Chapter 6 Flashcards
(49 cards)
Paralysis
the loss of ability to move all or part of the body, which often includes loss of feeling in the affected area.
Fracture
a broken bone.
Disorientation
Confusion about person, place, or time.
Falls:
sudden, uncontrollable descent from a higher to a lower level with or without injury resulting
Causes of falls:
-unsafe environment
-loss of abilities
-diseases
-medications
-loss of vision
-gait or balance problems
-weakness
-paralysis
-disorientation
Fall Prevention:
*Clear walkways.
*Use rugs or mats with nonslip backing.
*Have residents wear nonskid, sturdy shoes.
*Residents should not wear clothing that is too long.
*Keep frequently-used personal items, including call lights, close.
- Answer call lights promptly.
*Clean up spills.
*Report loose handrails immediately.
*Mark hazardous areas.
*Improve lighting.
*Return beds to lowest positions.
*Lock wheelchairs and remove footrests
*Lock bed wheels
*Get help – 2 person manual transfer
*Offer help with eliminations regularly and respond to requests immediately.
*Leave furniture in same place.
*Pay attention to residents at risk for falls.
*Never try to catch a falling resident – ease to the floor
*Report all falls to the nurse
Burns/Scalds (burn caused by hot liquids): Causes:
Causes:
*dry heat (irons, stoves, other electric appliances) – mostly found during home health care
*wet heat (hot water or other liquids, steam) – also known as thermal burns
*Cold or Ice applications – another type of thermal burn
*chemicals (acids)- burns to the skin or eyes
Chemical Hazards:
*Caustic chemicals that could splash into the eyes
*Know where to locate the eye wash station!
*Spray disinfectants that could be sprayed into the face
*Disinfectant wipes used on bare skin (such as Cavi-wipes)
*Ingestion of prescription shampoos or other non-food liquids by confused residents
*Ingestion of an oral med found on the floor
Prevention (for burns/Scalds):
*Check water temperature.
*Report frayed cords or appliances that look unsafe.
*Communicate about hot liquids.
*Pour hot drinks away from residents.
*Keep hot drinks away from edges of tables. Use lids.
*Make sure residents are sitting before serving hot drinks.
*Monitor heat-producing equipment.
Resident Identification
Cause:
not identifying resident properly – wrong treatment or food is given to the wrong resident.
Prevention (for identifying resident)
- Identify each resident before care or assisting with meals.
- Check IDs.
- Call resident by name.
Ask staff to correctly identify a confused resident that may be non-verbal
Resident Identification:
*LTC residents typically do not wear name bands
*This provides an increased risk of wrong care being given to wrong resident
*Often there are multiple residents with the same first name on a facility wing
*Confused residents that are not orientated to who they are - will answer to any name
Remember: #1
Not identifying residents before giving care or serving food can cause serious problems or even death. (a sentinel event)
Medical errors are ranked in the Top 10 causes for death in the U.S.
Choking
Causes:
Prevention:
Causes:
*weakened – due to being frail and elderly
*ill
*unconscious residents
*residents with known swallowing problems
*residents with neurological (brain) dysfunction – stroke/ CVA (cerebral vascular accident); Parkinson’s; Alzheimer’s; traumatic brain injury
Prevention:
*Eat sitting upright – at a 90 degree angle
*Follow orders for special diets and thickened liquids
Poisoning
Causes:
Prevention:
Causes:
Ingesting harmful substances such as cleaning products, paints, medicines, toiletries, or glues, shampoos, soaps.
Prevention:
*Lock these products away from confused residents or those with limited vision.
*Do not leave cleaning products in rooms.
*Investigate any unusual odors.
*Post Poison Control Center number.
Cuts/Abrasions:
Causes:
Prevention:
Def: an injury that rubs off the surface of the skin.
*sharp objects – metal levers that stick out from wheelchairs
*sharp fingernails or rings worn by caregivers
*friction across the skin when residents are moved up in a bed /wheelchair or repositioned from side to side in the bed
*Poor technique when trimming nails of residents
*Handrails with rough surfaces
Prevention:
*Put sharp objects away after use.
*Take care when transferring or repositioning residents
*Push wheelchairs forward.
General safety guidelines:
*Do not run. — unless it is an emergency!
*Keep paths clear.
*Wipe up spills immediately.
*Discard trash properly.
*Follow instructions and ask questions as needed.
*Report injuries immediately.
*If you see a suspected hazard among a resident’s possessions, report it to the nurse.
Oxygen therapy:
*the administration of oxygen to increase the supply of oxygen to a person’s lungs
*is a medical order just like medications
*licensed nurses are responsible for starting O2 therapy and documenting the use of it every shift in the med record
Combustion:
the process of burning (oxygen supports combustion)
Flammable =
easily ignited and capable of burning quickly
The following are important guidelines for oxygen safety:
*Post No Smoking and Oxygen in Use signs. Do not allow smoking around oxygen equipment.
*Remove fire hazards. Report to nurse if resident does not want a fire hazard removed.
*Do not allow open flames around oxygen (this includes burning candles, lighting matches, and using lighters).
*Do not use an extension cord with an oxygen concentrator.
*Do not place electrical cords or oxygen tubing under rugs or furniture.
*Avoid using fabrics such as nylon and wool – static electricity
*Report skin irritation from cannula or face mask – cheeks, nose, ears
*Do not use any petroleum-based products on resident or on any part of the cannula or mask – potential for combustion
- lip balm products cannot be petroleum based
*Learn how to turn oxygen off in case of fire if facility allows this. Never adjust oxygen setting.
Oxygen Safety:
NA’s do not:
NA’s are responsible for:
Do not:
*start oxygen
*stop oxygen - unless briefly during a resident transfer, if indicated
*adjust the flow rate
Responsible for:
*Knowing how the equipment works – reporting problems
*Knowing how to transfer residents between portable tanks to wall mounted room oxygen or oxygen concentrators
*Switching the on/off button back on after a transfer
The Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
*Is required by OSHA for all hazardous chemicals
*Details ingredients, dangers, safe handling, storage, disposal, and emergency response procedures
*Some facilities may use a toll-free number to access SDS information
*Must be accessible in work areas for all employees
*Generally found in a binder at the nurses station
Restraint:
a physical or chemical way to restrict voluntary movement or behavior.
