5 Tips for Ensuring Patient Safety

As nurses take on more responsibility for the care of patients, the need to safeguard and health and well being of these individuals becomes more pressing. A busy medical environment and heavy patient load can create a number of hazards that often result in increased hospital acquired infections, extended stays and even deaths. Studies indicate developing an ongoing strategy for improving safety in medical institutions can help to reduce these problems and improve outcomes for those in their care. These five tips can make a dramatic difference in patient safety, making it easier for the nursing staff to achieve positive results.

Effective Written Record Management

Even in the digital age, written records are still critical for effective patient care and patient safety. While digital means may be the most effective way to manage compilations of patient care, the day-to-day observation and tasks are still essentially handled on written records. Nursing staff should be encouraged to record pertinent data regularly to ensure both accuracy and continuity of care.

Good Communication between Staff

Communication between staff members has a direct effect on the ability to care for patients well and safely. Supervisors must be able to delegate tasks effectively and know that protocols will be followed to provide the desired outcomes. In addition, nursing staff should have a method to communicate important information to other staff members during shift changes, to reduce errors and ensure effective patient monitoring.

Intensive Training in New Technologies

Nurses are often confronted with new technologies that are designed to improve patient care, but also require a learning curve to ensure its proper use. All personnel should receive intensive training, as soon as new types of equipment are implemented, to ensure its safe and effective use.

Periodic Review of Basis Procedures

One of the most hazardous ways nursing staff can fall into is taking basic procedures for granted. A review of these procedures, for their effectiveness, safety and ease of use should be done on a periodic basis, to ensure that staff members have the procedural supports they need to provide high quality care for their patients. Protocols that are too difficult to implement, time-consuming or those that are found to be ineffective should be eliminated and replaced as quickly as possible.

Constant Evaluation

Hospitals and other medical institutions should ensure that they have an effective strategy for regularly evaluating current protocols, investigating errors and implementing new procedures. These efforts can help to reduce the number of error incidents and improve good patient care on an ongoing basis. Data collection measures should be implemented to ensure accurate analysis.

Keeping patients safe is an integral part of good nursing, as well as a critical aspect for those who have an online masters in healthcare administration. Each department has a role to play in ensuring that the procedures and process accurately address the needs of patients in their care. If these strategies are put into effect on a regular basis, the result will be lower error rates and better outcomes for patients.