Topics About 'Patient Safety'.

I stare at the four LED panels in front of me, each displaying cases for every OR, listed by room. I groan inwardly, bracing myself for a busy day. "Canes, you ready?" asks the Medical Director. Every morning, the Medical Director and the Anesthesia ...

I'm not crazy. I'm not the only one. Frozen with emotions, Susan shifted between relief in the acknowledgment that there were other people who had residual problems from the shots, meaning it wasn't in her head, and fury that this brutality took plac...

Our small town newspaper's headline screamed the story: "Baby Saved by CPR." Choking and turning blue, the infant had stopped breathing when a neighbor, trained in CPR, was able to appropriately address the choking and proceed with CPR until the baby...

Nurses are hard at work to protect the lives of patients as everybody knows. As every business has a silver lining, so does the nursing world. This author who experienced nursing duty both in United States and Japan as a registered nurse focuses on a...

It had been a good weekend, full of sunshine, relaxation, great food, and even better companionship, and I was still in a cheery mood when I walked through the door at work this morning. In fact, I was even whistling as I put my lunch in the refriger...

Driving to get her MRI under fluoroscopy, Susan kept reflecting on the fact that she was told that her first one didn't show any damage to her left shoulder. Being claustrophobic added to her anxiety as she pulled into the parking lot. However, she d...

Reflection Before I progress in this reflection I need to acknowledge that I made a medication error by giving medication that impacts on a patient's cardiac rate control to a patient who had no clinical need for it. This had the potential to have a ...

Susan stepped up to the next available person and handed her the flu shot questionnaire filled out and signed. The tiny room was full of activity. There were piles of syringes and alcohol pads next to papers on the wood table. Office chairs were push...

Identification, a rather common word integrated into daily life, whether while using a credit card at a retail store, calling the bank or even when applying for a loan. Identification is key and vital for everyone in order to ensure safe identificati...

I have been a nurse for two short years. I chose to work as a rehab nurse instead of a hospital nurse for the time being because of the job flexibility (PRN) and to work days/evenings right out of school. Yes you caught me, I am trying to avoid night...

A number of people read my post a while back about a serious error in which I was involved... and I was humbled and grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement that I received here (and from a number of docs and nurses at work). I'm stil...

A few weeks ago a friend with a new grandchild whispered to me, "What am I going to do? My daughter doesn't want to get the baby vaccinated!" My dismay must have been evident as I spoke gently to her, "Oh Linda, I'm so sorry. What have you tried so f...

We have all heard of 3 D printers. Some of us may even own one or will buy one in the future. In 2013, income generated from 3D printers was $3.07 billion. By 2020, less than two years away, this figure will skyrocket to an estimate of $21 billion. I...

P - PurposeWhat does this medication do? What ailment or disorder is it meant for? Knowing the purpose of the drug you're about to give is the most basic yet vital piece of information. It holds the key to how you will proceed with administration and...

There's no denying the importance of good bedside manner: it helps nurses better educate patients and communicate effectively, which means more success after a patient has been discharged. Developing a bedside philosophy that's personalized - one tha...

Accidents are the ninth leading cause of injury-related deaths among the older population. Older women have a higher rate of injuries than any adult female age group. Seniors aged 85 years and older have the highest death rate of all from injuries an...

The following reflection will describe my understanding of the current status of health care quality and safety and my ideas for the best way to improve patient safety. I am just finishing my third semester of the Masters of Science in Nursing progra...

I couldn't breathe. My chest was aching with a fierceness that made me want to pass out. There was a pounding echoing in my ears so loud that I could hear my heart coupled with irregular breathing. Where did I screw up?! Inside my head I could hear m...

Mr. L was lucky enough to be the units chosen one. Round the clock, the strongest, best nurses were assigned to him. He had ARDS most likely from multiple blood transfusions. Rotoprone had never been done in Cvicu, and Mr.L broke us in and proved tha...

Two stories, same basic question. Story #1: Elderly gentleman, kyphosis with limited neck mobility, oxygen dependent, severe COPD, walker dependent, very mentally sharp but medically fragile- refuses to stop driving in spite of his family doctor's or...

Has your facility recently started your 5 diamond projects for ESRD NETWORKS? For those of you who have never heard of it, it is like a 5 star rating for hotels. You achieve a star for each of the projects you implement into your facility. The aim is...

It took me a while to come back to writing after a nap that rested my mind that exhausted for the entire busy and hectic week that I have had. I have been thinking for the entire night about thing I have learned after the event that encountered yeste...

Recent research documents that a hypertensive ward found the BP readings of 1/3 their patients were in error when they switched to disposable washable cuffs to prevent cross-contamination. Another research just came out documenting the bladderless cu...

Did you know that there are close to 6000 accusations filed by the BRN against RNs each year, in California alone? Most of those are the result of a BRN investigation, but many investigations don't make it to the Accusation stage. This means that the...

Ann was not a run-of-the-mill patient for the surgical floor. Actually, she was not a surgical patient at all. An elderly woman who had fainted, Ann needed to be hospitalized for observation and to rule out the possibility of stroke or M I. These ser...