Chapter 27: Safety - Concepts
The nurse is caring for a client with Alzheimer's disease. A family member states, "I am afraid I will go to bed one night, and the next morning my loved one will be missing from wandering off." What is the appropriate nursing response?
"Consider the Alzheimer's Association 'Safe Return' program."
A large health care organization has committed to promoting a just culture when adverse events and near misses take place. Which question will guide the organization's response when a nurse commits an error?
"How did the nurse's actions contribute to this error?"
The nurse is providing safety teaching to the family of an older adult client. Which finding in the client's home will the nurse teach the family to address?
A hair dryer is placed next to the sink.
When educating parents about the safety of preschool-aged children, which is most important for the nurse to include in the presentation?
At home chemicals should be kept in a locked cabinet.
The unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) tells the nurse that a client is very confused and trying to get out of bed without assistance. What is the appropriate action by the nurse?
Initiate use of a bed alarm.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving an intravenous therapy through an IV pump. Which intervention should the nurse implement to ensure electrical safety?
Obtain a three-prong grounded plug adapter.
The nurse has completed a comprehensive assessment of a client who has been admitted to the hospital experiencing acute withdrawal from alcohol. What nursing diagnosis would provide the clearest justification for the use of physical restraints during this client's care?
Risk for Injury Related to Agitation
The nurse is reading another nurse's notes that were recorded in the electronic health record (EHR) during the previous shift. What is the appropriate nursing action when numerous unapproved abbreviations are noticed in the previous nurse's notes?
Suggest to the nurse manager that an in-service on abbreviation use would be helpful.
The nurse uses the QSEN competency of Informatics when planning care for clients. What is an example of the use of this skill?
The nurse researches new technological advances in the treatment of cancer.
The nurse is teaching a nursing student about proper latex glove use. Which teaching will the nurse include?
Wash hands thoroughly after removing gloves with a pH-balanced soap.
A staff development nurse is providing an in-service to a group of nurses on the use of restraints in health care facilities. What is an example of a chemical restraint?
a dose of an antipsychotic
The nurse is conducting a home care visit for a new mother who delivered a baby 3 days ago. Which finding within the home requires immediate nursing intervention?
hot water heater thermostat set at 130 degrees F (54.4 degrees C)
A school nurse is preparing an education session on safety for parents of school-age children. What would be an appropriate topic for this age group?
providing drug, alcohol, and sexuality education
The nurse is working at a local elementary school. A mother arrives to pick up her 6-year-old son and has her 2-year-old daughter in tow. Based on the nurse's developmental knowledge of toddlers, which behavior would most concern the nurse?
the 2-year-old leaning against the screen of a window in a classroom
Which statement by a client would indicate that a nurse had successfully implemented an educational strategy to prevent injury in the home?
"I have removed all throw rugs on the floor."
A nurse is teaching a community group about bicycle safety. Which statement should be included when creating a teaching plan regarding bicycle safety?
"Parents are effective role models for children when they also wear helmets while riding."
The acronym RACE is commonly taught as a means for remembering priorities for action during a fire. The "A" in this acronym stands for which of the following?
Activate the fire alarm and notify the appropriate person.
A home care nurse provides health education to parents regarding the care of their toddler. Which precaution should the nurse suggest the parents take to protect the toddler from drowning?
Avoid unattended baths for the toddler.
A nurse is administering a scheduled medication to a client using the institution's bar code system. The nurse has scanned the client's armband as well as the scheduled medication. The system has signaled a discrepancy between the dose prescribed and the dose scanned. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?
Consult with a colleague and identify the source of the error signal before proceeding.
A health care provider orders extremity restraints for a confused client who is at risk for injury by pulling out her central venous catheter. What is the nurse's most appropriate action when carrying out this order?
Ensure that two fingers can be inserted between the restraint and the client's extremity.
When educating families on fire safety in the home, which information is important for the nurse to emphasize?
Have a meeting place outside the home in case of fire.
What is the primary role of the nurse in the care of clients who experience domestic violence?
Providing prompt recognition of the potential or actual threat to safety
A nurse responds to the call bell and finds another nurse evacuating the client from the room, which has caught fire. Which action should the nurse take?
Pull the fire alarm lever.
The nurse is caring for a young child in the hospital who is being discharged home with his grandmother, who has guardianship. When performing a risk assessment, the nurse identifies that his grandmother has one other adult living with her to help with the child, because the grandmother has congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus. In addition, the financial situation is poor and she cannot afford to buy safety devices to safety-proof the house. What nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for this child based on these findings?
Risk for Poisoning related to medications in unlocked cabinets
The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old client who was admitted to the hospital in a confused and dehydrated state. After the client got out of bed and fell, restraints were applied. She began to fight and was rapidly becoming exhausted. She has black-and-blue marks on her wrists from the restraints. What would be the most appropriate nursing intervention for this client?
Take the restraints off, stay with her, and talk gently to her.
The school nurse is preparing a presentation about safety promotion for middle school students. Which topic should the nurse plan to include?
The importance of consistent seat belt use
A nurse is filing a safety event report for an older adult client who tripped and fell when getting out of bed. Which action exemplifies an accurate step of this process?
The nurse details the client's response and the examination and treatment of the client after the incident.
A nurse follows the universal client compact principles for partnership when providing care for clients. Which nursing action reflects this philosophy?
The nurse includes the client as a member of the health care team.
