Question

Module 10 Discussion - National Patient Safety Goals 

The National patient Safety Goals was developed by The Joint Commission for the purpose of promoting specific improvements in patient safety. The requirements highlight problematic areas in health care and describe evidence and expert-based solutions to these problems. 

The goals in include: 

• Patient identification 

• Improving communication 

• Medication safety 

• Health care associated infections 

• Reconcile medications 

• Reduce falls 

Locate two scholarly articles related to National Patient Safety Goals summarize each articles main points and explain how each article applies to the nursing profession. Include the links to the articles you used. 

Answer 1

National Patient Safety Goals are designed to reduce medication errors.

The goals are discussed below.

• Identify Patients Correctly :  Identifying correct patient is utmost important to avoid wrong administration of medications or performing any procedures.So always use 2 methods to identify the patient that is both Name and Date of Birth in order to avoid confusions.
• Improving Communication : It is very necessary to convey to convey all the results related to the right person to the right staff.Interpersonal communication and the coordination between the staff avoids simple human errors.
• Use Medications Safely :  Before administering drugs to the patient it is necessary to cross check the order with the medication in the hand.All the labels of the medication should be clearly read for the appropriate dose, expiry dates etc.Compare the active medications with reconcilary medications.
• Health Care Associated Infections:   Follow all the hand washing techniques and cleaning procedures in order to avoid transfering hospital infections according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Reconcile Medications : Reconcile medications should effectively be checked before listing out as they are the home medications which should be taken by patients.So proper checking and education is needed regarding these medications.
• Reduce Falls : Falls comes under the category preventing injuries to happen in the hospital environment.All the safety precautions of having side rails, proper use of wheel chairs, stretchers and continous monitoring is necessary to avoid injuries.