Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness
Safety is a concern in all settings and for all age groups and underlies all healthcare activities. A
patient’s environment includes physical and psychosocial factors that influence or affect the life
and survival of that patient. Safety is freedom from physical and psychological injury. Health
care provided in a safe manner and a safe community environment is essential for a patient’s
survival and well-being.
Providing for safety and preventing injury are major nursing responsibilities. A safe environment
reduces the risk for illness and injury and helps to contain the cost of health care by preventing
extended lengths of treatment and/or hospitalization, improving or maintaining a patient’s
functional status, and increasing a patient’s sense of well-being. The QSEN safety competency
for a nurse is defined as “Minimizes risk of harm to patients and providers through both system
effectiveness and individual performance.”
Safety Hazards
Physical hazards in the environment which threaten a person’s safety and often result in physical
or psychological injury or death include:
Motor vehicle accidents
Poison
Falls
Fire
Disasters-natural and man made
Unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death for Americans of all ages. Motor
vehicle accidents are the leading cause, followed by poisonings and falls. According to CDC, the
risk of motor vehicle accidents is higher among 16- to 19-year-old drivers than any other age
group. Children ages 3 and younger should be in a child safety seat in the back seat of the car.
Poison is any substance that impairs health or destroys life when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed
by the body. Assessment for risk of food infection or poisoning includes assessing a patient’s
knowledge of food preparation and storage practices. In the home, inspect suspected food and
water sources and assess the patient’s handwashing practices. Never induce vomiting of the
poison. A poison control center is the best resource for patients and parents needing information
about the treatment of an accidental poisoning.
** Pause & Act
Google and note the poison control center number near you.
Obizoba/2021
, Falls
Falls are a major public health problem. Fall-related injuries can occur at any age but are the
leading cause of injury fatality among adults 65 years of age and older. Numerous factors
increase the risk of falls, including a history of falling, being age 65 or older, reduced vision,
orthostatic hypotension, lower-extremity weakness, gait and balance problems, urinary
incontinence, improper use of walking aids, and the effects of various medications. Falls are also
a common problem in health care settings.
Risk factors for fall
Risks for injury for older patients are directly related to the physiological changes of the aging
process, including effects of multiple medications, impaired mobility, psychological and
cognitive factors, and the effects of acute or chronic disease increase an older adult’s risk for
falls and other types of accidents. The risk of being seriously injured in a fall increases with age.
A safety assessment involves focusing on the individual, the environment, and specific risk
factors. Clinical judgments require nurses to anticipate necessary information, analyze the data,
and make decisions regarding patient care. Patients who have underlying disease states are more
susceptible to fall-related injuries.
During assessment consider all critical thinking elements and information about a specific patient
to make appropriate nursing diagnoses. In the case of safety, a nurse integrates knowledge from
nursing and other scientific disciplines, previous experiences in caring for patients who had an
injury or were at risk, critical thinking attitudes such as responsibility and discipline, and any
standards of practice that are applicable.
A nursing assessment that includes a home inspection helps to identify a patient’s level of
knowledge about home safety so that deficiencies can be corrected with an individualized
nursing care plan.
Preventing Falls
Complete a fall-risk assessment for each client at admission and at regular intervals. Utilize the
facility fall assessment tool and individualize the plan for each client according to the results of
the fall-risk assessment.
***Pause & Act
Google and comprehend the Morse fall scale and Hendrich II Fall risk model
Be sure the client knows how to use the call light (by giving a return demonstration), that it is in
reach, and to encourage its use. ● Respond to call lights in a timely manner. ● Use fall-risk alerts
(color-coded wristbands), side rails, non-skid socks.
Obizoba/2021
Safety is a concern in all settings and for all age groups and underlies all healthcare activities. A
patient’s environment includes physical and psychosocial factors that influence or affect the life
and survival of that patient. Safety is freedom from physical and psychological injury. Health
care provided in a safe manner and a safe community environment is essential for a patient’s
survival and well-being.
Providing for safety and preventing injury are major nursing responsibilities. A safe environment
reduces the risk for illness and injury and helps to contain the cost of health care by preventing
extended lengths of treatment and/or hospitalization, improving or maintaining a patient’s
functional status, and increasing a patient’s sense of well-being. The QSEN safety competency
for a nurse is defined as “Minimizes risk of harm to patients and providers through both system
effectiveness and individual performance.”
Safety Hazards
Physical hazards in the environment which threaten a person’s safety and often result in physical
or psychological injury or death include:
Motor vehicle accidents
Poison
Falls
Fire
Disasters-natural and man made
Unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death for Americans of all ages. Motor
vehicle accidents are the leading cause, followed by poisonings and falls. According to CDC, the
risk of motor vehicle accidents is higher among 16- to 19-year-old drivers than any other age
group. Children ages 3 and younger should be in a child safety seat in the back seat of the car.
Poison is any substance that impairs health or destroys life when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed
by the body. Assessment for risk of food infection or poisoning includes assessing a patient’s
knowledge of food preparation and storage practices. In the home, inspect suspected food and
water sources and assess the patient’s handwashing practices. Never induce vomiting of the
poison. A poison control center is the best resource for patients and parents needing information
about the treatment of an accidental poisoning.
** Pause & Act
Google and note the poison control center number near you.
Obizoba/2021
, Falls
Falls are a major public health problem. Fall-related injuries can occur at any age but are the
leading cause of injury fatality among adults 65 years of age and older. Numerous factors
increase the risk of falls, including a history of falling, being age 65 or older, reduced vision,
orthostatic hypotension, lower-extremity weakness, gait and balance problems, urinary
incontinence, improper use of walking aids, and the effects of various medications. Falls are also
a common problem in health care settings.
Risk factors for fall
Risks for injury for older patients are directly related to the physiological changes of the aging
process, including effects of multiple medications, impaired mobility, psychological and
cognitive factors, and the effects of acute or chronic disease increase an older adult’s risk for
falls and other types of accidents. The risk of being seriously injured in a fall increases with age.
A safety assessment involves focusing on the individual, the environment, and specific risk
factors. Clinical judgments require nurses to anticipate necessary information, analyze the data,
and make decisions regarding patient care. Patients who have underlying disease states are more
susceptible to fall-related injuries.
During assessment consider all critical thinking elements and information about a specific patient
to make appropriate nursing diagnoses. In the case of safety, a nurse integrates knowledge from
nursing and other scientific disciplines, previous experiences in caring for patients who had an
injury or were at risk, critical thinking attitudes such as responsibility and discipline, and any
standards of practice that are applicable.
A nursing assessment that includes a home inspection helps to identify a patient’s level of
knowledge about home safety so that deficiencies can be corrected with an individualized
nursing care plan.
Preventing Falls
Complete a fall-risk assessment for each client at admission and at regular intervals. Utilize the
facility fall assessment tool and individualize the plan for each client according to the results of
the fall-risk assessment.
***Pause & Act
Google and comprehend the Morse fall scale and Hendrich II Fall risk model
Be sure the client knows how to use the call light (by giving a return demonstration), that it is in
reach, and to encourage its use. ● Respond to call lights in a timely manner. ● Use fall-risk alerts
(color-coded wristbands), side rails, non-skid socks.
Obizoba/2021
