person’s cardiovascular system affect their safety?
Hypotensive (Low blood pressure) people have a higher risk of fainting and injuring themselves.
How could alterations to a person’s psychological/psychosocial affect their safety?
Depression can lead to reduced awareness or concern about safety. Stress and anxiety can interfere with information processing and following instructions
What should nurses do with high-risk patients?
Minimising risk by removing things like no hand railings, slippery falls, poor lighting, rugs, clutter, cords, etc can all be risk factors for older adults.
How do needle-stick injuries occur?
- When the device is being inserted or withdrawn
- If the patient moves unexpectedly.
- During cleanup or when transferring equipmentto another location.
- During disposalwhen placing used sharps into a wastecontainer, or disposing of sharps inappropriately.
What safety issues do nurses run intoin their work environment?
- Back injuries frommaneuvring patients.
- Needle-stick injuries
- Exposure to blood and other body fluids
- Threats of assault and violence
How can I prevent needlestick injuries?
- Avoid using needles if safer alternatives are available.
- Use devices with safety features.
- Avoid recapping needles.
- Plan for safe handling and disposal of needles before using them.
- Do not expose sharps until the moment of use.
- Instruct patient to avoid sudden movement and be aware of other staff to avoid accidental contact.
- Promptly dispose of used needles in sharps disposal containers.
- Report all needlestick injuries to ensure you receive appropriate care.
- Report any needlestick hazards you observe.
- Participate in training related to infection prevention.
- Use verbal announcementswhen passing sharps and usea basin to avoidhand-to-hand passage of sharps.
What should I do if I get a needle-stick injury?
Follow basic first aid initially –squeeze and wash with lots of running water, then follow the workplace procedure.
- Have blood tests as soon as possible after exposure with follow-up testing atappropriate times.
- Not donateblood, avoidpregnancy and practicesafe sex until all final follow-up tests have been completed and results are available.
- Reportany glandular fever-like illness duringthe six months after exposure.
If you’re at risk for contracting ablood born virusafter a needle-stick injury andit is decided that testing should be undertaken, blood tests forboth you and the source individual need to beconducted within 24 hours and marked as urgent.
What are the six stages of infection?
Infectious agent, reservoir, portal ofexit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, suspectable host.
What is the first cycle state of infection?
Infectious agent- Microorganisms, that can cause harmful infection. Includes bacteria, viruses and fungi.
What is the second cycle state of infection?
Where the microorganism lives and grows.
What is the third cycle state of infection?
The portal ofexitis the point where the organism escapes the reservoir. Finds a way out to infect the next person.
What is the fourth cycle state of infection?
Once the germ is out it can spread from one person to another. Transmittedby direct or indirect contact, or via air or droplets.
What is the fifth cycle state of infection?
The portal of entryis where organisms enter a new host.
The portal of entryis where organisms enter a new host
This is the person who is susceptible to infection. Their immune system is whether they get that infection or not.
The stages of infection?
Incubation period, Prodromal stage, Acute illness, Convalescent period
What’s the Incubation period?
the interval between the pathogen’s invasion of the body and the appearance of symptoms of infection as the organisms multiply and grow. Varies in length from 1–21 days.
What’s the Prodromal stage?
The most infectious stage, where a person exhibits early clinical manifestations of the disease. Varies in length from hours–days.
