patient safety Archives

patient safety

2015 top patient safety concerns

April 14, 2015

Alarm hazards top the “Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for Healthcare Organizations,” released by ECRI Institute. Data integrity and managing patient violence are second and third. Read more.

3 ways clinical nurses can mitigate device safety hazards

July 20, 2017

When you participate in the usability process, you provide vital safety information. Key Takeaways – As part of the science of human factors, usability engineering studies the interactions between…

7 tips nurses should know about safe patient handling

May 6, 2020

Following this advice can help protect you and your patients. Takeaways: “Safe patient handling and mobility” is the catch phrase all nurses need to know, not only to…

8 lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

December 8, 2020

Clinical nurse specialists share experiences on how the pandemic and social distancing are highlighting the CNS role. The “new normal” resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the…

A difficult conversation: Telling family and friends when you expose them to COVID-19

January 5, 2021

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 19, 2020, our lives changed forever. An already overburdened healthcare system have become even more taxed…

A late night message, “Robin, I have one child left. What should we do about school?”

October 12, 2020

I received this text message in the early morning hours during one of my many sleepless nights grappling with how to safely reopen school. Nelba, the mom who…

A lesson learned from an unlikely source

May 29, 2018

As I recall one of my first experiences as a safe patient handling (SPH) consultant, I’m reminded of an unlikely department that introduced me to workplace injury prevention…

A measure of last resort: Homemade respirator masks in a pandemic

September 25, 2020

Nurses design and test masks to advance innovation during a time of need. Editor’s note: Commercially manufactured single-use respirator masks are standard of care. Homemade masks should be…

A medication dosage simulation strategy to improve patient safety

September 10, 2019

Simulation boosts skills and encourages active learning. Takeaways: Traditional medication administration dosage testing can be time-consuming, costly, and lack elements of active learning. Simulation in nurse education provides…

A question of disclosure: RNs often struggle with revealing their health conditions to employers

October 11, 2007

It’s no secret that Americans are living longer and that deaths from heart disease, stroke, and cancer are on the downswing. It’s also true that more people are…

AACN endorses white paper on medication reconciliation

December 11, 2010

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently endorsed a white paper that calls for system-wide programs for medication reconciliation — the process of verifying that current patient…

Adding an I to SBAR: A new twist on communicating patient emergencies

March 10, 2016

In the 2000 report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, the Institute of Medicine challenged the healthcare system to focus on improving patient safety, citing…

AHRQ releases new guide for patients

October 11, 2010

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new guide to help hospitals better prepare patients to take care of themselves at home after they…

Ambulance diversions increase mortality

August 11, 2011

A new study finds that ED diversion is associated with increased mortality.

An evidence-based approach to creating a new nursing dress code

January 11, 2008

How should nurses dress? Should you wear a white uniform? Is jewelry appropriate on the job? A survey reveals what patients really think.

ANA addresses shift work

August 11, 2008

ANA position statements address the hazards of shift work.

ANA participates in International Panel on Safe Patient Handling

October 11, 2012

Recognized as a champion of safe patient handling on a national level, the American Nurses Association (ANA) contributed expertise to support nurses and other health care workers globally…

ANA supports safe patient handling measures in Congress

July 11, 2009

“The Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009” (H.R. 2381) gets ANA approval.

Analysis: Good communication enhances patient safety, satisfaction

May 11, 2012

A new report from HealthGrades finds that hospitals with the highest patient ratings in physician and nursing communications on average have fewer patient safety events. The report notes…

Anticholinergics: Adverse effects

August 7, 2023

Anticholinergics, widely used in clinical practice for an extensive range of diseases, exert effects on circulation, respiration, alertness, and vision by blocking the action of acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter)…

Aseptic technique and perioperative I.V. medication administration

November 4, 2023

A study by Wax and colleagues found that each year in the United States over 500,000 healthcare-associated bloodstream infections are attributed to I.V. catheters, including central and peripheral…

Avoid restraints: De-escalation and acute agitation

April 29, 2025

In addition to the significant time and resources required to manage a patient experiencing agitation, these stressful situations can contribute to burnout among healthcare workers. They also negatively…

AWHONN releases new staffing guidelines

December 11, 2010

The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) recently announced that it has published new perinatal nurse staffing guidelines to reflect the demands of providing care…

Beasts, gods and FaceTime: The anguish of visitor limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic

December 8, 2020

For the foreseeable future, efforts to minimize human contact will remain in place as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an important step in…

Benzodiazepines

May 2, 2023

Providers prescribe benzodiazepines (BZDs)—also known as anxiolytics, hypnotics, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and amnestic medications—to manage several symptoms and conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, sedation, muscle spasms, agitation,…

Biosimilars: An alternative to biologics

May 5, 2021

Biosimilars may help lower drug costs for patients. Takeaways: Biologics and biosimilars are classes of drugs used to treat many complex conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and…

Blood transfusions: How technology can improve patient safety

May 11, 2007

Testing a prototype identification system leads to 100% acuracy.

Calculating I.V. drip rates with confidence

October 11, 2006

Do you sometimes have trouble remembering the equation you learned for calculating I.V. drip rates? This article presents a simplified equation that can make calculations quicker and easier…

Can a nurse be too old to work at the bedside?

February 11, 2011

Read guest blogger Donna Cardillo’s thought-provoking article about when age comes into play during a nurse’s career. A recent New York Times article begged the question, “How old…

Change maker

December 16, 2020

Dori Healey is passionate about patient safety, public service, and volunteering. President-elect for American Nurses Association (ANA)-Idaho, Dori Healey, MSN-RN, MBA-HA, CPPS, takes every opportunity to advance the…

CMA lobbyists discuss hot topics in the states

December 11, 2008

In 2009, patient safety, health care, safe staffing, and nursing advancement will top ANA’s list of legislative priorities.

Combat healthcare untruths with community outreach

February 2, 2024

When confronted with false or misleading information, nurses sometimes find themselves in challenging conversations with patients and families, which may disrupt their ability to provide safe, high-quality care.…

Commitment is equivalent to successful implementations

August 26, 2017

Achieving the values associated with an injury prevention program such as safe patient handling (SPH) is rooted within the confines of its ability to gain end-users’ commitment to…

Consistent, quality communication

January 9, 2019

Nurses help lead efforts on safe patient handoffs and transfers Note: This is the first of two articles in a series looking at nurses’ contributions in addressing patient…

Continuous insulin infusion therapy: It’s not just for the ICU anymore

November 11, 2006

Administering continuous insulin infusions on every hospital unit improves glycemic control and patient outcomes.

Courage in everyday nursing practice

September 30, 2015

Courage is an important attribute in life and in your nursing practice. As Helen Keller said, “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature nor…

Creating a nursing dream team

March 24, 2017

Teamwork is fundamental to successful nursing care. But many nursing teams struggle with poor communication, lack of confidence in fellow team members, lack of unity around shared goals,…

Critical care of the skin

May 18, 2018

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses face many challenges when caring for their patients and must sometimes focus on immediate life-saving interventions. Unfortunately, protecting the skin can get bumped…

Deafblindness and health advocacy

September 8, 2023

Patients with moderate-to-severe visual and hearing impairments (deafblindness) need their nurses to understand their needs and provide safe care. Nurses have fundamental knowledge about caring for patients with…

Documentation: You’ve got a lot to lose

September 8, 2014

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, fraud is “the intentional deception or misrepresentation made by a person with the knowledge that the deception could result…

Dodging a trach tragedy

October 11, 2008

When a patient’s O2 Sat falls and subcutaneous neck edema arises, adroit troubleshooting identifies the cause.

Does simulation training improve safety outcomes?

October 16, 2019

A new study showcases the potential connection between simulation training for acute care nurses and its role in improving patient safety outcomes. (more…)

Don’t forget ‘and mobility’

April 11, 2014

Mobility is an integral component of safe patient handling.

Enclosure bed: A tool for calming agitated patients

September 13, 2017

By Dawn Walters, MS, RN, Vice-President of Behavioral Health and Rehabilitation Services Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York As told to Janet Boivin, BSN, RN At Erie…

Environment, health and safety

May 11, 2009

ANA has been very concerned with and involved in the issue of ergonomic hazards as a health and safety concern in the workplace. Musculoskeletal injuries resulting from patient…

Errors, care, and the bottom line

February 7, 2019

Try a mock survey to ensure patient safety. PRESIDENT Calvin Coolidge once said, “The chief business of the American people is business,” but that was decades ago. Now,…

ESCAPE from delirium

September 2, 2025

Falls in hospitals frequently coincide with delirium, a common yet sometimes unrecognized comorbidity among geriatric patients. Delirium is characterized by sudden, rapid cognitive impairment (distinct from the gradual…

Ethical Issues in Healthcare

December 2, 2019

High ethical standards are essential in healthcare. Four fundamental principles lay the foundation for healthcare ethics. Autonomy honors patients’ right to make their own decisions. Beneficence helps patients advance their…

Evidence: The first word in safe I.V. practice

May 11, 2007

Learn how these nurses changed the procedures for dressing I.V. sites and stabilizing peripheral I.V. lines based on their research.

Fall prevention safety bundle: Collaboration leads to fewer falls

July 12, 2017

At St. Joseph’s Hospital and Health Center in Syracuse, NY, we’re committed to providing a safe, comfortable, caring environment for our patients. We believe all patients deserve to be cared…

Falling forward: Why is it so hard?

April 14, 2015

Yes, I’m talking about falls here! Why is it so hard to take what we KNOW, and make it what we DO? We know best practices, we…

First and last line of defense

February 11, 2019

Nurses are crucial to ensuring the safety of patients and the public. NURSES want every interaction with every patient to be safe, whether we’re administering a medication or performing…

Football Players and Concussions – Do They Realize the Risk?

January 8, 2021

Athletes underestimate risk of injury, concussions A recent survey-style study of 296 male college-aged football players revealed that some 43 percent of these athletes underestimate their risk of…

From our readers…Balancing the power in favor of patients

August 11, 2011

Ms. Sims, a bedside nurse featured by Leah Curtin earlier this year inspired me to write this article. At the behest of others, Ms. Sims challenged administration regarding…

From our readers…Three elephants for safety

December 11, 2010

A familiar safety protocol in hospitals is the time-out. Mandated for many invasive procedures, this “work stop” ensures the right site, right procedure, and right patient are verified…

From your ANA President

July 11, 2013

Registered nurses spend a great deal of their time working. A full-time nurse may spend in the neighborhood of 59,000 hours on the job, if not more, in…

Get your patients moving— now!

May 15, 2015

To keep patients on the move, healthcare professionals need to make planned mobility a priority intervention. Progressive mobility (also known as early mobilization) starts slowly and moves the patient…

Hardwiring safety at the point of care

May 7, 2019

An organizational road map to gait belt use. Safe patient handling training for nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and nurse aides should include the use of transfer aids,…

Headlines from the Hill

September 11, 2013

ANA’s legislative agenda introduced in the 113th Congress

High-alert drugs: Strategies for safe I.V. infusions

November 11, 2006

About 80% of all deaths from medication errors are caused by some 20 drugs. This article gives you evidence-based strategies for preventing errors with these deadly drugs.

How dirty is your cellphone?

March 12, 2019

You wash your hands…maybe you should clean your phone PATIENT SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK is March 10-16, 2019. Are you aware of these facts? Preventable medical errors are the…

How reliable is your bedside shift report?

September 4, 2019

Traditional bedside shift reporting may not focus on specific patient safety prevention methods. An enhanced assessment can include targeted evidence-based actions designed to standardize patient safety into a…

How to achieve success in quality improvement

January 11, 2013

To achieve sustained improvement in patient outcomes, create a work environment that promotes a commitment to excellence and examine NDNQI data on your organization’s current performance level.

Huddle up for patient safety

February 3, 2015

You have received report on your patients and are starting your shift on a busy medical-surgical unit. To help control your workflow and manage your time more effectively,…

Human factors engineering can improve patient safety

July 11, 2013

Knowing how nurses interact with the environment can help safeguard patients.

I.V. push medications: An evidenced-based practice guide

April 1, 2023

I.V. push medications can be particularly dangerous given their immediate bioavailability and the narrow therapeutic dose range, which can make reversing any adverse effects difficult.

Implicit bias: More than a buzzword

November 8, 2024

Implicit bias, unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that influence our thoughts, actions, and decisions, frequently contradict our conscious beliefs. It’s a universal phenomenon that affects everyone, regardless of moral…

Improving health care with systems thinking

September 11, 2008

We strive to reach the theoretical goal of perfect patient care. But is defect-free health care possible? Or are avoidable deaths from preventable errors inevitable? Sociologist and organizational theorist Charles Perrow describes…

Improving patient safety wherever care occurs

July 10, 2018

Nurses, providers, and pharmacists collaborate to improve patient safety. By Lillee Gelinas, MSN, RN, CPPS, FAAN Patient safety is critical to quality care. Since the publication of the…

Improving patient safety with a modified early warning scoring system

November 10, 2015

The modified early warning system (MEWS) is a physiologic scoring system for bedside assessment of medical-surgical patients. Early detection of changes in a patient’s condition can make a…

Infection control for lifts and slings

September 11, 2007

Your guide to keeping lifts and slings free from infection.

Innovations to keep patients and nurses safe

November 8, 2024

Kathleen M. Sutcliffe, PhD, safety expert and Johns Hopkins University professor, predicts that “the next waves of innovation will focus on improving how people interact with one another…

Insulin injection and changing injury trends

August 7, 2023

A lot can change in healthcare over 5 years, including advancements in precise and early diagnosis of disease, treatment options, expansion of outpatient and pharmacy services, robotics for…

Intimate partner violence

August 8, 2023

The World Health Organization describes intimate partner violence (IPV) as “behavior by an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including physical aggression, sexual…

Joint Commission proposes alarm management as 2014 National Patient Safety Goal

January 11, 2013

The Joint Commission is inviting comments on its proposed 2014 National Patient Safety Goal on management of alarms. The 15-question survey should take about 10 to 15 minutes…

Joint Commission releases Sentinel Event Alert on healthcare work fatigue and patient safety

December 11, 2011

On Dec. 14, The Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert on healthcare worker fatigue and patient safety. Read the report, which includes recommendations for actions organizations can…

Jump into action against aspiration pneumonia

August 11, 2012

Learn more about this serious complication, including prevention and treatment.

Just culture promotes a partnership for patient safety

May 11, 2013

The authors explain how workplaces can move toward just culture, which recognizes that errors may be systemic rather than personal.

Keep consumer hand lotions at home

April 11, 2011

Are you using the right hand lotion at work?

Keeping a grasp on patient safety

January 13, 2015

In any organization, keeping both patients and caregivers safe during patient mobilization is a priority. As patient advocates, nurses share responsibility for maintaining optimal patient health. Although healthcare…

Keeping neutropenic patients safe

March 24, 2009

Protect your neutropenic patients from life-threatening infections.

Known fallers

June 3, 2024

Patients who arrive in the emergency department (ED) because of a fall or with a medical condition or after an accident that resulted in a fall, require prevention…

Let’s huddle up

February 4, 2024

In healthcare, a lack of communication and teamwork can lead to patient safety issues and errors, which can decrease team morale and patient satisfaction.

Make your clinic more senior sensitive

November 30, 2018

Are you prepared to care for your aging patients? Takeaways: Specific needs of older patients can affect the clinic schedule. Preparing your clinic to care for older patients…

Managing our fears to improve patient safety

May 11, 2014

Leaders must develop a structured process for team learning and communication.

Medical device reporting—a model for patient safety

February 13, 2017

As a nurse, you’re well aware of medication safety and error prevention initiatives, but do you also know about the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) medical device reporting…

Medication errors: Best Practices

March 11, 2010

A medication error can occur in any healthcare setting-with devastating consequences. The authors describe weaknesses in the key elements of medication use and propose ways to make drug…

Minimize medication errors in urgent care clinics

March 2, 2023

Establish a culture of patient safety. Takeaways: The number of patients seen in urgent care clinics can present unique medication administration challenges. Reducing errors requires a culture of…

Mitigating patient identification threats

September 7, 2024

A cardiology team scheduled a complex cardiothoracic surgery for identical young adult twins with the same life-limiting diagnosis. However, the twins insisted they undergo their surgeries on the…

National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety released

November 10, 2020

The American Nurses Association (ANA) joined with the other members of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)–convened National Steering Committee for Patient Safety to announce the release of…

New report reaffirms old concerns

May 11, 2007

In a new report, The National Toxicology Program (NTP) expressed ”serious concern” that diethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP), a chemical used in medical devices, may affect male reproductive tract development and…

NQF endorses more patient safety measures

December 11, 2012

The National Quality Forum (NQF) Board of Directors has endorsed 12 patient safety measures, including those related to patient falls, pressure ulcers, and healthcare-associated infections. The measures were…

Nurse leader rounds plus

February 10, 2025

Patients’ perceptions of their care may not correlate to the actual quality of care given but rather their beliefs about what they perceive as quality care. Nurse leaders…

Nurse referrals to pharmacy

March 7, 2024

As the main point of patient contact, nurses can help quickly identify potential health-related issues. Taking a whole person/population health management approach provides patients with individualized care management…

Nurses’ crucial role in preventing and documenting conditions not present on admission

April 11, 2008

Medicare has reduced its reimbursement for hospital-acquired conditions. Will some hospitals try to offset the shortfall by slashing nurse staffing?

Nursing’s role in Joint Commission accreditation

February 28, 2022

Inspiring safety and quality care. Takeaways: Nurses play a key role in the accreditation process and work on the frontline to prevent errors and promote quality and safety.…

Optimal staffing for safe patient care: What will it take?

April 13, 2015

Optimal staffing for safe patient care continues to be a top concern of the nation’s 2.8 million employed registered nurses (RNs), 58% of whom work in acute care…

Our safety is your safety

April 9, 2020

When I texted my daughter’s best friend (who is like a daughter to me), I discovered that she was given only two masks for an entire week as…

Patient acuity tool on a medical-surgical unit

April 11, 2018

Use a tool for consistent, objective, and quantifiable patient assignments. Patient assignments can lead to dissatisfaction among nursing staff, especially when they’re not consistent, objective, and quantifiable.

Patient safety awareness

March 9, 2021

How do we create a mindset focused on safety? Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 14-20. Its importance can’t be emphasized enough. In addition to the high mortality…

Patient Safety Awareness Week

March 6, 2018

Shining a light on a public health crisis Each year, an important event is nationally recognized but frequently overshadowed by our busy lives: Patient Safety Awareness Week. Seven…

Patient/family/visitor “hot line” prevents medical errors

June 11, 2011

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has a “hot line” that patients, families, or visitors can call if they see something wrong and think staff isn’t responding appropriately.…

Preventing harm

February 11, 2019

Reporting, recognition, and just culture can make a difference Editor’s note: This article is the second in a two-part series on patient safety. Access part 1 at americannursetoday.…

Preventing polypharmacy in older adults

October 11, 2010

Polypharmacy refers to the effects of taking multiple medications concurrently to manage coexisting health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension. Too often, polypharmacy becomes problematic, such as when…

Preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia: A nursing-intervention bundle

March 11, 2011

The author’s study found that when implemented together as a bundle, three autonomous nursing interventions can dramatically lower ventilatorassociated pneumonia rates in mechanically ventilated patients.

Proper use of N95 respirators

September 21, 2020

Follow doffing, re-donning, extended use, and reuse best practices to reduce risks. (more…)

Protect patients from I.V. infiltration

February 11, 2010

An expert explains best practices for preventing, detecting, and managing this dangerous complication of I.V. therapy.

Protect patients from I.V. infiltration

July 11, 2009

An expert explains best practices for preventing, detecting, and managing this dangerous complication of I.V. therapy.

Protect yourself and your patients with vaccination

September 11, 2010

Why is immunization so crucial for nurses? Which vaccinations should all nurses get? Find out with this educational handout focusing on national efforts to reduce vaccine-preventable disease through…

Providing effective communication to patients who are deaf or hard of hearing

December 7, 2020

Nurses have a legal duty. Communication is the bedrock of patient care. If a patient can’t comprehend the care being provided or the clinician can’t understand what the…

Putting an end to patient overcrowding

October 11, 2006

Serious patient-flow problems call for more than just quick fixes. In some facilities, the culture must be transformed before patient bottlenecks can be banished. Read about one hospital’s…

Quality improvement: A structured daily checklist

November 30, 2018

A medical-surgical geriatric unit developed a checklist to be used during interprofessional rounds and maintained by the nurse.

Reducing nasogastric tube misplacement through evidence-based practice

November 6, 2018

Is your practice up-to-date? This article will discuss current research, steps for improving the verification process, reducing nasogastric tube misplacement.

Rehabilitation and patient injuries

December 9, 2019

Dear Editor: The elderly population are admitted to rehabilitation facilities after sustaining many different types of injuries and incidents such as falls, fractures, burns, or malnutrition at alarming…

Responding to a sentinel event

October 11, 2008

Sentinel events happen even in the best hospitals. Do you know what these events are and how to handle them?

Restraints, patient rights, and the confused patient

June 11, 2012

Author Leah Curtin analyzes the ethics of a case of confusion and restraints.

Safe lifting: The assessment imperative

June 11, 2007

If you lift or transfer patients, make “Assess first, lift later” your motto. Find out which critical patient and ergonomic factors you must evaluate before starting any patient-handling…

Safe patient handling and movement in home healthcare settings

March 11, 2007

Home health settings present a challenging health care environment for home healthcare workers who perform patient movement and handling activities, such as lifting, transferring, or repositioning patients. All…

Safe patient handling equipment and workplace culture

August 21, 2018

Just this past week, I encountered two situations that I found to be interesting. The first has to do with recommendations suggested by a committee member in an…

Safe patient handling: The process program

April 13, 2018

Although safe patient handling (SPH) programs are designed to reduce employee injuries related to manual patient lifting and repositioning, many programs are limited to being marginally effective at…

Safe patient-handling programs: How to calculate return on investment

December 11, 2007

Find out how to calculate return on investment for a safe patient-handling program.

Safeguarding patients: The courageous communication solution

May 17, 2016

So how do you get a colleague’s attention when you have a safety concern? The Department of Defense partnered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)…

Safety culture: A journey to zero

February 22, 2019

Interprofessional collaboration drives culture change. Takeaways: To effectively eradicate serious patient harm, an organization needs to aspire to be a high-reliability organization (HRO) by cultivating and sustaining a…

Selecting lifts for patients with special needs

March 11, 2007

Learn how to keep four types of special-needs patients mobile and keep yourself injury-free.

Self-releasing alarm belts: It takes two

March 8, 2017

Patient falls from chairs are increasing at an alarming rate: What can a hospital’s nursing staff do to stop this trend? That was the challenge faced by unit leaders…

Smart pump technology and dose error reduction

January 6, 2025

In the hospital setting, nurses administer I.V. medications using infusion pumps; unfortunately, administration errors when using these pumps occur frequently.

Smart pumps, smart management, safe patients

May 6, 2021

When organizations and clinicians team up, patients are protected. Takeaways: Medication administration errors continue to occur due to mistakes in smart electronic infusion pump setup, programming, and clinical…

Staggering number of alarms identified

October 23, 2014

A study in PLOS ONE found more than 2.5 million patient monitoring alarms in one month in one hospital. Many were caused by a complex interplay of inappropriate…

Standardizing handoff communication

March 5, 2021

Although adverse events can occur anytime during hospitalization, handoff communication is often the cause of avoidable adverse events. Miscommunication, care continuity disruption, critical data omission, medication errors, and…

Study identifies barriers to patient safety

May 11, 2013

A study by AIG of hospital C-suite executives and risk managers in the United States found that the largest barrier to patient safety is lack of teamwork, negative…

Study shows California staffing ratios saves lives

May 11, 2010

A new study finds that California mandatory nurse-patient ratios save lives. Read more at http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/NRS-249784/Better-NursePatient-Ratios-Could-Save-Thousands-of-Lives-Annually-Says-Study.

Study: Patient safety may be at risk when nurses work long hours and second jobs

March 4, 2019

Researchers at New Yok University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing reviewed surveys of 4,500 newly licensed nurses in 13 states and Washington, DC, and found that they worked…

Take Note – August 2008

August 11, 2008

Web exclusive! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts at www.AmericanNurseToday.com

Team-based approach to behavioral health emergencies

December 22, 2020

Pre-defined roles and training can help address disruptive client incidents. Takeaways: Few hospitals have a formal plan to address combative clients. REACT (Rapport, Escort, Antipsychotics/anxiolytics, Communicate, Times) is…

The impact of rounding on a geriatric psychiatric unit

December 1, 2017

This article reviews a quality-improvement initiative conducted on the inpatient geriatric unit at a freestanding psychiatric hospital that included a rounding program.

The unique device identifier and nursing

March 13, 2019

What you need to know for reporting and patient safety TO PROMOTE patient health and safety, nurses need to learn about and incorporate activities related to medical devices’…

The value we bring

May 11, 2009

Nurses represent the best value in health care.

The VIP treatment: A comprehensive post-fall assessment guideline

March 3, 2023

Falls, a prevalent health issue among older adults, are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),…

Transport teams and patient handoff reports

October 2, 2019

Patient safety requires complete communication. Takeaways: To protect patients, referring organizations, and transport professionals, a patient care report suitable to the scope of practice of the transport professional…

Trends and consequences: Tune into your patient’s patterns

December 11, 2008

A case scenario underscores the risks of failing to analyze a patient’s clinical trends.

Understanding high-frequency oscillatory ventillation

October 11, 2007

To survive acute lung injury, patients need all the help they can get. High-frequency oscillatory ventillation protects their lungs by maintaining a constant mean airway pressure.

Understanding MCS

October 11, 2008

More research is needed to increase our understanding of multiple chemical sensitivity.

Understanding the dangers of waste anesthetic gases

April 11, 2008

Exposure to volatile anesthetic gases poses a hazard to anyone who works in an operating or recovery room.

Understanding the new standards for patient restraint and seclusion

June 11, 2007

The federal government recently made important changes to the rules and regulations on patient restraint and seclusion. Here’s what you need to know.

Unplanned Extubation: Eliminating preventable deaths

May 2, 2020

Unplanned extubations (UEs) can be reduced through the implementation of standardization of best practices, policies and procedures for institution-wide reliability for airway management safety. While organizational change is…

Using simulation-enhanced education and nurse-to-nurse mentoring

September 4, 2014

Every day, on every shift, rural nurses experience geographic and professional isolation. Confined by geography, staff in rural hospitals practice as generalists by necessity, seeing illness and injury…

What Works: Applying TeamSTEPPS® to improve patient safety

November 18, 2015

Getting important information out to all staff within a hospital can be challenging. That’s what we faced at Overton Brooks Veterans Administration Medical Center (OBVAMC) in Shreveport, Louisiana,…

What Works: Improving documentation of restraints in the neuro ICU

June 11, 2013

Learn how one unit implemented their project, including outcomes and how to overcome barriers.

What’s new in SPHM

May 10, 2020

ANA’s revised safe patient handling and mobility standards are coming soon. (more…)

Who handles the handling?

May 30, 2025

Healthcare organizations that have implemented effective safe patient handling and mobility programs report a reduction in healthcare worker injury rates related to manual patient handling. In addition, organizations…

Will virtual clinical learning during a pandemic affect patient safety?

May 5, 2020

Clinical experience plays an integral role in promoting patient safety and is one of the core requirements of every nursing program. Clinical experience helps prelicensure Bachelor of Science…

Working-out or lifting patients

September 26, 2018

As I prepare for my evening workout at the gym today, it’s more than likely that I will use weights greater than 35 pounds when performing various exercises.…

Your injury, your fault?

April 27, 2017

Ok, so let’s be honest, you were injured on your nursing job because you didn’t follow proper procedural techniques right? I mean, you’ve been taught how to lift,…

2015 top patient safety concerns

Alarm hazards top the “Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for Healthcare Organizations,” released by ECRI Institute. Data integrity and managing patient violence are second…

3 ways clinical nurses can mitigate device safety hazards

When you participate in the usability process, you provide vital safety information. Key Takeaways – As part of the science of human factors, usability engineering…

7 tips nurses should know about safe patient handling

Following this advice can help protect you and your patients. Takeaways: “Safe patient handling and mobility” is the catch phrase all nurses need to…

8 lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

Clinical nurse specialists share experiences on how the pandemic and social distancing are highlighting the CNS role. The “new normal” resulting from the COVID-19…

A difficult conversation: Telling family and friends when you expose them to COVID-19

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 19, 2020, our lives changed forever. An already overburdened healthcare system have…

A late night message, “Robin, I have one child left. What should we do about school?”

I received this text message in the early morning hours during one of my many sleepless nights grappling with how to safely reopen school.…

A lesson learned from an unlikely source

As I recall one of my first experiences as a safe patient handling (SPH) consultant, I’m reminded of an unlikely department that introduced me…

A measure of last resort: Homemade respirator masks in a pandemic

Nurses design and test masks to advance innovation during a time of need. Editor’s note: Commercially manufactured single-use respirator masks are standard of care.…

A medication dosage simulation strategy to improve patient safety

A question of disclosure: RNs often struggle with revealing their health conditions to employers

It’s no secret that Americans are living longer and that deaths from heart disease, stroke, and cancer are on the downswing. It’s also true…

AACN endorses white paper on medication reconciliation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently endorsed a white paper that calls for system-wide programs for medication reconciliation — the process of…

Adding an I to SBAR: A new twist on communicating patient emergencies

In the 2000 report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, the Institute of Medicine challenged the healthcare system to focus on…

AHRQ releases new guide for patients

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new guide to help hospitals better prepare patients to take care of themselves…

Ambulance diversions increase mortality

A new study finds that ED diversion is associated with increased mortality.

An evidence-based approach to creating a new nursing dress code

How should nurses dress? Should you wear a white uniform? Is jewelry appropriate on the job? A survey reveals what patients really think.

ANA addresses shift work

ANA position statements address the hazards of shift work.

ANA participates in International Panel on Safe Patient Handling

Recognized as a champion of safe patient handling on a national level, the American Nurses Association (ANA) contributed expertise to support nurses and other…

ANA supports safe patient handling measures in Congress

“The Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2009” (H.R. 2381) gets ANA approval.

Analysis: Good communication enhances patient safety, satisfaction

A new report from HealthGrades finds that hospitals with the highest patient ratings in physician and nursing communications on average have fewer patient safety…

Anticholinergics: Adverse effects

Anticholinergics, widely used in clinical practice for an extensive range of diseases, exert effects on circulation, respiration, alertness, and vision by blocking the action…

Aseptic technique and perioperative I.V. medication administration

A study by Wax and colleagues found that each year in the United States over 500,000 healthcare-associated bloodstream infections are attributed to I.V. catheters,…

Avoid restraints: De-escalation and acute agitation

In addition to the significant time and resources required to manage a patient experiencing agitation, these stressful situations can contribute to burnout among healthcare…

AWHONN releases new staffing guidelines

The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) recently announced that it has published new perinatal nurse staffing guidelines to reflect the…

Beasts, gods and FaceTime: The anguish of visitor limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic

For the foreseeable future, efforts to minimize human contact will remain in place as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is…

Benzodiazepines

Biosimilars: An alternative to biologics

Biosimilars may help lower drug costs for patients. Takeaways: Biologics and biosimilars are classes of drugs used to treat many complex conditions, including inflammatory…

Blood transfusions: How technology can improve patient safety

Testing a prototype identification system leads to 100% acuracy.

Calculating I.V. drip rates with confidence

Do you sometimes have trouble remembering the equation you learned for calculating I.V. drip rates? This article presents a simplified equation that can make…

Can a nurse be too old to work at the bedside?

Read guest blogger Donna Cardillo’s thought-provoking article about when age comes into play during a nurse’s career. A recent New York Times article begged…

Change maker

Dori Healey is passionate about patient safety, public service, and volunteering. President-elect for American Nurses Association (ANA)-Idaho, Dori Healey, MSN-RN, MBA-HA, CPPS, takes every…

CMA lobbyists discuss hot topics in the states

In 2009, patient safety, health care, safe staffing, and nursing advancement will top ANA’s list of legislative priorities.

Combat healthcare untruths with community outreach

When confronted with false or misleading information, nurses sometimes find themselves in challenging conversations with patients and families, which may disrupt their ability to…

Commitment is equivalent to successful implementations

Achieving the values associated with an injury prevention program such as safe patient handling (SPH) is rooted within the confines of its ability to…

Consistent, quality communication

Nurses help lead efforts on safe patient handoffs and transfers Note: This is the first of two articles in a series looking at nurses’…

Continuous insulin infusion therapy: It’s not just for the ICU anymore

Administering continuous insulin infusions on every hospital unit improves glycemic control and patient outcomes.

Courage in everyday nursing practice

Courage is an important attribute in life and in your nursing practice. As Helen Keller said, “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not…

Creating a nursing dream team

Teamwork is fundamental to successful nursing care. But many nursing teams struggle with poor communication, lack of confidence in fellow team members, lack of…

Critical care of the skin

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses face many challenges when caring for their patients and must sometimes focus on immediate life-saving interventions. Unfortunately, protecting the…

Deafblindness and health advocacy

Patients with moderate-to-severe visual and hearing impairments (deafblindness) need their nurses to understand their needs and provide safe care. Nurses have fundamental knowledge about…

Documentation: You’ve got a lot to lose

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, fraud is “the intentional deception or misrepresentation made by a person with the knowledge that…

Dodging a trach tragedy

When a patient’s O2 Sat falls and subcutaneous neck edema arises, adroit troubleshooting identifies the cause.

Does simulation training improve safety outcomes?

A new study showcases the potential connection between simulation training for acute care nurses and its role in improving patient safety outcomes. (more…)

Don’t forget ‘and mobility’

Mobility is an integral component of safe patient handling.

Enclosure bed: A tool for calming agitated patients

By Dawn Walters, MS, RN, Vice-President of Behavioral Health and Rehabilitation Services Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York As told to Janet Boivin,…

Environment, health and safety

ANA has been very concerned with and involved in the issue of ergonomic hazards as a health and safety concern in the workplace. Musculoskeletal…

Errors, care, and the bottom line

Try a mock survey to ensure patient safety. PRESIDENT Calvin Coolidge once said, “The chief business of the American people is business,” but that…

ESCAPE from delirium

Falls in hospitals frequently coincide with delirium, a common yet sometimes unrecognized comorbidity among geriatric patients. Delirium is characterized by sudden, rapid cognitive impairment…

Ethical Issues in Healthcare

High ethical standards are essential in healthcare. Four fundamental principles lay the foundation for healthcare ethics. Autonomy honors patients’ right to make their own decisions.…

Evidence: The first word in safe I.V. practice

Learn how these nurses changed the procedures for dressing I.V. sites and stabilizing peripheral I.V. lines based on their research.

Fall prevention safety bundle: Collaboration leads to fewer falls

At St. Joseph’s Hospital and Health Center in Syracuse, NY, we’re committed to providing a safe, comfortable, caring environment for our patients. We believe all patients…

Falling forward: Why is it so hard?

Yes, I’m talking about falls here! Why is it so hard to take what we KNOW, and make it what we DO? We…

First and last line of defense

Nurses are crucial to ensuring the safety of patients and the public. NURSES want every interaction with every patient to be safe, whether we’re administering…

Football Players and Concussions – Do They Realize the Risk?

Athletes underestimate risk of injury, concussions A recent survey-style study of 296 male college-aged football players revealed that some 43 percent of these athletes…

From our readers…Balancing the power in favor of patients

Ms. Sims, a bedside nurse featured by Leah Curtin earlier this year inspired me to write this article. At the behest of others, Ms.…

From our readers…Three elephants for safety

A familiar safety protocol in hospitals is the time-out. Mandated for many invasive procedures, this “work stop” ensures the right site, right procedure, and…

From your ANA President

Registered nurses spend a great deal of their time working. A full-time nurse may spend in the neighborhood of 59,000 hours on the job,…

Get your patients moving— now!

To keep patients on the move, healthcare professionals need to make planned mobility a priority intervention. Progressive mobility (also known as early mobilization) starts slowly…

Hardwiring safety at the point of care

An organizational road map to gait belt use. Safe patient handling training for nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and nurse aides should include the…

Headlines from the Hill

ANA’s legislative agenda introduced in the 113th Congress

High-alert drugs: Strategies for safe I.V. infusions

About 80% of all deaths from medication errors are caused by some 20 drugs. This article gives you evidence-based strategies for preventing errors with…

How dirty is your cellphone?

You wash your hands…maybe you should clean your phone PATIENT SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK is March 10-16, 2019. Are you aware of these facts? Preventable…

How reliable is your bedside shift report?

Traditional bedside shift reporting may not focus on specific patient safety prevention methods. An enhanced assessment can include targeted evidence-based actions designed to standardize…

How to achieve success in quality improvement

To achieve sustained improvement in patient outcomes, create a work environment that promotes a commitment to excellence and examine NDNQI data on your organization’s…

Huddle up for patient safety

You have received report on your patients and are starting your shift on a busy medical-surgical unit. To help control your workflow and manage…

Human factors engineering can improve patient safety

Knowing how nurses interact with the environment can help safeguard patients.

I.V. push medications: An evidenced-based practice guide

I.V. push medications can be particularly dangerous given their immediate bioavailability and the narrow therapeutic dose range, which can make reversing any adverse effects…

Implicit bias: More than a buzzword

Implicit bias, unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that influence our thoughts, actions, and decisions, frequently contradict our conscious beliefs. It’s a universal phenomenon that affects…

Improving health care with systems thinking

We strive to reach the theoretical goal of perfect patient care. But is defect-free health care possible? Or are avoidable deaths from preventable errors inevitable? Sociologist and…

Improving patient safety wherever care occurs

Nurses, providers, and pharmacists collaborate to improve patient safety. By Lillee Gelinas, MSN, RN, CPPS, FAAN Patient safety is critical to quality care. Since…

Improving patient safety with a modified early warning scoring system

The modified early warning system (MEWS) is a physiologic scoring system for bedside assessment of medical-surgical patients. Early detection of changes in a patient’s…

Infection control for lifts and slings

Your guide to keeping lifts and slings free from infection.

Innovations to keep patients and nurses safe

Kathleen M. Sutcliffe, PhD, safety expert and Johns Hopkins University professor, predicts that “the next waves of innovation will focus on improving how people…

Insulin injection and changing injury trends

A lot can change in healthcare over 5 years, including advancements in precise and early diagnosis of disease, treatment options, expansion of outpatient and…

Intimate partner violence

The World Health Organization describes intimate partner violence (IPV) as “behavior by an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm,…

Joint Commission proposes alarm management as 2014 National Patient Safety Goal

The Joint Commission is inviting comments on its proposed 2014 National Patient Safety Goal on management of alarms. The 15-question survey should take about…

Joint Commission releases Sentinel Event Alert on healthcare work fatigue and patient safety

On Dec. 14, The Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert on healthcare worker fatigue and patient safety. Read the report, which includes recommendations…

Jump into action against aspiration pneumonia

Learn more about this serious complication, including prevention and treatment.

Just culture promotes a partnership for patient safety

The authors explain how workplaces can move toward just culture, which recognizes that errors may be systemic rather than personal.

Keep consumer hand lotions at home

Are you using the right hand lotion at work?

Keeping a grasp on patient safety

In any organization, keeping both patients and caregivers safe during patient mobilization is a priority. As patient advocates, nurses share responsibility for maintaining optimal…

Keeping neutropenic patients safe

Protect your neutropenic patients from life-threatening infections.

Known fallers

Patients who arrive in the emergency department (ED) because of a fall or with a medical condition or after an accident that resulted in…

Let’s huddle up

In healthcare, a lack of communication and teamwork can lead to patient safety issues and errors, which can decrease team morale and patient satisfaction.

Make your clinic more senior sensitive

Are you prepared to care for your aging patients? Takeaways: Specific needs of older patients can affect the clinic schedule. Preparing your clinic to…

Managing our fears to improve patient safety

Leaders must develop a structured process for team learning and communication.

Medical device reporting—a model for patient safety

As a nurse, you’re well aware of medication safety and error prevention initiatives, but do you also know about the Food and Drug Administration’s…

Medication errors: Best Practices

A medication error can occur in any healthcare setting-with devastating consequences. The authors describe weaknesses in the key elements of medication use and propose…

Minimize medication errors in urgent care clinics

Establish a culture of patient safety. Takeaways: The number of patients seen in urgent care clinics can present unique medication administration challenges. Reducing errors…

Mitigating patient identification threats

A cardiology team scheduled a complex cardiothoracic surgery for identical young adult twins with the same life-limiting diagnosis. However, the twins insisted they undergo…

National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety released

The American Nurses Association (ANA) joined with the other members of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)–convened National Steering Committee for Patient Safety to…

New report reaffirms old concerns

In a new report, The National Toxicology Program (NTP) expressed ”serious concern” that diethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP), a chemical used in medical devices, may affect male…

NQF endorses more patient safety measures

The National Quality Forum (NQF) Board of Directors has endorsed 12 patient safety measures, including those related to patient falls, pressure ulcers, and healthcare-associated…

Nurse leader rounds plus

Patients’ perceptions of their care may not correlate to the actual quality of care given but rather their beliefs about what they perceive as…

Nurse referrals to pharmacy

As the main point of patient contact, nurses can help quickly identify potential health-related issues. Taking a whole person/population health management approach provides patients…

Nurses’ crucial role in preventing and documenting conditions not present on admission

Medicare has reduced its reimbursement for hospital-acquired conditions. Will some hospitals try to offset the shortfall by slashing nurse staffing?

Nursing’s role in Joint Commission accreditation

Inspiring safety and quality care. Takeaways: Nurses play a key role in the accreditation process and work on the frontline to prevent errors and…

Optimal staffing for safe patient care: What will it take?

Optimal staffing for safe patient care continues to be a top concern of the nation’s 2.8 million employed registered nurses (RNs), 58% of whom…

Our safety is your safety

When I texted my daughter’s best friend (who is like a daughter to me), I discovered that she was given only two masks for…

Patient acuity tool on a medical-surgical unit

Use a tool for consistent, objective, and quantifiable patient assignments. Patient assignments can lead to dissatisfaction among nursing staff, especially when they’re not consistent,…

Patient safety awareness

How do we create a mindset focused on safety? Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 14-20. Its importance can’t be emphasized enough. In addition…

Patient Safety Awareness Week

Shining a light on a public health crisis Each year, an important event is nationally recognized but frequently overshadowed by our busy lives: Patient…

Patient/family/visitor “hot line” prevents medical errors

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has a “hot line” that patients, families, or visitors can call if they see something wrong and think…

Preventing harm

Reporting, recognition, and just culture can make a difference Editor’s note: This article is the second in a two-part series on patient safety. Access…

Preventing polypharmacy in older adults

Polypharmacy refers to the effects of taking multiple medications concurrently to manage coexisting health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension. Too often, polypharmacy becomes…

Preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia: A nursing-intervention bundle

The author’s study found that when implemented together as a bundle, three autonomous nursing interventions can dramatically lower ventilatorassociated pneumonia rates in mechanically ventilated…

Proper use of N95 respirators

Follow doffing, re-donning, extended use, and reuse best practices to reduce risks. (more…)

Protect patients from I.V. infiltration

An expert explains best practices for preventing, detecting, and managing this dangerous complication of I.V. therapy.

Protect patients from I.V. infiltration

An expert explains best practices for preventing, detecting, and managing this dangerous complication of I.V. therapy.

Protect yourself and your patients with vaccination

Why is immunization so crucial for nurses? Which vaccinations should all nurses get? Find out with this educational handout focusing on national efforts to…

Providing effective communication to patients who are deaf or hard of hearing

Nurses have a legal duty. Communication is the bedrock of patient care. If a patient can’t comprehend the care being provided or the clinician…

Putting an end to patient overcrowding

Serious patient-flow problems call for more than just quick fixes. In some facilities, the culture must be transformed before patient bottlenecks can be banished.…

Quality improvement: A structured daily checklist

A medical-surgical geriatric unit developed a checklist to be used during interprofessional rounds and maintained by the nurse.

Reducing nasogastric tube misplacement through evidence-based practice

Is your practice up-to-date? This article will discuss current research, steps for improving the verification process, reducing nasogastric tube misplacement.

Rehabilitation and patient injuries

Dear Editor: The elderly population are admitted to rehabilitation facilities after sustaining many different types of injuries and incidents such as falls, fractures, burns,…

Responding to a sentinel event

Sentinel events happen even in the best hospitals. Do you know what these events are and how to handle them?

Restraints, patient rights, and the confused patient

Author Leah Curtin analyzes the ethics of a case of confusion and restraints.

Safe lifting: The assessment imperative

If you lift or transfer patients, make “Assess first, lift later” your motto. Find out which critical patient and ergonomic factors you must evaluate…

Safe patient handling and movement in home healthcare settings

Home health settings present a challenging health care environment for home healthcare workers who perform patient movement and handling activities, such as lifting, transferring,…

Safe patient handling equipment and workplace culture

Just this past week, I encountered two situations that I found to be interesting. The first has to do with recommendations suggested by a…

Safe patient handling: The process program

Although safe patient handling (SPH) programs are designed to reduce employee injuries related to manual patient lifting and repositioning, many programs are limited to…

Safe patient-handling programs: How to calculate return on investment

Find out how to calculate return on investment for a safe patient-handling program.

Safeguarding patients: The courageous communication solution

So how do you get a colleague’s attention when you have a safety concern? The Department of Defense partnered with the Agency for Healthcare…

Safety culture: A journey to zero

Interprofessional collaboration drives culture change. Takeaways: To effectively eradicate serious patient harm, an organization needs to aspire to be a high-reliability organization (HRO) by…

Selecting lifts for patients with special needs

Learn how to keep four types of special-needs patients mobile and keep yourself injury-free.

Self-releasing alarm belts: It takes two

Patient falls from chairs are increasing at an alarming rate: What can a hospital’s nursing staff do to stop this trend? That was the challenge…

Smart pump technology and dose error reduction

In the hospital setting, nurses administer I.V. medications using infusion pumps; unfortunately, administration errors when using these pumps occur frequently.

Smart pumps, smart management, safe patients

When organizations and clinicians team up, patients are protected. Takeaways: Medication administration errors continue to occur due to mistakes in smart electronic infusion pump…

Staggering number of alarms identified

A study in PLOS ONE found more than 2.5 million patient monitoring alarms in one month in one hospital. Many were caused by a…

Standardizing handoff communication

Although adverse events can occur anytime during hospitalization, handoff communication is often the cause of avoidable adverse events. Miscommunication, care continuity disruption, critical data…

Study identifies barriers to patient safety

A study by AIG of hospital C-suite executives and risk managers in the United States found that the largest barrier to patient safety is…

Study shows California staffing ratios saves lives

Study: Patient safety may be at risk when nurses work long hours and second jobs

Researchers at New Yok University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing reviewed surveys of 4,500 newly licensed nurses in 13 states and Washington, DC, and…

Take Note – August 2008

Web exclusive! A monthly round-up of clinical and practice news and alerts at www.AmericanNurseToday.com

Team-based approach to behavioral health emergencies

Pre-defined roles and training can help address disruptive client incidents. Takeaways: Few hospitals have a formal plan to address combative clients. REACT (Rapport, Escort,…

The impact of rounding on a geriatric psychiatric unit

This article reviews a quality-improvement initiative conducted on the inpatient geriatric unit at a freestanding psychiatric hospital that included a rounding program.

The unique device identifier and nursing

What you need to know for reporting and patient safety TO PROMOTE patient health and safety, nurses need to learn about and incorporate activities…

The value we bring

Nurses represent the best value in health care.

The VIP treatment: A comprehensive post-fall assessment guideline

Falls, a prevalent health issue among older adults, are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In 2018, according to the Centers for Disease…

Transport teams and patient handoff reports

Patient safety requires complete communication. Takeaways: To protect patients, referring organizations, and transport professionals, a patient care report suitable to the scope of practice…

Trends and consequences: Tune into your patient’s patterns

A case scenario underscores the risks of failing to analyze a patient’s clinical trends.

Understanding high-frequency oscillatory ventillation

To survive acute lung injury, patients need all the help they can get. High-frequency oscillatory ventillation protects their lungs by maintaining a constant mean…

Understanding MCS

More research is needed to increase our understanding of multiple chemical sensitivity.

Understanding the dangers of waste anesthetic gases

Exposure to volatile anesthetic gases poses a hazard to anyone who works in an operating or recovery room.

Understanding the new standards for patient restraint and seclusion

The federal government recently made important changes to the rules and regulations on patient restraint and seclusion. Here’s what you need to know.

Unplanned Extubation: Eliminating preventable deaths

Unplanned extubations (UEs) can be reduced through the implementation of standardization of best practices, policies and procedures for institution-wide reliability for airway management safety.…

Using simulation-enhanced education and nurse-to-nurse mentoring

Every day, on every shift, rural nurses experience geographic and professional isolation. Confined by geography, staff in rural hospitals practice as generalists by necessity,…

What Works: Applying TeamSTEPPS® to improve patient safety

Getting important information out to all staff within a hospital can be challenging. That’s what we faced at Overton Brooks Veterans Administration Medical Center…

What Works: Improving documentation of restraints in the neuro ICU

Learn how one unit implemented their project, including outcomes and how to overcome barriers.

What’s new in SPHM

ANA’s revised safe patient handling and mobility standards are coming soon. (more…)

Who handles the handling?

Healthcare organizations that have implemented effective safe patient handling and mobility programs report a reduction in healthcare worker injury rates related to manual patient…

Will virtual clinical learning during a pandemic affect patient safety?

Clinical experience plays an integral role in promoting patient safety and is one of the core requirements of every nursing program. Clinical experience helps…

Working-out or lifting patients

As I prepare for my evening workout at the gym today, it’s more than likely that I will use weights greater than 35 pounds…

Your injury, your fault?

Ok, so let’s be honest, you were injured on your nursing job because you didn’t follow proper procedural techniques right? I mean, you’ve been…

Reader Survey

Please share your feedback! We’re interested to learn more about your experience with American Nurse Journal.

Survey