Safety & Infection Control Flashcards
A client’s name, date of birth, & medical record number are example of ___ used to ensure a client’s identity.
client identifiers
Nurses are responsible for confirming written orders with the appropriate client & client identifiers prior to administering treatment. Client identifiers are unique to the client & help to reduce medical error. It’s important to ensure that the right client is being treated & that appropriate precautions are taken for any specific circumstances, such as allergies or fall risks.
Throw rugs, electrical cords, and uneven steps are considered ___.
fall risks
Fall risks such as throw rugs, electrical cords, & uneven steps put clients, especially those with limited mobility, at high risk for injury. Nurses should educate their clients on how to avoid fall risks in the home.
A client presents to the emergency department delirious, combative, & with a blood alcohol level of 1.9%. She is becoming a danger to herself & the healthcare staff. Using ___ is an appropriate action to protect both the client & staff until the client is more cooperative.
restraints
Restraints may be used to protect clients from hurting themselves or others. Restraints should never be used to punish the client. They should be used for the least amount of time with the least amount of restriction possible. All client restraints require a provider’s order.
When a nurse has a question about an order, the order must be ___ with the ordering provider.
verified
Verifying unclear orders with the ordering provider is critical to preventing errors in therapy or injury to the client.
Prior to entering a room of a client with a respiratory illness, the nurse applies a gown, mask, & gloves. This level of isolation precaution is known as ___.
droplet precaution
Droplet precautions include the application of gown, gloves & mask. In contact precautions, just the gown & gloves should be applied. Airborne precautions require application of the gown, gloves & N95 respirator mask.
Using proper body ___ is another principle that applies to clients as well as healthcare team members to prevent additional injury.
ergonomics
Using proper body ergonomics is another principle that applies to clients as well as healthcare team members. Educate your client about, & personally practice, these principles:
Lift using your legs and not your back
Use proper posture when sitting
Do not use bending or twisting motions
Use suitable safety equipment when needed, such as ear plugs when near loud noises
___ are the way in which infection is spread.
Transmission routes
There are five primary routes of infection transmission. They are aerosol or airborne transmission, direct contact, contamination of inanimate objects/surfaces, oral, and vector-borne transmission.
Precautions to prevent infection in severely immunocompromised clients is known as ___.
neutropenic precautions
Neutropenic precautions include measures that both the client & nurse must take to prevent infection. Some interventions include frequent handwashing, bathing daily, brushing teeth twice a day, preventing constipation, avoiding the use of tampons, not sharing personal items, avoiding fresh flowers/plants, and having someone clean up pet messes.
___ is the first step in infection prevention.
handwashing
Handwashing is always the very first & last steps in preventing the spread of infection. Hands should be washed in hot, soapy water for at least 30 seconds. If not visibly soiled, handwashing can be completed with an alcohol-based solution, hand sanitizer.
In the event of invasive procedures or surgery, stricter standards of infection prevention are required. This practice is known as ___.
sterile technique
Sterile technique includes the use of sterilized equipment, sterile gloves, gowns, masks, & surgical hats to prevent the spread of infection in the event of invasive procedures such as foley placement, surgery & wound care.
___ is the protection of the general population against vaccine-preventable disease, even those who cannot be immunized.
herd immunity
Herd immunity allows clients with immune disorders, cancer, & vaccine-related age restrictions to have immunity from some diseases due to the general population’s vaccinated status. Herd immunity is becoming a growing concern as more people are refusing or delaying vaccinations due to personal beliefs.
